Militaria Auction Part I Saturday, 28 March 2026 / 11:00 am start
Princess Mary Christmas Tin .303 Bullet Pencil
Realised: $100 plus premium
Lot Details
A charming and historically significant pairing, the Princess Mary Christmas tin and .303 bullet pencil are closely associated with the early years of the First World War. The Princess Mary Christmas Tin was distributed in 1914 as a gift from Princess Mary to British and Commonwealth troops. Typically made of brass, these tins contained comforts such as tobacco, cigarettes, sweets, and a greeting card—symbolising morale and connection to home during wartime. The .303 bullet pencil, often fashioned from spent shell casings, is a classic example of trench art. These items were either made by soldiers at the front or later from battlefield materials, turning instruments of war into keepsakes and functional objects. Together, they form a compelling collectible set—combining official wartime issue with personal, handcrafted artefact—highly appealing to militaria collectors, particularly those focused on WWI and Commonwealth history.
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