British, WW1 - 1914, Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund Brass Tin with Scarce Royal Portrait Message Card by W. & D. Downey & Envelope

*British, WW1 - 1914, Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund Brass Tin with Scarce Royal Portrait Message Card by W. & D. Downey & Envelope*

An original and highly evocative First World War Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund brass tin retaining its scarce photographic royal greeting card and original envelope, dating to Christmas 1914 – one of the most iconic morale and welfare items associated with the opening months of the Great War. This example survives as a particularly attractive and personal grouping, preserving not only the embossed brass gift box itself, but also the seldom-retained royal portrait card featuring King George V and Queen Mary, together with the original envelope bearing a Southampton & Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company cachet.

The brass tin is the standard rectangular Princess Mary pattern, embossed to the lid with the profile bust of Princess Mary within a laurel wreath, flanked by stylised “M” monograms. Around the border appear the allied nations of the Entente powers: “France,” “Russia,” “Belgium,” “Japan,” “Servia,” and “Montenegro,” together with the central legends “Imperium Britannicum” and “Christmas 1914.” These tins were manufactured as part of the enormous wartime Princess Mary Gift Fund campaign and distributed to British and Imperial servicemen during the first wartime Christmas.

Included is the scarcer photographic greeting card by the noted royal photographers W. & D. Downey, depicting Queen Mary and King George V in formal portrait format. The reverse carries the printed facsimile message:

“With our best wishes for Christmas 1914
May God protect you and bring you home safe
Mary R. George R.I.”

Unlike many surviving examples, the card remains unfolded and displays extremely well, making this a notably desirable accompaniment to the tin.

Also retained is the original envelope bearing the green insignia of The Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited — the historic company better known today as Red Funnel. This maritime link adds genuine historical atmosphere to the grouping. During the First World War Southampton served as one of Britain’s principal embarkation ports for the British Expeditionary Force, while the Isle of Wight hosted military facilities, naval observation stations, hospitals, and training establishments. The survival of this envelope strongly suggests the original recipient either travelled through Southampton or was stationed on or connected to the Isle of Wight during wartime service.

Approx. Measurements – Card: 14 cm x 9 cm (unfolded). Tin 13 cm x 8.7 cm x 2.6 cm.

History Note:
The Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund was established in 1914 following a national public appeal led by Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The aim was to provide every sailor afloat and soldier at the front with a Christmas gift from the nation. Ultimately more than 2.6 million tins and boxes were distributed to British and Imperial personnel, including prisoners of war and the families of fallen servicemen. Depending on the recipient, the contents could include tobacco, cigarettes, sweets, spices, writing materials, or other comforts. The brass tins rapidly became treasured keepsakes and remain among the most recognisable personal artefacts of the First World War.

*Condition*
A well-preserved original example overall. The brass tin displays honest age-related wear, handling marks, surface scratches, tarnishing, and areas of age patina consistent with wartime brass. The interior remains intact. The photographic royal message card survives in very good condition and notably has never been folded. Minor edge wear and age toning are present. The envelope shows light creasing, handling wear, and age staining consistent with storage and period postal ephemera. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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