South Africa 1900 Rowntree Chocolate Gift Tin GPO address label & contents

A scarce original Boer War 1900 period gift tin sent to troops serving for Queen and Country. Gilded red and blue painted tin, bearing embossed portrait medallion of the Queen; to her left the 'Royal Monogram' and to her right 'South Africa 1900' below a handwritten facsimile message 'I wish you a happy New Year'. Upon opening a full array of chocolate bars stamped 'ROWNTREE & Co.' accompanied by the original South African postal label with Natal GPO ( General Post Office ) date stamp 24th September 1901. Described as a soldiers Chocolate box it was sent by Mrs G.G. Sloane of the Pietermaritzburg YMCA to a Miss Cissie Davis living in Victoria Park London. Good condition, hinges in working order, no major dents, no splits to the corners, paintwork bearing service wear, four choc bars with cracks. Not suitable for consumption !
Size approx 154 x 96mm.
The Queen commissioned the country's three principal chocolate manufacturers, J S Fry & Sons, Cadbury Brothers Limited and Rowntree and Company Limited, to undertake the order for what amounted, by the end of 1900, to 123,000 tins. As Quakers, all three manufacturers refused to accept payment for the order and, not wishing to profit from the War, they offered to donate the chocolate instead.

Code: 65158