Excellent 19th C. Brass and Iron French Letter Combination Lock (Code Known) wooden postcard Original box missing

Original box missing

I'm rather obsessed with this tramp-y box

and I believe these had been made by HIS father

The scallop shaped bookends feature 1853 engravings (one exterior one interior)  of the Hippodrome on Madison Square (known as Franconi's Hippodrome)

And in keeping with the dolphin design

Excellent 19th C. Brass and Iron French Letter Combination Lock (Code Known) wooden postcard Original box missingIn my world, all locks would be letter combination ones like this how much easier, and richer, to make words than to remember numbers?! I believe this is French, later 19th century, brass and iron, with these beautiful type impressed letters on the substantial weight brass dials. I found it locked but miraculously managed to figure out the combination, and will send it along (a French last name I believe) though if you'd rather approach it as a