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Title Princess Mary Christmas Fund Gift Tin with contents
Nationality British
Period 1914
Price £0.00
Sold

In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the national press inviting monetary contributions to a 'Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund' which had been created by Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of George V and Queen Mary. This was to provide all military personnel serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914 with a 'gift from the nation'.

The response was overwhelming and, by 1920, two and a half million boxes had been made. This one is an early example, of brass, with all its original lacquer intact. It has all its original contents (the yellow monogrammed packet of tobacco and cigarettes, the bullet pencil, a Christmas card in an envelope), except the photograph of the Princess.

On the lid, there is the central bust of the Princess with the names of the allied countries embossed around.

The cigarette packet has been opened, but not used; the tobacco packet remains sealed; both paper wrappers are in good order. The condition throughout is excellent for its age.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.


[Militaria : Miscellaneous : British : 20th Century]

testimonials

Hanger arrived safe and sound 11.30ish today. Very pleased, it's as expected. Your excellent pics make all the difference in terms of confident buying over the net. As a matter of interest, the frog, which as you said is very a/f, is, as you thought, 'spot on'. On closer inspection it is a mk.1 Naval Frog, designated 'for cutlasses'. Date seems around 1860ish give or take.

By the way, I think your site is very user friendly. Seems to work much better than many and up to date, a rarity!!!

C W, UK, 20.04.2006

Thank you, Chris. All arrived safely. Very quickly too, much quicker than from the US! Very satisfied. It is a nice sword.

Anyway, thanks again and I have marked your site for future interest.

T P, New Zealand, 04.04.2005

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