Victorian Combination Desk and Book Cabinet

My husband's brother inherited a piece of antique Victorian-era furniture originally belonging to his great-grandfather. The piece has stood in the living room of my brother- and sister-in-law for many years since Grandma (the original owner's daughter-in-law) passed away. I've admired the piece but didn't recognize it was more than a glass-fronted cabinet--a writing desk!--until I saw an historic advertisement for a nearly identical piece in a nineteenth century newspaper advertisement.

This article contains newspaper advertisements with engravings, images of current antique combination desk bookcases, and our family heirloom piece. Victorian prices are compared with the modern dollar (accounting for inflation).