An excellent, 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Gift Tin paired with its original, matching Royal Monogrammed Bullet Pencil.
Distributed to members of the British, Colonial, and Indian Armed Forces on Christmas Day 1914, this poignant pairing represents a classic piece of Great War trench social history.
Initiated by the 17-year-old daughter of King George V, the Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund raised money to send every serving member of the military a token of appreciation.
While smokers received tobacco and cigarettes, non-smokers, nurses, and specific colonial troops were given writing materials.
As tobacco supplies fluctuated, bullet pencils were widely distributed.
The tin is in an overall good antique condition.
The embossed lid is crisp with strong, deep details highlighting Princess Mary’s profile, the surrounding laurels, and the names of the Allied nations.
It retains an honest, unpolished dark golden patina.
The interior is clean with light tarnish spots and minor patches of light green verdigris commensurate with age.
No deep pitting or chemical cleaning damage.
There is a structural stress crack/split on the top left corner rim of the lid near the hinge line (see photographs).
The lid opens and closes fully, though there is minor historic warping along the edges.
The hinges remain fully functional but should be handled with care due to the corner split.
The Monogrammed Bullet Pencil features a beautifully crisp, deeply struck "M" monogram surmounted by the Royal Crown.
The Headstamp is clearly marked KN 14 VII W at the base.
This confirms production by the Kings Norton Metal Company in 1914, using a standard .303 Mark VII casing (a highly desirable variation for ammunition and militaria collectors).
The original silver-plated/nickel bullet-shaped nose cap pulls out smoothly and reverses into the cartridge throat firmly.
The original interior wood casing and lead pencil core are still present.
The shell case shows small spots of original orange-red manufacturing sealing lacquer near the neck, with a lovely natural aged patina across the main brass body.
The photographs are of the actual item and form part of the description.
Please examine the photographs carefully and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
