Very Good Princess Mary Box, Complete With Original Personal Letters, Paperwork and Original Contents To Essex Regiment Regular

It is so rare to have a Mary Box that is not only personally identifiable but with much of original contents complete. This makes this a most exceptional and unique example.
Gifted to '4239, H.Scrutton of the Essex regiment' who served as a regular throughout the Empire from 18th June 1894 to 24th March 1916. He was an 'Old Contemptable' and awarded the 1914 Mons Star, South Africa medal and four bars General Service Medal and LSGC in 1912 plus numerous others. The original Princess Box containing an original and intact tobacco packet, empty cigarette packet, a Christmas card from Princess Mary in its envelope, a photo of Princess Mary, and a signed gift note from the Princess. Plus a note written of Mr Scrutton's military career. The photo shows a Chinese Republic banknote, not connected to the set and sold seperately. They were sent to the British troops in the frontline trenches in WW1 at Christmas 1914. During World War One King George V and Queen Mary got very involved in active war work. The King mainly visited battlefields (as recorded on the King at the Front postcards) while the queen organised clothing drives, visited hospitals and other welfare organisations. Princess Mary, then 18, often accompanied the Queen and according to the book Princess Mary, Viscount Lascelless became intensely concerned, with Christmas looming, about the well-being of the soldiers and sailors serving far from home. With her parents consent the following letter of appeal was published in November 1914.

' For many weeks we have all been greatly concerned for the welfare of the soldiers and sailors who are so valiantly fighting our battles by land and sea. Our first consideration has been to meet their more pressing needs and I have delayed making known a wish that has long been in my heart, for fear of encroaching on other funds, the claim of which have been more urgent. I want you all to help me send a Christmas present from the whole nation to every sailor afloat and every soldier at the Front. On Christmas Eve, when, like the shepherds of old, they were wont to hang out their stockings, wondered what the morrow had in store. I'm sure that we should all be happier to feel that we had helped to send our little token of love and sympathy on Christmas morning something that would be of useful and permanent value, and the making of which may be the means of providing employment for trades adversely affected by the war. Could there be anything more likely to hearten them in their struggle than a present received straight from home on Christmas Day Please will you help me Mary".

In support of this appeal many periodicals of the day published or referred to her letter.

The following example appeared in the Illustrated War News of 4 November 1914 'Princess Mary is appealing for help to send a Christmas present, from the Nation, to every Sailor afloat and every Soldier at the front. Remittance should be addressed to H.R.H. the Princess Mary, Buckingham Palace, S.W., the envelopes marked Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund. The appeal was very successful for it had reached 131,000 Pounds by 16 December .It was initially decided that the Gift would be received by every sailor afloat and every soldier at the Front wearing the King's uniform on Christmas Day 1914. The difficulty for the committee was deciding how many to get manufactured. They calculated that 145,000 sailors including Royal Marines and 350,000 soldiers including the Indian Contingent qualified. It was therefore calculated that between 55 and 60,000 pounds would be needed to cover the cost of nearly 500,000 gifts. The final Fund total was reported by the Committee on 30 June 1919 as 193,667 pounds 4s and 10d. Monies from the fund is also reported as having been used, to buy War Bonds and, in War Loans. The funds that remained at the end were apparently transferred to Queen Mary's Maternity Home founded for the benefit of the wives and children of sailors, soldiers and airmen of the newly formed Royal Air Force. Abridged from an original article by Grahame Barber. 2nd Lieutenant R C Leach of the 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment wrote to his mother describing Christmas 1914:
I think we must have had a decidedly more cheerful Christmas than you at home. For a start on getting into billet I found 15 parcels waiting for me. They had a special Post Office bag for them. Well on Christmas morn I spent till about 1.30 issuing presents to the men; both yours which were very welcome and those sent in bulk to be divided amongst the troops, each regiment getting a certain share. There were also Princess Mary's presents which consisted of a packet of cigarettes, a pipe, a packet of tobacco and a Christmas card from King and Queen. Also in the gallery a photo [for information only] of a soldier opening his Princess Mary Gift Tin, Christmas 1914.  read more

Code: 21698

A Most Decorative Imperial German WW1 Soldiers Zeppelin Flask

This is a superb WW1 German Reservists flask (Reservistenflasche). A glass schnapps flask encased in a decorative enamelled metal jacket, with a lanyard in the black, white,black and red colours of the Imperial German Reich. They were made by between 1871 and 1918, for sale to conscripts, wives or sweethearts of soldiers as a memento of their service time. The front and rear of the flask are covered in military themed vignettes, with, a military regimental panel attached to the front, and to the rear a rotating panel surrounded with picture portraits of pretty ladies. The lid is a cup of a soldier sitting astride a Zeppelin that turns to become a drinking cup. Named for the Minden Regt. The figure on the Zeppelin in lacking one arm.  read more

