London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 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
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
×