British Princess Mary Christmas 1914 brass gift tin
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1914
This embossed brass tobacco tin served as a commemorative gift box for British soldiers, sailors, and nurses serving during the First World War. Distributed as part of a public appeal organized by Princess Mary, the daughter of King George V, the tin was originally intended to house a variety of items, including tobacco, cigarettes, a pipe, a Christmas card, and a photograph of the King and Queen.
The lid features a central profile portrait of Princess Mary surrounded by a laurel wreath, flanked by ornate 'M' monograms. The peripheral decoration includes the inscription 'Imperium Britannicum' and 'Christmas 1914', along with the names of Britain's wartime allies: Belgium, France, Japan, Montenegro, Russia, and Servia. Constructed of brass, the rectangular tin measures approximately 1 by 3 1/8 by 5 1/2 inches. This historical item serves as both a container for tobacco products and a significant piece of World War I military memorabilia, representing the morale-boosting efforts directed towards British service personnel during the early period of the conflict.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- brass
- Dimensions
- 1 x 3 1/8 x 5 1/2 in
Design
- Obverse
- Central portrait of Princess Mary, ornate M monograms, inscriptions 'Imperium Britannicum', 'Christmas 1914', and names of British allies
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.