Code: 22326

A Wonderful Collection of Cowper's Evocative Poetry. Stunningly Bound

A wonderful size pocket edition. If there was ever a single poet who should be read by every higher education student Cowper is the one. Poems by William Cowper of the Inner Temple. In two books, within this single volume of 480 pages. Printed for Longman and Co. Paper Ex Libris label of L E WEIR. George Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan. The stages of William Cowper's life: forced into a career in the law that he did not want, forbidden from marrying the woman he loved, and insensed by certain religious and political views of his cousin, can be found within the lines of his verse. His words very much encapsulate the zeitgeist of the late 1700s. The religious tone of The Task, its domesticity, and its treatment of such topics as slavery and consideration for animals, are all anticipated themes associated with the evangelical revival which began in the late 1780s. The clash between Cowper's horror at his cousin's theories and his sense of family and personal obligations unleashed a great burst of creative energy. In the four months from December 1780 to March 1781 Cowper composed 2700 lines of verse, moral satires, in pentameter couplets. This portrait of a man divided particularly demonstrates the conflicting nature of the era. In decorative full calf bindings. Externally beautiful with most handsome tooling with only a little wear to the extremities. Generally very bright and clean with just occasional light spotting on the last two pages. 5.25 x 3 x1 inches approx.  read more

Code: 19925

A Rare King Airship Co. of Washington, USA, an Original & Historic, One Share Stock Certificate, Signed and Dated 7th August 1920

This would make an intriguing a unique gift, especially for a devotee of early aeronautica, and the earliest flying machines, and would look beautiful suitably framed.
On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers were the first to fly in a powered and controlled aircraft. Previous flights were lighter than air vehicles, gliders (control but no power) or free flight (power but no control), but the Wright brothers combined both, setting the new standard in aviation records.

There have been many booms and busts in the aviation industry. The earliest known aviation stock certificate for a company that actually made a flying airship called the Novelty Air Ship Company in 1888. The Novelty Air Ship Company manufactured the vehicle for Professor Peter C. Campbell who was the inventor. Unfortunately, the air ship was lost at sea in 1889 while being test flown by Professor Hogan during an exhibition flight. This historic document was printed by the Goes Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of a Bald eagle. This item has the signatures of the Company’s Secretary and the President and is over 100 years old.  read more

Code: 17807

A Most Rare Airship Parseval Tag 8 Postcard Booklet Set, Chemnitz, Dated 2nd October 1910. a Wonderful Piece of early Airship Aeronautica & Postal Service Ephemera

Parseval day 2nd October 1910, 8 postcard booklet erinnerung an den parseval-tag. Chemnitz

The Parsevals were 22 airships built between 1909 and 1919 by the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft (LFG) following the design of August von Parseval. In the 1920s and 1930s, three more airships were built following the Parseval-Naatz (PN) design.

As with the rival Zeppelins, the airships were, in both English and German, referred to by the name of the inventor. (In German, the nouns were masculine, that is, "der Parseval", "der Zeppelin".)

In contrast to the Zeppelins, the Parsevals were non-rigid or semi-rigid airships, with little or no stiffening structure inside the fabric envelope. The Zeppelins had a rigid internal framework made of duralumin. Both types relied on hydrogen gas to provide lift.

Original early Parseval airship postcards are very collectable indeed, and can fetch from £30 to £40 each, but a near complete book of 8 unused cards is really rare to find and a great aeronautical gem, plus with early air post connections  read more

Code: 24519

Part of a Superb WW1 Machine Gunner's Collection, British and German. A Fabulous Original WW1 Gordon Highlander Machine Gun Corps Medals, Badges, Sporran, Glengarry & Gaiters of Gordon Highlander

British WW1 Machine Gun Corps medals and uniform kit is now some of the most desirable and collectible original artefacts of WW1. All these pieces were belonging, awarded, and worn by WW1 veteran, Pvt L. Jackson, of the Gordon Highlanders Machine Gun Corps. Comprising of his Glengarry cap with badge and tartan patch, his pair of WW1 service medals [named], his sporran with belt, his pair of gaiters in canvas, shoulder titles both Gordons and Machine Gun Corps, his Machine Gun Corps cap badge and sock tassles. Photos for illustration only including a Gordon Highlanders machine gun corps, photographed in June 1914. Captain Hume Gore, who was later to lead George Ramage's platoon, is seated third from right in the front row. [National Library of Scotland reference: Acc.7660 (part)]. The Regiment raised a total of 21 battalions and was awarded 57 battle honours, 4 Victoria Crosses and lost 8,870 men during the course of the war. The Gordon Highlanders was an Infantry Battalion that would have had an MG Section as part of its Battalion Headquarters. These weapons would have been brigaded when the Machine Gun Corps was formed in 1915. The guns, and crews, would have been formed into a Machine Gun Company.
The 1st Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front; they suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Le Cateau in August 1914. The 2nd Battalion landed at Zeebrugge as part of the 20th Brigade in the 7th Division in October 1914 for service on the Western Front and then moved to Italy in November 1917.

