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Post by goldeagle1939 on Sept 28, 2009 18:27:17 GMT -8
Last week I managed to get hold of a nice brass Princess mary christmas tin in good condition. I am wanting to reproduce the contents inside.
Now the question is I have heard conflicting reports as to what was in them. I know for sure a picture of her royal highness, herself, some tobacco or candy, and a pencil. Am i about right as to the contents? Thanks for the help lads.
Mike Harlow
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Post by rmli on Sept 28, 2009 21:10:10 GMT -8
Quite interesting, thank you, Seph.
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Post by Kruger on Sept 28, 2009 21:21:19 GMT -8
Yes, those are very interesting. Now I gotta find a tin myself!  I bet those "Bullet Pencils" are rarer than hen's teeth! |
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qms
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Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Sept 29, 2009 7:11:28 GMT -8
Just to add information, the foil around the cigarettes/tobacco should be LEAD, not the modern aluminium (remove the 'i' as required)
In addition to the sets issued (as above) there was also a slightly different issue to military nurses and to sailors.
I have a list of issues and contents somewhere. I'll see if I can rake it out.
Tom
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Sept 29, 2009 8:00:29 GMT -8
I take it that this was a "one shot" deal that was done in late 1914. Was there anything similar done in later years of the war?
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Post by goldeagle1939 on Sept 29, 2009 11:33:11 GMT -8
Thanks Seph, That does help a lot. Since I am a non-smoker, I think I'll try to reproduce, the contents for that group of tins. Thanks and as always great information!
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qms
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Post by qms on Oct 3, 2009 5:25:51 GMT -8
Update.
I'm sorry, I can't find the hard copy of the information on issues of 'Mary's' and it's not on my present machine, but it may be on one of my discs in storage (unfortunately, most the 3 1/2" floppies and a lot are for a word processor I no longer have (they are readable, but it takes time to convert the files), so there may be quite a long delay.
Tom
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qms
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Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Oct 6, 2009 7:59:23 GMT -8
I was lucky, it was on the third disc I tried and was recoverable:
It's an old article Dickie Knight put togeter in the distant past.
Christmas Tin for Tommy Atkins
The Fund
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary's Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund was born on the 14th day of October 1914 when Princess Mary issued an appeal to the public for funds in order that a Christmas gift might be sent to all the sailors and soldiers at the front on Christmas day 1914.
In November 1914, Her Royal Highness decided to extend her scheme, so that every man who was wearing the King's uniform on Christmas day 1914 should receive a gift from her fund.
With the very large number of gifts required to carry out this promise, made it impossible for the fund to arrange distribution entirely on Christmas day. So the gift was still being sent as late as 1915-16.
The Christmas box was designed by Adshead and Ramsey and measured by 5" x 31/2" x 1" deep. On the embossed lid was a portrait of Princess Mary within a circle of laurel, each side was her initials M.M.
Around the border of the tin were plaques with the names of the allied nations - Belgium, France, Serbia, Montenegro, Russia, Japan and Imperium Britannicum. Underneath the portrait was a panel inscribed "Christmas 1914" and military triumph - flags, a sword and scabbard and the prow of a warship.
The contents of the box varied according to the recipient, either smokers or non-smokers or non-smokers. The tins normally included 1 oz of tobacco, a pack of 20 cigarettes, a pipe, a greetings card and a photograph of Princess Mary. For the troops at the front, there were extra gifts such as bullet pencil, combs, pack of postcards, knives, scissors or cigarette cases.
Over 700 000 pipes were purchased for distribution but they were of no universal pattern, but whatever could be supplied from manufacturers stocks. The extra gifts, of which over half a million were purchased, were sent to the troops three weeks after the box itself.
The boxes varied in contents, here is a list of them:-
ROYAL NAVY
Officers and Men
Brass box, a pipe, an ounce of tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a bullet pencil case, a Christmas card and a picture of Her Royal Highness.
