A few nice Christmas gifts images I found:
Princess Mary Christmas 1914 Gift Box
Image by David Spender
In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the national press inviting monetary contributions to a ‘Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund’ which had been created by Princess Mary, the seventeen year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary.
The response was truly overwhelming, and it was decided to spend the money on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsey. The contents varied considerably; officers and men on active service afloat or at the front received a box containing a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers.
The surface of the lid depicts the head of Princess Mary in the centre, surrounded by a laurel wreath and flanked on either side by the ‘M’ monogram. At the top, a decorative cartouche contains the words ‘Imperium Britannicum’ with a sword and scabbard either side. On the lower edge, another cartouche contains the words ‘Christmas 1914′, which is flanked by the bows of battleships forging through a heavy sea. In the corners, small roundels house the names of the Allies: Belgium, Japan, Montenegro and Servia; France and Russia are at the edges, each superimposed on three furled flags or standards.
This example belonged to my wife’s grandfather Walter Brattle, who was serving in the Royal Navy in 1914.
The second gift: a Personal Soundtrack Shirt from ThinkGeek!
Image by Surat Lozowick
A Personal Soundtrack Shirt! I’ve spent plenty of time scouring ThinkGeek, but I didn’t know about these, and it looks awesome. I just need to find an appropriate occasion for it…
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