A Queen Victoria Christmas Tin to the Soliders in the Boer War

Commemorative tin with hinged lid. The lid has been painted red with a gold and blue border. The edge of the lid is also painted in gold. The centre of the tin has an embossed image of Queen Victoria in gold. To the right of the Queen's image is her cypher, and to her left the text 'SOUTH AFRICA 1900' in blue and yellow. Under the cypher and text is printed a message in cursive script from the Queen, 'I wish you a happy New Year Victoria R'. VG++ condition.
 
In 1900 Queen Victoria conceived the idea of sending a personal New Year’s gift to British soldiers serving in the Boer War in South Africa. This was later extended to include colonial troops and members of the naval brigade. The three major British chocolate manufacturers, Fry’s, Cadbury’s, and Rowntree’s – all Quaker-owned companies – produced the tins of chocolate. Initially, they were reluctant to support the war effort because of their Quaker pacifist ethic, but were persuaded to change their minds. Fry’s tin-makers, Barclay and Fry, designed the tin, and this was copied, with slight variations in design, colour, and size, by the other two firms. In all, 120,000 tins were distributed in South Africa.