A 19th century yew wood circular snuff box with the lid having an inlaid coin with a tree and the words  'ST J TIPTON JULY 1878'.
It measures 7cm w x 2.3cm h.
Provenance:  It was  from the estate of the late David Cornwell, best known as the British Irish author John le Carré. He wrote  espionage novels,  drawing from his time in MI5 and MI6. He wrote amongst others  The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), became an international best-seller, was adapted as an award-winning film, and remains one of his best-known works. Other novels  include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Little Drummer Girl ,The Constant Gardener .