110 Year Old Chocolate - South Africa 1900

[seebee1]

It amazes me that such things survive, for all manner of reasons, however they seem not too uncommon, nor overly valuable. This example was found at a local antiques market.

In a period publication, December 1899, it states "The Queen's Chocolate Box. With her customary kindness and forethought, Her Majesty caused to be dispatched to the troops in South Africa, shortly before the close of the old year, a very large number of elegantly designed blue, red and gold tin boxes containing chocolate in cakes, at once the most sustaining and appetising form of food. Every soldier at the front had a box specially assigned to him: in nearly every case they were duly delivered, and in all they were immensely appreciated. Often they were sent home by the recipient untouched, that they might be treasured as heirlooms".

Searching Google there are quite a few interesting pages about these Tins, apparently some 40,000 were produced, in two different sizes. Although obviously now unfit for consumption, this example still retains an aroma, something like musty malt.

Regards, Clive.

[seebee1]

Image 2

[seebee1]

Image 3

[seebee1]

Image 4 - with credit to the Anglo-Boer War Museum.

"In December 1899 The British Army certainly could do with some cheering up. In Black Week, in the middle of the month, amateur Boer soldiers and generals had inflicted some of the worst defeats that the British Army-the most powerful in the world-has ever suffered, much to the delight of the Europeans. Hoping to change their luck, the commanding General Buller was fired-and the men got chocolate....or so the wags quipped. French cartoonists had a field day. "Oh yeah, right, Chocolate Victoria. Just the thing for treating all the wounded you've got".

[seebee1]

Image 5 - Final. Again with credit to the Anglo-Boer War Museum. A neat image of Canadian Soldiers serving in South Africa and recipients of the Queen Victoria Chocolate Tin.

[Patrick Dempsey]

A very nice item from a particularly turbulent time in Imperial British history, thanks for posting the item and photos.

As an aside, there is a memorial to 200 men who were killed in action in the Anglo-Boer Wars from my part of the UK not too far from where i am typing this.

[Beau Brummel.]

MMMM Chocolatey!

As an aside do you remember the christmas puds from the siege of Ladysmith Clive and Patrick? They were fired in by cannon .

Wallaces i think it was auctioned one some years ago replete with muslin and brown paper label. I would really have liked that!

Yours, Guy.

[Patrick Dempsey]

Well,

if one were to be facing impending death i am sure a fullsome, rich Christmas pudding would be foremost in the minds of the stalwart defenders of the domains of Her Brittanic Majesty.

More than a touch of the 'Blackadder' about things, fact is indeed stranger than fiction.

Do you recall what it realised and what was on the label?

[DaveS]

Forwarded this post to a friend who is a Boer War specialist & thought you might be interested in his notes. I haven't posted his pics, but can if you want, or I can email them to you if you'd like:

"No I do not think that he ripped the liner...... What is missing is the shaved wood packing and the Picture of Queen Victoria......

It looks like the Fry's Chocolate.....

Here is the complete set of tin's, Rowntree, Cadbury's and Fry's...... Two in the mailing packages when they were sent home......

I read one newspaper article saying that they were being sold to other soldiers and Officers (who did not get them) for as much as 20 Pounds Sterling which in todays money would be nearly $500.00.....

There is a very good booklet that shows up on ebay occasionaly...... THE STORY OF THE QUEEN'S CHOCOLATE BOX by LENAID KEBAR (1997)

His figures are slightly wrong a total of 120,000 were made in the initial order with an additional 3000 made for the defenders and relief of Mafeking......."

[kammo man]

I would imagine that chocolate has a real high coco content ..unlike Hersheys !!!

Ah ..the best of British .


owen

[seebee1]

Many thanks for the comments. It is exactly as I bought it, the paper liner is torn, but intact, on one side only. I realized the wood shavings are missing also the picture of Queen Victoria. The number of them manufactured I picked-up off a website, guess they have the numbers wrong. Liked the Christmas Pudding story Guy, that is the sort of incoming that no one would mind! Regards, Clive.