*British, WW1-1914, Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund Brass Tin – with Rare Buckingham Palace Letter, 1914 Christmas Card, Photograph & Bullet Pencil*
A scarce and highly collectible example of the 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund brass tin, retaining many of its original paper components together with the very rare Buckingham Palace Royal Message letter and the desirable bullet-form pencil.
The brass tin measures approximately 13 cm x 8.7 cm x 2.6 cm and is embossed with the bust of Princess Mary within a laurel wreath, flanked by the letter “M,” and surrounded by the inscription “Imperium Britannicum – Christmas 1914” together with the names of Britain’s wartime allies: France, Russia, Belgium, Japan, Servia, and Montenegro.
Included with the tin are the original printed Christmas greeting card and portrait photograph card of Princess Mary, together with the facsimile Buckingham Palace message letter. The Christmas card bears the text: “With Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year from The Princess Mary and Friends at Home.”
The Buckingham Palace letter carries the headed crest and printed message: “Gift from Mary R and the Women of the Empire 1914.”
Also present is the original bullet-form pencil bearing Princess Mary’s monogram, produced from a repurposed .303 cartridge case. The base retains clear military headstamp markings R [Broad Arrow] L / 11 / VI, identifying manufacture at the Royal Laboratory, Woolwich, the principal British government ammunition factory, with the Broad Arrow denoting government ownership. The “11” indicates manufacture in November, while “VI” denotes the Mark VI pattern cartridge case used prior to the adoption of later wartime ammunition. Manufactured from unfired or surplus cartridge cases and fitted with a metal bullet-shaped tip to hold the lead, they represent one of the most recognisable and symbolic components of the Princess Mary gift scheme, they were issued as part of many gift combinations and commonly supplied in place of a lighter.
The survival of the tin together with both paper messages and the pencil makes this a particularly attractive and increasingly difficult set to find complete.
Approx. Measurements – 13 cm x 8.7 cm x 2.6 cm.
Historical Note: The Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund was established in late 1914 through a national public appeal led by Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The intention was to provide a personal Christmas gift to every person “wearing the King’s uniform” during the first winter of the First World War, including soldiers, sailors, nurses, and members of Imperial forces.
Over 2.6 million tins were ultimately distributed. While the brass tin design remained standard, the internal contents varied according to role, personal preference, and religious background:
- Smokers typically received tobacco, cigarettes, a pipe, and a lighter.
- Non-smokers received sweets or writing materials. - Nurses generally received chocolate. - Indian troops received culturally appropriate alternatives such as sugar candy or spices. - Royal Navy recipients commonly received the bullet pencil instead of a lighter.
The Buckingham Palace letter included in this set is regarded as one of the rarest surviving components of the Princess Mary gift scheme. While the Christmas card and portrait were issued in the great majority of tins, the “Royal Message” letter was produced in far smaller numbers, being standard chiefly for non-smoker/stationery sets — typically estimated at around 4% of total distribution (approximately 100,000–110,000 tins) — with additional smaller quantities appearing in selected naval or later stationery-based issues.
The presence of the bullet-form pencil in place of a lighter strongly suggests this example may represent a Royal Navy or non-smoker issue configuration, as naval recipients commonly received pencils rather than lighters within the Princess Mary Gift scheme.
The Princess Mary Gift Fund remains one of the most recognisable morale initiatives of the Great War, symbolising national support for those serving overseas.
*Condition* An original First World War issue brass tin showing honest age-related patina and light handling wear, with clear embossed detail. Paper components display expected fold lines, light creasing and age toning but remain fully legible, the Buckingham Palace letter has a small split down the central fold. The bullet-form pencil survives in good period condition with light surface wear consistent with age. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
