A paper knife is a blunt, flat blade used to slit open envelopes and to cut the folded edges of pages in uncut books. It is also commonly known as a letter opener, and antique examples range from plain wooden blades to elaborate pieces with carved, cast or enamelled handles.
Until the twentieth century many books were sold with their pages still joined at the folds, so readers needed a knife to separate them, and the paper knife became an essential accessory on the Georgian and Victorian writing desk. Paper knives were made in a wide variety of materials, including ivory, bone, horn, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, silver, brass, bronze and wood, often matching an inkstand or desk set. Victorian souvenir paper knives in Mauchline ware and Tunbridge ware were popular, while the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements produced finely designed silver and pewter versions. Soldiers in the First World War made paper knives from brass shell cases and other battlefield materials, now collected as trench art. Collectors look for fine materials, good craftsmanship, hallmarks or maker's marks, and pieces associated with notable makers or events. A good antique paper knife remains a useful and elegant addition to any desk.
