Despatch Box

The 'red box' is a type of despatch box used by ministers in the British government, and by the British monarch, to carry government documents. Serving a similar purpose to a briefcase, they have been in government use for centuries.

This one is an Edwardian example circa 1910, lined in textured black Morroccan leather and embossed with the initials T.B.P.

It is fitted with a lock and key by Bramah, the highest quality English lock makers, and was made by Wickwar & Co, makers of the most famous red box of all – the one made in 1853 for Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Ewart Gladstone's first budget!

Gladstone's red box remained in use until 2011,  the historic box serving an impressive 51 chancellors over a span of more than 150 years.

Dimensions: 36.5 cm/14⅜ inches (length) x 18.25 cm/7¼ inches (depth) x 9.5 cm/3¾ inches (height).

According to HM Treasury:

'Ministers are permitted to use ordinary lockable briefcases to transport information which has been classified 'Confidential' or below.

For information with a higher security level (such as 'Secret') they are required to use despatch boxes, which offer greater security, and which are usually red. However, a travel version of the box is also available in black, which offers the same level of security as a red box but is designed to be less conspicuous.

In practice, ministers use despatch boxes for transporting the majority of their documents due to the greater level of security they offer.'