Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding cigarette case, presented by King Friedrich August of Saxony, its Last King. Its simple design but quality workmanship does not immediately reveal its high-ranking donor. It measures 2 ⅝ x 3 ⅝ x ½”.

It is marked with Prussia's silver moon and crown hallmarks, followed by "201236 DRGM" and initials "BC", which is probably a maker's mark. DRGM stands for Deutsches Reichs Gebrauchs Musterschutz, which means the case had a protected patent design with the Reich government. According to a Reichs Patent chart, the case dates from 1903, a memorable year for the donor.

There are different monograms on the front and back. On the front is a decorative "FA" surmounted by a crown, jeweler engraved. Imperial Germany had two royal FAs at the turn of the century. We can eliminate Friedrich August, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, because the monogram does not bear a ducal crown. A heraldic chart identifies this as a Rangkrone, the highest form of noble crown, reserved for kings. This case was presented by Friedrich August III, King of Saxony. On the reverse, in the same jeweler's hand, is engraved the initials "WS" He was probably an officer, and definitely a noble. His five-pearled coronet is called an Adelskrone, or modern nobility crown", which was used by the lower ranks of nobility— ranking below a Ritter or Freiherr, because the recipient was un-titled, and bore a simple "von" in his name. Untitled means that while of noble stock, they had no title before their name because they held no title to any great landholdings, such as the duchies, counties and baronies held by dukes, counts, and barons.

Friedrich August III (1856-1932) was Saxony's last king. He was a good and popular king, and had risen through the ranks in Royal Saxon regiments until being promoted to General der Infanterie by his father in 1903, the year before Friedrich was crowned king. He had also been promoted General à la Suite by Kaiser Wilhelm Il in the Kaiserliche Marineinfanterie. (1903 was also a difficult year for Friedrich because it was when his wife had an affair with her Irish dentist and fled the country before her father-in-law could have her committed.) Ultimately the Kaiser promoted Friedrich Generalfeldmarschall.

This case was probably one of many gifts given to fellow officers who served on his staff and to commemorate his coronation in the coming year. As king he was modest and put duty first. An anecdote has him standing in uniform alone on a railway platform, unattended by his aides, when a woman ordered him to move her trunk. He said, "Madam, I am not a porter, l only look like one." In 1918 he abdicated his throne to sparc his beloved Saxony further bloodshed, In 1923 to preserve the peace his son and heir Friedrich August Georg confirmed his decision not to rule and, instead, became a Jesuit priest. During WWII, Father Friedrich the Crown Prince, hid Jews and members of the German underground, only to be arrested and murdered by the Gestapo in 1943.

A truly beautiful piece, ready to display or use for its intended purpose.