michael, that's a trick of the light.  it's the same wood.  and i'm very
happy to have it at this price :D

ed, in researching this over the past couple days, the pasteboard boxes
didn't come around until about 1900; that's also around the time they
switched to nickel plating on the 48.  it is possible this was one of the
last of the japanned 48s, and came in one of the first pasteboard boxes.
see, the label feels thicker than i'd expect a paper label to feel.  it
wouldn't surprise me if they trimmed it off the early box, and pasted it on
to their home-made box.

in any case, it means my union 41 is for sale :)

best,
bill