I have dealt with many "dealers" of historical collectibles in my several years as a licensed Auctioneer. One such Gent is located in Florida and is a noted Revolutionary War and Civil War dealer. He and I have had numerous discussions concerning items that are "made up" to be something that they would not normally appear to be. Sometimes these previous owners did this YEARS ago hoping to pass along a historically significant article or item and along with the story of made up provenance, increase its value. This particular dealer had a 7/8 Wade & Butcher masonic etched blade chopper in horn that came along with a letter reported to have been written by relatives of General Robert E. Lee and suggest it was his personal straight razor. This dealer had a price tag of $900 on the razor and associated letter. He admitted that it was unlikely that it was indeed Lee's personal blade. I think you have a very nice early razor that is in fact associated with the box and the note attached but that it is in my professional opinion a "made up" item as to the provenance.