If I’m not mistaken this dates back pretty far before the time when time capsules became “a thing” so to speak, which makes it very unlikely in my mind it’s a

If I’m not mistaken this dates back pretty far before the time when time capsules became “a thing” so to speak, which makes it very unlikely in my mind it’s a prank. Because a prank like that only makes sense if a time capsule is already a common cultural phenomenon. Also I think the effects of 200 years can not be understated. Clothes that have been sitting in a closet under certain conditions for 50 years can fall apart when tried on. I wouldn’t be so sure that only paper could have been in the box, but the people putting it in would not necessarily have realised paper doesn’t preserve well in a time capsule if they were among the first ones creating one.