hi marg thank you so much for the advice, it really is appreciated. i think i will hold onto it for now as i dont know what else to do. maybe in the future i could gift it to the i.o.m musuem, for future generations to look at, it is a lovely item to have and to think what it has been through and who has held it.
although i do not think they walked around with it under their arms as it is quite substancial.
anyway thank you again
debbie