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RARE TURN OF THE CENTURY MENZIES REMOVABLE BUSK CORSET

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RARE TURN OF THE CENTURY MENZIES REMOVABLE BUSK CORSET
This corset is from my own personal collection, some of which can be viewed on my other site, The Antique Corset Gallery. I am in the process of revising my extensive antique corset collection to reflect my current collecting mandate and some of my treasures need a new home!
c.1902. A corset with a removable busk made from light drab colored coutil and lined in white cotton drill. The corset is stamped on the inside of the busk in black ink with the brand name Menzies along with a warning that the corset was a "Protected by Royal Letters Patent". Royal letters patents were a form of copyright used only in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
The front has a removable busk with a wide and thick busk protector backing it, which laces to the front sides of the corset. This enabled the busk and busk protector to be removed for easy laundering thereby preventing it from rusting and also allow for slight adjustment in size. The only other boning found in the corset are the side steels and the back steels on each side of the brass grommets. Cording gives the body the required support along with quilting at the bust.
The top of the corset is trimmed with drab colored lace with blue baby ribbon inserts. Dark teal "X" shaped flossing decorates the side steel bone casings.
The Menzies corset was advertised in the 1902 John Noble catalogue (Manchester) as costing 4 shillings and 11 pence for sizes 19" to 30" waist, 5 shillings and 11 pence for sizes over 30" and 2 shillings and 6 pence for "Maid's" sizes. The catalogue also states that an extra busk and directions were supplied with each pair of Menzies corset. Unfortunately, the extra set of busks no longer survive with this corset.
The corset is in very good- excellent condition.Have some brown age spots and some mottling to the side steel bone casings but the corset does not appear to have been worn very much. the ribbon trim along the top is a replacement and the corset comes with all of it's original laces. Strong enough to be displayed. The corset's new owner will get a copy of the original catalogue listing.
Antique corsets are not wearable due to their fragility and age. Measurements are for reference only. Measurements: Bust 40", Waist 32", Hips 39", Busk length 14".
£ 550.00 ($1166 US)