Mi'kmaq 19th Century Porcupine Quill Birch Bark Box, 1850

I'm SO happy to get this! A reputable antique store in Chicago, IL, listed this online. I was looking at Quill Boxes, and when I saw the pictures of this box, I said YES PLEASE. The cost was just $275.00.
I got this today, and verified in person that this is a 19th-century (1850) Mi'kmaq Quilled Birch Bark Box. It is round and measures five inches in diameter and three and a half inches in height. There is some quill loss, which is to be expected after 170+ years. The colors are a bit faded, but remnants of Blue and Yellow and Brown are there. It is still glued together with Spruce Tree Resin, and Spruce was used to lash the top and rim together. A few of the lashings on top are gone but the top and rim are firmly tightened down. There is writing on the bottom, very faded but I am going to try to decipher it. It is most likely the date the box was finished.

Even with the quill loss and having the Sweetgrass missing, along with a bit of warping, it is still in great condition. I never thought I would ever be able to have one of these treasures, but it's HERE.