COMPLETE ORIGINAL MINT **Early WW1 Christmas 1914 Princess Mary\'s Brass Gift Fund Box Containing An Un-Opened 1914 Dated Packet Of Tobacco, 1914 Dated Carton Of Cigarettes, Correct Monogramed Christmas Card & Associated Machine Gun Corps Sweetheart Pin. Antiques & Militaria

**COMPLETE ORIGINAL MINT **Early WW1 Christmas 1914 Princess Mary's Brass Gift Fund Box Containing An Un-Opened 1914 Dated Packet Of Tobacco, 1914 Dated Carton Of Cigarettes, Correct Monogramed Christmas Card & Associated Machine Gun Corps Sweetheart Pin - 21608:4

It was Princess Mary's express wish that 'every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front' should have the present. The gifts were devised in October 1914 and intended for distribution to all who were serving overseas or at sea, in time for Christmas 1914; afterwards, with the fund in surplus and many feeling they had been ‘left out’, distribution was extended more widely – to all who were serving, whether at home or abroad, and to prisoners of war and the next of kin of 1914 casualties. The contents of the gift fund tins varied, some with tobacco and cigarettes such as ours and others with pencils, notepads & chocolate. This is a complete, original early near mint condition WW1 Christmas 1914 Princess Mary's Brass Gift Fund Box Containing An Un-Opened 1914 Dated Packet Of Tobacco, 1914 Dated Carton Of Cigarettes, Correct Princess Mary Monogramed Christmas Greeting Card in its original envelope with the name ‘Miss T. Johnson’ hand written in pencil (most likely a relative, wife or girlfriend of the recipient). Also in the tin is an original period Brass King’s Crown Machine Gun Corps Sweetheart Pin with hinged pin fastener most likely a gift to Miss Johnson from a member of the Machine Gun Corps. The price for this piece of WW1 memorabilia includes UK delivery. Sn 21608:4 (corridor shelf near cannon balls)

£275.00