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WORLD WAR ONE PRINCESS MARY 1914 GIFT BOX:
In November 1914 donations were solicited from the
public to finance a “Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund”
which had been founded by Princess Mary, the seventeen
year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The
purpose was to provide British and Commonwealth soldiers
and sailors who were serving overseas on Christmas Day,
1914 with a small remembrance of the day and of their
service. The response was truly overwhelming, and these
embossed brass boxes were created, based on a design by
Messrs Adshead and Ramsey. Officers and men on active
service at sea or at the front received a box containing
a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and
twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed
wrappers. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil
and a packet of sweets instead. Indian troops often got
sweets and spices, and nurses were treated to chocolate.
All boxes, irrespective of recipient, contained a
Christmas card and a picture of the Princess. Those
which were not distributed until after Christmas were
sent out with a card wishing the recipient a “Victorious
New Year”.
Made of sheet brass, the box measures approximately 5"
long by 3¼" wide by 1" deep with a double-skinned,
hinged, lid. The surface of the lid bears the likeness
of Princess Mary surrounded by a laurel wreath and with
the Princess’s “M” monogram on each side. At the top, a
decorative cartouche contains the words 'Imperium
Britannicum' with a sword and scabbard either side. On
the lower edge, an oval bears the words 'Christmas
1914', superimposed over a battleship making way in
heavy seas. Along the sides there are small circles
bearing the names of the Allies: Belgium, France, Japan,
Montenegro, Servia and Russia, superimposed on three
furled flags. The box is full form, and while showing
some signs of handling and age, there are no severe
dents nor any damage. Included with this box is a
reprint of the 1915 “Victorious New Year” wishes card
that was delivered with the boxes during the war.
It is interesting to note that due to the demands for
brass to support the war effort, the shortage of brass
resulted in many of these boxes being distributed as
late as the summer of 1916. Orders for sheet brass were
placed with companies in the United States which had not
yet entered the war, and reportedly, a large quantity of
this brass was lost with the sinking of the Lusitania.
As the war progressed and the demand for brass
increased with the continued production of weapons and
munitions, the quality of the boxes which were
manufactured late in the war was poor, being made of a
plated lesser quality alloy, as compared to these
earlier pure brass specimens.
This is a very attractive memento of the Great War and
one of the earlier surviving examples of the efforts of
the people at home to provide comfort and support for
the service personnel at the front. (0372) $55
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