Territorial Force

The 1/4th (City of Aberdeen) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division in February 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 1/5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 153rd Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 1/6th (Banff and Donside) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 20th Brigade in the 7th Division for service on the Western Front. The 1/7th (Deeside Highland) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 153rd Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.

New Armies

The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 26th Brigade in the 9th (Scottish) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.[10] The 9th (Service) Battalion and the 10th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 44th Brigade in the 15th (Scottish) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front.

The folk singer and Scottish Traveller Jimmy MacBeath served with the regiment during the war . Just some of the engagements he may have taken part in with his regimental comrades; During 1916
The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin and the attacks on High Wood, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Guillemont, Operations on the Ancre. The attacks on High Wood, The Battle of the Ancre.
During 1917
The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. The First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge, The capture of Bourlon Wood, part of the Cambrai Operations.
Nov 1917 Moved to Italy to strengthen the Italian resistance.
04.11.1918The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Battle of the Tardenois, The Battle of the Scarpe, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, Final Advance in Picardy.  read more

Code: 20851

A Very Fine Early 19th Century, Anglo-Spanish Sporting Gun by Ignacio Bascaran, Dated 1822, One of Spain's Most Important Gunsmiths and Barrel Makers of His day, With His Bespoke Silver Inlaid Barrel

A fine English sporting gun bespoke mounted with a stunning Spanish barrel, by Bascaran of Eibar The main factory of arms, Bascarán de Eibar, was one of the most important Basque companies of the 19th century. It was founded by Bascarán in Eibar in 1820 and its factory continued working until year 1862, date in which the children and later their grandsons were given a position of the factory, the family name in gunsmithing goes back to the 18th century and a gun by Fernando Bascaran is in the Basque Museum . The last gunsmith of the Bascarán clan of which I have news was of Mr. Martín Bascarán, which made a semi-automatic pistol Ruby type until year 1918 to equip to the armies French and English during the I World war. The beautiful city of Eibar Guipúzcoa is a municipality belonging to the region of Bajo Deba in the Basque Country of Spain. It is known as the "City of Gunsmiths." In this illustrious city it has produced some of Spain's leading makers. The first written document referring to Eibar gunsmith industry is a request from Lombard dated 1481. Arms of this grade were incredibly expensive and more often than not made for presentation to important persons. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables.  read more

Code: 23889

Congratulations To Nat Edwards, The New Master of the Armouries at the Tower of London & Director General

Royal Armouries newly appointed director general, Nat Edwards, joins the Royal Armouries from the renown Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds.

Nat Edwards was previously the chief executive officer of Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds where he has overseen a £4m refurbishment of the venue since joining in 2018. He has worked in the sector for more than 30 years, including roles at the Science Museum Group, National Library of Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Glasgow Museums.

The Royal Armouries has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London and Fort Nelson in Hampshire. It employs about 190 staff and receives about 2 million visitors a year across its three venues.
Courtesy of the Museums Association

We were most honoured to receive a personal invitation by Nat to his first formal patrons event at the Tower, including a personal tour of the Line of Kings.  read more

Code: 24508

A Most Scarce Samurai Commander's Saihai, A Samurai Army Signaller

Edo period. For a commander to signal troop movements to his samurai army in battle. A Saihai usually consisted of a lacquered wood stick with metal ends. The butt had a hole for a cord for the saihai to be hung from the armour of the samurai commander when not being used. The head of the saihai had a hole with a cord attached to a tassel of strips of lacquered paper, leather, cloth or yak hair, rarest of all were metal strips. We show the lord Uesugi Kenshin hold his in an antique woodblock print in the gallery. The saihai first came into use during the 1570s and the 1590s between the Genki and Tensho year periods. Large troop movements and improved and varied tactics required commanders in the rear to be able to signal their troops during a battle Uesugi Kenshin (February 18, 1530 ? April 19, 1578) was a daimyo who was born as Nagao Kagetora, and after the adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful daimy?s of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo.

Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, his numerous campaigns to restore order in the Kanto region as the Kanto Kanrei, and his belief in the Buddhist god of war?Bishamonten. In fact, many of his followers and others believed him to be the Avatar of Bishamonten, and called Kenshin "God of War".  read more

Code: 21511

British WW2 Anti Hitler Propaganda Pamphlet "Ein Peinliches Versprechen" An Embarrassing Promise

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

"ein peinliches versprechen". An air dropped propaganda leaflet pointing out that Hitler prophesied a German victory in 1941, as the Year of Final Victory. Undermining the Fuhrer Myth through Black Propaganda and clandestine means became the stated objective of the OSS.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

8.25 inches x 5.25 inches  read more

Code: 24498