WWI Princess Mary Brass Gift Tin – 1914 Soldiers’ Christmas Box, 5″ × 3.5″

A poignant relic of the Great War: this 1914 Princess Mary Christmas brass gift tin was sent to British and Commonwealth troops at the front during the first wartime holiday season. Cast in golden brass, the lid bears a left-facing portrait of Princess Mary encircled by laurel, flanked by her cypher “M” and bordered with Allied nation cartouches (France, Russia, Belgium, Japan, etc.). The lower panel is boldly dated “CHRISTMAS 1914.”

Inside, troops originally found cigarettes, tobacco, or sweets; today the tin’s empty interior still glows with its original gilt wash, ready to safeguard keepsakes—from medals and letters to cufflinks on a dresser.

Details & Features

• Date & Origin: 1914, United Kingdom (Princess Mary’s Sailors & Soldiers Fund)

• Material: Stamped brass with gilt-washed interior

• Design Notes: Laurel-wreath portrait, Allied shields, flaming torches, Imperial motto “IMPERIUM BRITANNICUM”

• Historical Context: Roughly 2.6 million tins were produced, but many were lost or damaged in service; intact examples with legible relief remain collectable Great War memorabilia.

Measurements
Approximately 1 inch tall × 5 inches wide × 3.5 inches deep

Condition
Very good antique condition for a field-carried piece: warm, unpolished patina; scattered small dents and service scuffs; hinge sound, lid closes flush. Gilt interior shows age-darkened speckles but no corrosion breakthrough.

Styling Notes
Display atop a stack of leather-bound histories or tuck into a curio cabinet beside campaign medals. For a modern twist, use it as a desk caddy for USBs and paperclips—letting its storied surface spark conversation in any study, den, or library.