Boys
Brass box, a bullet pencil case, Christmas card.
Widows or Parents
Brass box and a Christmas card.
TROOPS AT THE FRONT (France)
Officers and Men
Brass box, a pipe, an ounce of tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a tinder lighter or miscellaneous articles supplied in place thereof, a Christmas card and a picture of Her Royal Highness.
Non-Smokers
Brass box, a packet of acid tablets, a khaki writing case, a Christmas card and a picture of Her Royal Highness.
INDIAN TROOPS
Ghurkas
The smoker's gift box as described above.
Sikhs
Brass box filled with sugar candy,a tin box spices and Christmas card.
WOUNDED MEN
Officers and Men (Smokers)
Brass box, a pipe, an ounce of tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a Christmas card and a picture of Her Royal Highness.
Non-Smokers
Brass box, packet of sweets, a khaki writing case, a Christmas card, a picture of Her Royal Highness.
MEMBERS OF THE FRENCH MISSION
Officers and Men
Brass box, a pipe, an ounce of tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a Christmas card and a picture of Her Royal Highness.
NURSES AT THE FRONT (France)
Brass box, packet of chocolate, Christmas card.
Widows or Parents
Brass box and a Christmas card.
PRISONERS OF WAR AND INTERNED MEN
Officers and Men
A gift similar to the smoker's gift.
These were presented to them upon repatriation.
The following shows the number of men who were serving on Christmas Day 1914 and were entitled to the gifts:-
NAVY ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 255 271
ARMY
At the Front (France) ... ... ... ... ... ... 855 716
Wounded, At Home and in France ... ... ... 89 165
Prisoners of War and Men Interned ... ... ... 18 030
Next of Kin ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 000
French Mission ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 600
Regular Army, Territorial Force and Dominion Troops at Home ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 337 889
India ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 291 900
Canada ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 000
Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 000
South Africa... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 617
New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 915
Colonies, Protectorates and
Protected Ports ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 080
Nurses ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 500
For the British and Colonial Troops who were serving overseas but not in Europe, the gifts consisted of the Brass box, pencil case and a New Year card, for these men the gifts were delayed until as late as 1915-16, partly because of the increased burden of gifts and also because of the shortage of brass, which was sunk on the Lusitania when she was torpedoed.
Almost 45 000 lbs of tobacco and over 13 million cigarettes were purchased. They were supplied in metal foil packets, 3" x 2" in yellow paper wrappers with the monogram of Princess Mary on the reverse and "Tobacco" or "Cigarette" in black on the front. The greeting card was of the folding type and printed in red and blue (on white), with the message "Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year, From The Princess Mary and Friends at Home". The same applied to the troops sent gifts after Christmas but it had the "Happy Christmas" omitted from the card. The tin box was dated 1915.
The writing cases were made of khaki cloth with Princess Mary's monogram, the date and "Christmas Fund" stamped in red lettering on the outside. A total of 18 018 writing cases were purchased.
Any help?
Tom
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Post by goldeagle1939 on Oct 8, 2009 7:19:35 GMT -8
Thanks Tom That does help.
Also as Seph said, The boxes are starting to climb in value, as it were. I got mine for $35 but I have seen them go for as much as $90. Even the repro ones are going for about $50.
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Post by hocfutue on Sept 8, 2011 21:49:25 GMT -8
I see many collector warnings about fakes. Any sources for these repros/fakes?
I'd like one for "me bits n bobs" at events and such, but not bang around an original.
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Post by chantelle on May 27, 2013 23:42:08 GMT -8
Hi guys,
My nan passed away a couple of months ago and a princess mary christmas tin was given to me I think it was her dads in ww1 inside it has the card and the photo of princess mary but would like to know what the value would be?
Many thanks
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Post by muddhen on May 30, 2013 22:06:21 GMT -8
I bout a nice one last year for $60, see them selling for $80 quite often.with the photo and card add 20-30%
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