Neath girl's 1939 Easter egg finally sold at auction

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

An 85-year-old Easter egg that survived World War Two has finally been sold at auction.

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

As the conflict was looming, her uncle advised her to ration the Mary Mary Quite Contrary egg and savour every morsel.

But instead of taking a single bite, she treasured it, keeping it unbroken and uneaten for the rest of her life, until she died at 91 in 2021.

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The egg remained intact, still wrapped in its blue and white paper.

The box, which is complete with a decorative garden scene of a little girl with a watering can, still has her name on it, written in pencil, and the year 1939.

On Tuesday, Hansons Auctioneers announced it had gone under the hammer to an online buyer.

The chocolate egg was given to nine-year-old Sybil in 1939, shortly before World War Two broke out

However, it failed to smash its target, with the guide price set between £300 and £500, and was sold for £200.

"Mum loved life and chocolate," said Sybil's daughter Gill Bolter, 62, 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.

"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."

Despite war rationing limiting access to chocolate, Sybil's Easter egg remained uneaten and unbroken

As a tribute to Sybil, her family decided to part with the Easter egg to celebrate her life and a special family memory.

"The egg was very precious to her," said Gill. "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.

"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."

Despite loving chocolate, Sybil Cook saved the egg for her entire life until she died aged 91

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 its 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."

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