This is the place to come to learn about Avery style needle cases.

Different Exterior Decoration

After company names, the most common variation within individual Avery needle cases is differences in exterior decoration, generally only found on one part of the item.  On some designs that is the front or cover, on others it is the top or lid depending upon the design and in still other cases it is over the main body of the needle case.  We have identified 27 Avery needle cases that exhibit this type of variation and the details are listed below.  Be advised that most of these are represented as individual items in our Master List of Avery needle cases because the variation itself is significant.

Photographs of the exterior variations listed below can be found on our individual Avery needle case web pages.  To see these photographs, select the Master List option from the menu bar at the top of this page.   Then select the appropriate needle case type which will provide you with links to the individual needle case pages.  However we may not have photos of all of these which is why we need your help.  If you have a needle case with one of these variations that doesn’t include a photo, or know of someone who has it, or have a new variation, please contact us so we can work with you to obtain a photograph.


Abel Morrall


  1. Back without company name
  2. Back with company name

American Eagle/Chinoiserie


  1. American Eagle - with a company name and the American Eagle on one side and British Coat of Arms on the other
  2. American Eagle - with the words "The Eagle Needle Case and the American Eagle on one side and British Coat of Arms on the other
  3. Chinoiserie - with Chinese scene on both sides

Athena/Stella Golden


  1. Named Athena Golden with Athena/Minerva head on both sides
  2. Named Athena Golden with Athena/Minerva head on one side
  3. Named Athena Golden without Athena/Minerva head
  4. Named Stella Golden

Beatrice


  1. 6 section - with floral front and back covers
  2. 6 section - with Albert Sharpe front and back covers

Bellows


  1. Prince of Wales feathers insert
  2. Rooster insert

Demi-Quads


  1. Christmas
  2. Cleopatra
  3. Helen - Bent Arm with Wreath
  4. Helen - Maltese Cross
  5. Helen - Oval Decoration
  6. Helen - Portrait and Rose
  7. Minerva
  8. Nilsson

Easel


  1. Diamond Jubilee
  2. Floral

Fan


  1. Bee Cover on one side and Dog Head Cover on the other side
  2. Cupid Cover (front view) on both sides
  3. Cupid Cover (side view) on one side and Bee Cover on the other side
  4. Cupid Cover (side view) on one side and Owl Head Cover on the other side
  5. Lady with Fan on both sides
  6. Rose on both sides
  7. Swan on both sides

Flat Iron


  1. With circular decoration on top
  2. With no decoration on top

Florence


  1. With Oval Center
  2. With Circular Center
  3. With Circular Center and different center design

Johnson's Patent


  1. Abel Morrall
  2. Kwikso
  3. La Belle

Ladies Companion


  1. With curvilinear pattern on cylinder with flat center circular decoration on top
  2. With double herringbone pattern on cylinder with slightly raised center circular decoration on top
  3. With single herringbone pattern on cylinder with raised center circular knob on top

Lap Desk - Portrait Style


  1. Diamond Jubilee
  2. Oval Cartouche
  3. Royal Portrait Busts

Lever Style Needle Cases


  1. Minerva Lever - with Athena head on front and award ribbon on back
  2. Patent Lever - with oval shaped decoration on front and intricate shield decoration on back

Metalic Pin Box


  1. With checkerboard pattern
  2. Plain without checkerboard pattern

Oval Accordion Style


  1. Cotton Plant
  2. Roses with Buds

Oval Tub


  1. Butterfly Box - Oval Tub
  2. Diamond Jubilee
  3. Kaiser Wilhelm I Bust
  4. Ladies Portrait Bust
  5. Scott’s Monument
  6. Scott’s Portrait Bust

Oval with Item on Plinth


  1. Dog lid
  2. Sewing Beetle lid

Penny Stamp


  1. With stamp pattern on both sides
  2. With stamp pattern on one side and portrait of Rowland Hill on other side

Pincer Style Needle Cases


  1. Christmas Pincer - with portrait of father Christmas in center
  2. Floral Bouquet Pincer - with bouquet of flowers in center
  3. Minerva Pincer - with Athena head in center

Postal Weight


  1. With text in English on one side
  2. With text in French on two sides
  3. With text in Dutch on one side

Quadruple - includes different lids


  1. Building
  2. Diamond Jubilee
  3. Eclectic - Bent Arm in Oval
  4. Eclectic - Bent Arm on Shield
  5. Eclectic - Lion on Shield
  6. Gay & Son version
  7. Golden Casket - Bent Arm with Wreath
  8. Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf
  9. Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis
  10. Lady Mayoress of London
  11. Liverpool Exhibition 1886
  12. Minerva Lever Casket
  13. Needle Casket - Fleur-di-Lis
  14. Plain with no decoration
  15. Sterling Silver - Christmas Gift
  16. Sterling Silver - Crest with Flower
  17. Sterling Silver - Floral Pattern
  18. Sterling Silver - Geometric Pattern
  19. Sterling Silver - Plain with no decoration
  20. Sterling Silver - Scroll Pattern
  21. Unknown Exhibition Building

Royal


  1. Royal with Vase on both sides
  2. Royal with Crystal Palace on one side and vase on the other side

Shields


  1. Bird
  2. Ladies Portrait Bust
  3. Rose
  4. Stag Head

Silver Needle Case


  1. With front top curved pattern
  2. With front top rectangular pattern

Wheelbarrows


  1. Holly on cover
  2. Roses on cover

Unique


  1. Floral decoration in center
  2. Robert's version - Rider on horseback decoration in center and marked R. J. Roberts

Master List

To date 227 Avery style needle cases have been discovered.  Visit these pages to see photographs of each design as well as the original design registration or patent and gain knowledge about variations within each design.

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Avery Survey

In 2013 an Avery Survey was created in order to gather as much information as possible about Avery style needle cases from collectors and interested parties around the world.  The Avery Survey is easy to complete and gives you a chance to contribute to this important research.  Be sure and stop here to see the survey results.

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About Us

Learn how the author turned a hobby cross stitching antique sampler reproductions into a passion for collecting Avery needle cases resulting in a published book, a Wikipedia article, a TCI Bulletin article and conference presentation and this website.

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