SS photo- fake or original?

[Richardxyz]

I was hoping to get some advice as the the authentication of this photo. I bought it from the La Valette Underground museum in the Island of Guernsey.As soon as I looked at the reverse ( after I had purchased it ) I noticed a small russian looking frank which struck me as being odd and possibly redeveloped post war even on period paper ( it passes the backlight test). I was looking to trade it but want to be sure as to its authencity as a pre 1945 example. Any ideas?

[Richardxyz]

**

Here it is!

[Richardxyz]

Frank

Reverse frank

Here it is!

[erichcraciun]

In my opinion and out of my colelction I have noticed that a lot of these fotos are post war reprints from Russian archives. There are quite a few being sold on line these days. I know the German sources of the reprints, however I do not know where the Russian ones come from. If your question was, it is period or not. I would say not. Perhaps someone here could translate the stamp?

Erich Craciun

Reverse frank

[Rick Research]

It indicates it is from the "Spetsfond MVD USSR"-- the Special Fund (Archive) of the Ministry of the Interior of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

MVD was the abbreviation for the former NKVD, renamed in 1946. I'd suspect from this designation that it was STAMPED in the period 1960-62 when MVDs of the Union Republics used this designation. That doesn't necessarily mean the photo dates from then, but that it was processed for inventory or whatever then.

Don't see any reason why they would have REPRINTED what would presumably have been tons of insignificant backlogged captured material, "de-accessioned" by the "X" as of no reason to save.

[Richardxyz]

Thanks guys

Erich and Rick many thanks for your informative answers, it only cost $10 so no major loss and an useful piece of knowledge gained. I bought some collar tabs from the same place so better get those looked at aswell. I guess I let my guard down and was buying in areas I was unfamiliar with. In fact it was the second time I was misled on holiday. The first being when I bought a boxed bottle of aftershave on the plane to discover upon opening it that the bottle was not only in poor condition but completely empty! Fortunately I got my money back on that one after some efforts.

[John T]

At first I agreed with Erich on this one...but what Rick says does make sense and he swayed me...why would they copy something that they had millions of available in their archives. The next time I go to a show I will take a look at the German pix the Russian dealers are selling to see if they look like reprints or original. John

[erichcraciun]

Gentlemen,

my point remains: if you are looking for a German period print - this is probably not it. It is a postwar Russian reprint from the archives. What is happening more often are western European dealers that have period photographic paper and orginal negatives that sell the prints as "original wartime".

Erich

At first I agreed with Erich on this one...but what Rick says does make sense and he swayed me...why would they copy something that they had millions of available in their archives. The next time I go to a show I will take a look at the German pix the Russian dealers are selling to see if they look like reprints or original. John

[Richardxyz]

I could better understand negatives becoming available somehow and being developed by individuals for monetary gain but I can't imagine the Ministry of the Interior of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic developing it with that in mind. Would the Spetsfond MVD possessed the need to develop original negatives so many years after the war had finished? Or could be one of thousands of photos that were being sifted through before being binned. Though I agree Erich, that it leaves too many questions to be answered for me to be completely happy, though I am learning a lot!

Gentlemen,

my point remains: if you are looking for a German period print - this is probably not it. It is a postwar Russian reprint from the archives. What is happening more often are western European dealers that have period photographic paper and orginal negatives that sell the prints as "original wartime".

Erich

[_The_General_]

I have the exact same foto Fake!!

[Richardxyz]

I have the exact same foto Fake!!

Perhaps they are twins! Joking aside I think that probably decides it.

[Richardxyz]

Perhaps they are twins! Joking aside I think that probably decides it.

Incidentally General does yours have the same stamp on the reverse? Another curious thing if you look carefully in the top right corners of the actual picture you can see there are not perfect corners or anywhere near.

[_The_General_]

I will make a scan, and look for stamps tomorrow when i'm at home,

[Gaspare]

These photos came out around 1996-97. I saw them in Kiev. There should be another stamp or 2 on them.. Each different photo subject was in a bundle , some 20, some 50 to a bundle. They were made after the war crime trials from period negatives. These were guys they were looking for and guys they were still trying to get info on.. Most were SS and Foreign Legion guys but you will see panzermen sometimes too.
They make horrid copies of these copies, the paper glows, sometimes the images are blurry.. I too have a photo of this same guy but with his field cap on.. , G.

[Si1964]

It may be a dumb question, how can you tell if you have period photo

Would a light test be affected by the chemicals invloved in photo development??