Below is a shot of the bottom of the desk.
Below are two views of the handwritten script inside the box which notes that it was repaired on June 22, 1868. The first view is just a photographic view; the second has been digitally enhanced to make the writing easier to read.
If the lap desk was repaired in 1868, I'd suspect it was considerably older that "Civil War-era".
I have never seen one just like it. I'd appreciate input.
