The Last Patch, Wonderful Antique British Patch or Snuff Box auction sign and on the inside is

and on the inside is a message from the American Tobacco Company announcing: "These Lucky Strikes will commend themselves to your critical approval

)  15 1/2“ long x 8 3/4“ tall

but I cannot make them out

I have searched but not found anything about John

it represents a woman in the Women's Army Corps

The Last Patch, Wonderful Antique British Patch or Snuff Box auction sign and on the inside isI jumped on this unusual box the second I saw it (which photos don't do justice), but am only now trying to puzzle out exactly what it is, and I must say it is a bit of a mystery! From what I can discern, there were two sorts of patch boxes: first, fine boxes, very similar to snuff boxes, some very similar in construction to the this one, made to hold decorative patches for the face, worn by both men and woman in the 18th and early 19th century; and