Unusual and Beautiful Old Handmade Ruler (?) early speller which photographs don't quite do

which photographs don't quite do justice (I've shot it a couple of different light situations to try to give a sense)--the mold itself has a really visceral presence

I've got a soft spot for antique shoe-shaped snuff boxes

I believe I have them correctly oriented in accordance with the placement of the text on reverse

though both are slightly off center and the lines seem a bit more wavering than confident

Threaded lid screws off easily and holds tight

Unusual and Beautiful Old Handmade Ruler (?) early speller which photographs don't quite doI really don't know anything about this one, but found it at Brimfield and couldn't put it down. I presume a ruler or guide of some sort, with the increments along one side approximately one inch and the shorter ones about half an inch. For me the angled lines really make it. lending a sense of movement and three dimensionality to the whole thing, and the wood, which I think may be boxwood, is lovely. With what looks to be some faint handwritten text