Product Description

An exceptionally interesting and scarce surviving First World War German 9mm Parabellum ammunition carton, dated 7 June 1918, manufactured by the renowned Gustav Genschow & Co. (GECO) ammunition factory at Durlach, Germany.

This remarkable example retains its original blue-grey cardboard packaging, period German military ammunition label, internal cartridge dividers and a complete complement of 16 original inert 9mm Parabellum cartridges.

Of particular collector interest is the unusual mixture of 1917 and 1918 cartridge headstamp dates contained within the same 1918-dated carton. This fascinating variation provides an opportunity to study German wartime ammunition production across two consecutive years, during the final stages of the First World War.

The cartridges bear the distinctive Ge / D manufacturer markings associated with Gustav Genschow & Co., together with individual month and year production markings.

The original printed carton label identifies the contents as Pistolenpatronen 08, the German military designation for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge used in the famous Luger P08 pistol and other German service weapons.

The surviving packaging is particularly noteworthy. Its blue-grey covering, original German Gothic-script printing, folded cardboard construction and individual cartridge compartments remain present after more than a century.

The cartridges display attractive period patination, with examples retaining both copper-coloured and silvery-grey projectile finishes. The headstamps remain clearly identifiable, making this a particularly desirable reference group for collectors of Imperial German ammunition.

Historical significance

Gustav Genschow & Co. was an important German ammunition manufacturer whose Durlach works supplied military cartridges during the First World War.

By 1918, Germany's ammunition industry was operating under the immense pressures of prolonged industrial warfare. Surviving factory-labelled cartons provide valuable evidence of contemporary production, packaging, component identification and military supply practices.

Unlike individual loose cartridges, this group preserves the original factory packaging and accompanying technical markings, offering a much more complete historical presentation.

Condition

Remarkable overall survival for a First World War cardboard ammunition carton. The packaging exhibits expected age-related wear, minor tears, creasing, staining and some deterioration around the edges and corners. The original printed label remains substantially legible.

All 16 cartridges are present and retain their complete external appearance.

The 1917/1918 date mixture is an unusual feature; whether the mixed cartridges represent original factory packing or a later historical combination has not been established.

A highly attractive and historically significant First World War German ammunition collection piece, combining original 1918-dated packaging, identifiable manufacturer markings and an unusual mixed-year cartridge group.