The knife is an age-old tool, but the paper cutter is a relatively new addition to society. The first mentions of them can be found dating back to the 16th century. But, apparently, at that time the most ordinary household or military blades and daggers were often used to open letters and envelopes. Later, at the beginning of the 19th century, there appeared paper cutting knives. Previously, a new book could not be opened without a book knife, since there was no hydraulic press capable of cutting through the thickness of book pages. Therefore, a large sheet folded several times, containing up to 20 pages of a future book, was simply stitched, joined to others, this was how a book was compiled, which immediately, without trimming, was bound. The pages of such a book could not be turned over without first cutting. For this, there were bone, wood and metal knives for paper of various types, thicknesses and with different designs. Such knives were also used when opening letters. Knives were made of precious metals, ivory and stones, cast by hand and decorated with carvings.
The paper knife, presented in the Decembrists in Yalutorovsk exhibit, during its history belonged to different representatives of the Muravyov-Apostol family. The first owner of this clerical knife was the Decembrist Sergei Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol. He was the brother of Matvey Muravyov-Apostol, who owned the house where the museum is located today. The knife was passed on through generations. The last owner of this knife was the great-grand-nephew of Matvey Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol, Andrei Vladimirovich Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin. Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin donated the knife to the museum in November 1992 during a trip to the city of Yalutorovsk. It so happened that during the meeting of the guest in the city of Tyumen, Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin dropped the family heirloom, and the knife split into two halves. The knife was fastened, but the joint remained noticeable.
On the white surface of the knife you can see a black monogram, which consists of three letters, SMA, the initial letters of the owner’s name - Sergei Muravyov-Apostol. Below you can make out the date “9. Juin. 1885”.
The paper knife, presented in the Decembrists in Yalutorovsk exhibit, during its history belonged to different representatives of the Muravyov-Apostol family. The first owner of this clerical knife was the Decembrist Sergei Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol. He was the brother of Matvey Muravyov-Apostol, who owned the house where the museum is located today. The knife was passed on through generations. The last owner of this knife was the great-grand-nephew of Matvey Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol, Andrei Vladimirovich Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin. Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin donated the knife to the museum in November 1992 during a trip to the city of Yalutorovsk. It so happened that during the meeting of the guest in the city of Tyumen, Muravyov-Apostol-Korobyin dropped the family heirloom, and the knife split into two halves. The knife was fastened, but the joint remained noticeable.
On the white surface of the knife you can see a black monogram, which consists of three letters, SMA, the initial letters of the owner’s name - Sergei Muravyov-Apostol. Below you can make out the date “9. Juin. 1885”.
