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Old 27th July 2010, 02:40 AM   #9
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,768
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde
No Jim, I don’t think it was ceremonial at all. I think it was used very much at the time. Think of what paper costs to day, and then think of what it must have cost two centuries ago. The new industry really has changed these costs.

People who wanted to write a letter or to keep house hold budgets could not have afforded to use paper so they would have used palm leaves – as they were used to.

What I have not told you yet is, that it is a gift from a very good friend, who did not want to sell it, but who only would give it as a gift to someone who would really appreciate it - and I do - very much so.

Jens, I didnt mean for the 'ceremonial' suggestion to diminish the stature of the piece, quite the contrary. It is of superb quality and that was what was meant. I hadnt really realized that palm leaves were used in daily matters, but then hadnt really thought about it either. With that being the case, it is of course an extremely nice knife/stylus and a very nice gift from your friend.
Thank you again for sharing it.

All the best,
Jim
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