Extremely rare tinder lighter as found in WW1 Princess Mary’s Christmas gift tin. Features the crown with an ‘M’ cypher underneath and  stamper ‘XMAS FUND 1914’. Stamped Asprey London on the back. Complete with original yellow rope, in excellent unused condition. 

The lighters are one of the rarer items that should have been included with the Christmas gift tins. Asprey & Co was unable to fulfil its contract for half a million lighters as the stones used in them were supplied by companies in Austria. As the war progressed they did not feel inclined to replace supplies when Asprey & Co ran out. Instead replacement items were delivered making the lighters very scarce.