London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Feb 05, 2025

World War Two Easter egg from 1939 set for auction

World War Two Easter egg from 1939 set for auction

An 84-year-old chocolate egg that survived wartime unbroken and uneaten is being auctioned in May.

The egg was given to nine-year-old Sybil Cook from Neath for Easter in 1939.

With war clouds looming, her uncle advised her to ration it and savour every morsel.

Despite loving chocolate, she did not just ration it, but dutifully kept and treasured it for her whole life, until she died in 2021.

After keeping it throughout WW2 - September 1, 1939 to September 2, 1945 - Ms Cook kept it uneaten and unbroken for another 76 years.

"Mum loved life and chocolate," said daughter Gill Bolter, 61, from Cardiff.

"With war looming her uncle said: 'You be careful with that my girl, there might not be any chocolate around soon'.

"He told her to ration it. Amazingly, she was so disciplined and respectful to her elders she never ate a single piece.

The Mary Mary Quite Contrary Easter egg was named after the popular nursery rhyme


"When we asked mum how she'd managed to keep the egg for so long, she told us that having kept it all through the war it didn't seem right to eat it."

When Sybil died at the age of 91 in 2021, the Mary Mary Quite Contrary egg in blue and white paper remained intact, complete with a decorative garden scene of a little girl with a watering can.

The box still bears her name, Sybil Cook, written in pencil, and the year 1939.

Despite World War Two rationing limiting Ms Cook's access to chocolate, her Easter egg remained uneaten and unbroken


Now, as a tribute to Sybil, her family have decided to part with the Easter egg to celebrate their mother's life and a special family memory.

The 84-year-old egg will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers' May 18 to 23 antiques and collectors auction, with a guide price of £600 to £800.

Ms Bolter added: "The egg was very precious to her. Having kept it safe through her childhood, she took it with her when she left home to get married in 1955 and for 60 years had it tucked away on a shelf in her bedroom.

"After we lost her, one of the care home nurses wrote a lovely tribute. She said: 'I would offer her a piece of chocolate after her evening medication. She'd always smile mischievously at me and say, 'Why not? It's the best medicine after all''.

"It was very hard on us all during Covid. Sadly, like thousands of other families, for 18 months we kept in touch with weekly visits outside the care home when rules allowed.

"But mum deteriorated in early 2021 and sadly passed away a week after her 91st birthday. I still get upset at the memory of us trying to sing happy birthday to her through a window.

Despite loving chocolate, Ms Cook saved the egg for her entire life


"Her Easter egg brings back happy memories for us all including my daughter, her only grandchild.

"Mum loved antiques shows on TV and would have been thrilled to be part of this. It would be lovely if the egg went to a museum alongside mum's wartime memories."

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "The story surrounding this Easter egg melted my heart. It's a wonderful reminder of wartime austerity, respectful obedience and a little girl who was so strict with herself she would not allow herself the tiniest nibble of her favourite treat.

"Preservation by not eating a chocolate egg for more than 80 years has made it valuable, although it's best before date is well gone by its edible value, its commercial value and its memories and nostalgia lives on.

"Food rationing lasted for 14 years in Britain, from 1940 until 1954 - nearly 10 years after the war ended. In 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration was halved.

"Sybil's egg is a reminder of those difficult days. She came from a generation who understood hardship. They learned to cherish and appreciate the smallest things. That's a very fine character trait to have."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
Zelenskyy Urges for 'Robust Security Assurances' from Russia to Conclude the Conflict in Ukraine
European Union Proposes Reforms to 1951 Refugee Convention
China's humanoid robots poised to transform everyday living and spiritual functions.
Changes in US tariffs on Chinese products could affect consumers more significantly than they do China.
How Innovations in China's Humanoid Robots Ignite Fierce Competition with the US
Germany Experiences 34% Decrease in Asylum Applications During Migration Discussion
Experts Challenge Conviction of UK Nurse Lucy Letby for Baby Killings
AfD Chief Alice Weidel Enhances Global Standing Through Meeting with Viktor Orban
Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party Leads Poll Amid Growing Public Demand for Change
Conor Murphy Steps Down as Northern Ireland Economy Minister to Join Irish Parliament
Over 1 Million Face Penalties After Missing HMRC Self-Assessment Tax Deadline
Scottish Government Denies Plans to Ban Cat Ownership Amid Controversy
Bridget Phillipson Urges Parents to Prioritize School Attendance Amid Rising Absence Rates
Keir Starmer Advocates for Stronger UK-EU Security Partnership in Brussels
Six English Councils Granted Permission to Raise Council Tax Bills Above Cap Amid Financial Struggles
Keir Starmer Faces Growing Backlash Over Potential Approval of Rosebank Oilfield
AI Consciousness Raises Ethical Concerns, Say Experts
Families Urge NHS England to Release Full Report on Nottingham Triple Homicide
NHS Initiates Largest AI Trial for Breast Cancer Detection
UK Tightens Regulations on Online Sales of Weight-Loss Injections
Gambling Ads Shown to Parents on Baby Monitor App, Raising Concerns
Ancient Irish Rainforests at Risk Due to the Growth of Monoculture Plantations
EU Leaders Deliberate on Defense Strategy Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
EU Leaders Convene Important Summit on Defense in Response to Rising Tensions
Trump Directs Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Considers TikTok Purchase
Britain Considers U.S. Gas Imports in Response to Possible Trump Tariffs
French Prime Minister Bayrou Confronts Several No-Confidence Votes Regarding the 2025 Budget
Shutdown of USAID Headquarters in Light of U.S. Government Reduction Initiatives
President Trump Launches Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund with Possible TikTok Purchase
Investigation Launched Following Viral Video of Bodybuilder's Airport Prank
Cooling Blankets: A Remedy for Those Who Sleep Hot or Just a Marketing Ploy?
Trump Wins Again as Canada Agrees to Strengthen Border Security
Trump Seeks Rare Minerals from Ukraine in Exchange for U.S. Support
EU Leaders Reach Consensus to Increase Defence Expenditure in Response to Growing Security Threats
UK Business Confidence Declines Amid Economic Uncertainty, Lloyds Survey Shows
Abhishek Sharma's Century Secures India a 4-1 T20 Series Win Over England
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for talks at Chequers.
Australian soccer sensation Sam Kerr confronts a racial abuse trial in London.
Lloyds and Barclays Bank Customers Experience Service Outages
Thames Water Seeks Court Approval for £3 Billion Rescue Plan Amid Crisis
UK Manufacturing Activity Contracts for Fourth Consecutive Month in January, PMI Shows
Ex-British Soldier Receives Sentence for Espionage on Behalf of Iran and Fleeing Custody
Emergency Crews Deployed on Santorini as Earthquake Swarm Raises Concerns
Wall Street Journal Criticizes Trump's Trade War with Canada and Mexico
Trump Freezes Tariffs on Mexico After Agreement on Border Security
Nearly 96% of New Cars Registered in Norway in January Were Electric
×