Imperial German Smoking Accessories
 
 
Brass matchbox cover with a brass Preußen "Gott Mit Uns" belt buckle center. This is the most commonly encountered style, and could be Allied or German manufactured.
A superb patriotic matchbox. The box is silver with a sliding drawer to house the matches with a striker plate on the side. The front is embossed with a detailed likeness of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Around the feature of Wilhelm are; "GOTT MIT UNS"' and "KAISER WILHELM II" with his birth date of; "GEB 27 JAN 1859".
A black enameled matchbox cover with a color picture of Hindenburg and an engraved Iron Cross.
Crown Prince Wilhelm's 1916 Christmas gift to the 5th Army. The cigarette case is black enameled with a color picture of Prince Wilhelm. The case is engraved "5. Armee Weihnachten 1916" on the reverse. The case was given out with a cloth bag, which is maker marked "Berlin". Crown Prince Wilhelm was the heir to the throne, and would have become Kaiser after the death of Wilhelm II. As the Commander of the 5th Army, Prince Wilhelm gave every man a gift at Christmas for the duration of the war.
A unique brass machine gun matchbox cover. The cover is embossed with a MG08, surrounded by machine gun belts, similar to the machine gunners cloth qualification patch. The back of the cover is marked " Andenken an der Weltkrieg" and maker marked "Cöln".
Crown Prince Wilhelm's 1915 Christmas gift to the 5th Armee was a small leather pouch containing tobacco. The sack is stamped with a large crown and "W" for prince Wilhelm, and also stamped "5. Armee Weihnachten 1915" on the reverse. A porcelain pipe with likeness of Prince Wilhelm is shown with this item.
Brass matchbox cover with a Pickelhaube embossed onto the front. The reverse is marked "Souvineer of France" indicating that this was an Allied made cover.
Brass matchbox cover with a brass Preußen "Gott Mit Uns" belt buckle center. There is a small additional piece under the buckle center marked "Sir De France" indicating that this cover was French manufactured.
A patriotic cigarette case. The case is steel, and may have originally been gilded, as the interior remains gilt. The exterior displays an Iron Cross surrounded by oak leaves, with the motto " KRAFT UND WEHR FUR RECHT UND EHR". The case is dated inside "Aug. 18.18" and marked to the owner "Maj Kelzes Erst Batt. 5. Komp Inf. Regt 179.".
A patriotic cigar case. The case is pebbled silver, with a helmeted soldier's bust on the cover. Although pure silver and of high quality, the case is not maker marked.