This is one of the projects I have planned for this year..... asssuming I can find one at a good price on CL.

Here is a link that might be useful: My inspiratioin

I believe your aunt was attempting to create a blotter, but just didn't do a great job.

I do not have a similar piece of furniture, but in all that I have seen, the writing surface is either a wood panel, or a blotter (or a wood panel with a blotter on top.) Sometimes there are little metal thingamabobs (the name totally escapes me) which would hold the blotter in place, but could be turned to release it. Or sometimes there are little leather corner pockets and the corners of the blotter would fit into them and be held in place. People would have written with fountain pens, and thus, a blotter would have been a necessity. You can buy desk blotters now, or you could even use mat board or something along those lines. Felt also does work if it is thin and on a rigid back.

If you're not planning to write with fountain pens, you could insert a thin piece of stain-grade wood and attempt to blend it with the existing wood, or you could insert a leather-wrapped panel, or something like that.

BTW, if your secretary is from the 1850s, I would NOT paint it, even though that inspiration secretary bestyears posted looks beautiful in white.

Ours is of the same era, English and the writing surface is leather. To the best of my knowledge the leather is original to the desk, firm enough to write on but soft to the touch so as not to damage quill pen tips of the time. It appears to be glued in place and I'm sure an upholstery shop could provide you with a scrap for a very reasonable cost for you to trim to size and install. I'd suggest rubber cement.

Here's the best close-up photo I have, forgive the holiday scene.
{{!gwi}}

A full view with the desk top down.
{{!gwi}}

Here's my jumbled mess:

Mine falls into the jumbled mess camp, like Ttodd's (love your style!). This has been in my family for over 100 years, first belonging to my dad's great aunt, then it was in my parents' second home in NH for 30 years. It's been in our home(s) for a few decades now. My dad refinished it many moons ago:

Great desk. I agree that leather would be appropriate, but Naugahyde wouldn't be bad for a temporary (meaning not glued down never-to-be-removed) fix.

Mine is just wood.
{{!gwi}}

Ditto everything lizzie said including her advice on maintaining the value of this antique by not painting.

Ebay has a selection of blotters and pads that you can peruse to see if you find the right size at the right price. I'm linking the leather pads but you can research other options.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leather desk pads

Thank you all for sharing your desks and ideas. I am going to research several options but now I know what I'm looking for. I would love to be able to sit at this desk and write a letter or two.

This desk was a wedding gift to my gr-gr-grandmother and was brought by oxen cart from Nebraska to Iowa. I treasure it in every way so I will definately never paint it. Items like this, as well as mirrors, make me wonder about the person who used it and what their thoughts might have been.

I'd love if others would like to continue to share their pictures but I feel I have some good ideas now as well as knowing some of the search words. Blotter, that's what I had forgotten. Also, thanks for the great links. I knew you'd all be able to help me out again.

I am late to this thread, but couldn't find my camera last week. Also my house is very dark in the summer so pictures are tough.

I wanted to share though as my desk is so similar to yours. I am not exactly sure about the writing surface, as it looks like leather to me but is so thin and hard that it resembles a piece of thin wood painted black. That might be an easier fix for you.

Maureen

Mine houses quite a few mementos from my childhood, such as the baby shoes. (Yes, my big fat feet actually wore those little things at one time! ;-)) The little baby in the frame is me, and there are quite a few little treasures I've picked up traveling in here as well. The only thing missing from this vignette is my laptop.