I recently sold a cigar box decorated like this and a very good customer wanted one, so I made this one entirely by hand. Features locking and gravity gimmicks to cover a variety of performance situations.
It said this book was used to record the names of the plague dead at a time when chalk and bodies were more plentiful than paper. Certainly, the dead therein recorded still seem to haunt this macabre artifact.

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The back of the book, the plague doctor.

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Inside, the chalk surfaces. The book lays completely flat, unlike a cigar box.

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The book measures a little shy of 7x 9 on the outside, and is no thicker than a deck of cards.
Thanks for looking. Hope this gives you some of your own good ideas.
Marc

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VERY NICE!

Yes very nice indeed.

Very Good!!!
Where you find the slates?
In my town there's no shops selling it....

Gregor,
These are made entirely of wood, with six coats of chalk paint and a fair amount of sanding to mimic a slate surface. I do make slates out of real slate, but not the locking ones, and they would have to be much too thick.
By the way, I notice hobby lobby is carrying real slates, not as nicely finished as mine of course, and in my opinion too rough to make a gimmick, but if you want ungimmicked slates, they are cheap and cool looking.
Marc

Thank you for the infos!

Gregor,
I have a "mini" for sale right now on Café. All handmade, measure 4 by 5 on the outside.
Check the for sale section or PM me.
Thanks,
Marc