I just got an example of Forma's new price guide. I cannot and will not comment on the colors and the layout (I also do never comment on British food because both are a matter of taste). I will also not comment on the prices, since they, too, are a matter of taste, area and economy.
However, it might be allowed to comment on the ignorance regarding some terms and reagrding the depth of research put into this book. Going by the bibliography, the author has stopped reading books other than his own in 1991 since this is the "youngest" book in the bibliography: Nimmergut, Pioniere der Arbeit, OMM Journal 1991.
I do not know whether it is ignorance or arrogance, but to ignore the works of Williamson, Geissler, Previtera, Durante, Garlasco, Weber, Skora, David, Stimson, and others and a time frame of 21 years (in words: twenty one!) is beyond any comprehension.
Of course, this blatant neglect is reflected in some of the categories. It is completely out of touch with the reality of the hobby to categorize the Knights Cross in "official issue hallmarked "800", in "Deluxe Type also officially awarded" and "unmarked silver and silver-plated, examples known, non-iron centres" and assign prices which are completely out of touch with reality. Regarding to Forman, a non-iron Neusilber Juncker would go for $ 3.500 - 5000!
The depth of research shows when one compares the 2012 issue with the 3rd Edition of 2001! For the Knights Cross section one finds the same text and the same categorizing save one difference: Forman puts the 3/4 Ring Knights Cross (which he does not call like that .. but rather Schinkel form ..) in to a "1st Form" and asserts that those were the first Knights Cross type awarded (which is wrong, the first was Juncker, the 3/4 Ring was early - that at least is true).
With great astonishment the reader learns that the there was evidently a plethora of oaks and oaks with swords awarded during the Third Reich! This goes from "800" with plain reverse swords, over 21&900, L/50&SILBER 935", "L/13&950" up to "L/12&800". Of course there are also silver-plated and umarked swords for the low price of $ 7.500,- or $ 4,500.- for the oaks (but in "fine quality").
This reads more like the shopping list of a shady dealer than a honest price guide!
I am still looking for the elusive 8 rivet German Cross for $ 2000 - 3000.....I had hoped that would have been discovered as a fantasy by Forman between 2001 and 2012. It wasn't ...
If one compares the reference numbers of the badges one will see that No. 69 in 2001 was the Numbered Tank Assault Badge in Bronze and that is also No. 69 in 2012 and has the same text.
Forman has done nothing else than to assign new pricing to old categories. He has ignored the last 11 years of studies and research and - to make the book appeared "new" has separated the pricing from the picture in an successful effort to make the book extremely hard and cumbersome to use. For good measures, he has filled black pages with small pictures which have either pink, violet, bright blue or red antique frames (well, no I did comment on the color layout ....).
IMHO this book is a nice reflection of the state of the research of 1988 (Forman's first edition) and should immediately reassigned into the antiques category. A new and useful book it is not not - not even by a far stretch. Forman has not done his homework and has produced something that in certain categories is dangerous since it suggests the genuine existence of orders and badges which are only known as fakes! And he assigns high values to such fakes.
Dietrich
However, it might be allowed to comment on the ignorance regarding some terms and reagrding the depth of research put into this book. Going by the bibliography, the author has stopped reading books other than his own in 1991 since this is the "youngest" book in the bibliography: Nimmergut, Pioniere der Arbeit, OMM Journal 1991.
I do not know whether it is ignorance or arrogance, but to ignore the works of Williamson, Geissler, Previtera, Durante, Garlasco, Weber, Skora, David, Stimson, and others and a time frame of 21 years (in words: twenty one!) is beyond any comprehension.
Of course, this blatant neglect is reflected in some of the categories. It is completely out of touch with the reality of the hobby to categorize the Knights Cross in "official issue hallmarked "800", in "Deluxe Type also officially awarded" and "unmarked silver and silver-plated, examples known, non-iron centres" and assign prices which are completely out of touch with reality. Regarding to Forman, a non-iron Neusilber Juncker would go for $ 3.500 - 5000!
The depth of research shows when one compares the 2012 issue with the 3rd Edition of 2001! For the Knights Cross section one finds the same text and the same categorizing save one difference: Forman puts the 3/4 Ring Knights Cross (which he does not call like that .. but rather Schinkel form ..) in to a "1st Form" and asserts that those were the first Knights Cross type awarded (which is wrong, the first was Juncker, the 3/4 Ring was early - that at least is true).
With great astonishment the reader learns that the there was evidently a plethora of oaks and oaks with swords awarded during the Third Reich! This goes from "800" with plain reverse swords, over 21&900, L/50&SILBER 935", "L/13&950" up to "L/12&800". Of course there are also silver-plated and umarked swords for the low price of $ 7.500,- or $ 4,500.- for the oaks (but in "fine quality").
This reads more like the shopping list of a shady dealer than a honest price guide!
I am still looking for the elusive 8 rivet German Cross for $ 2000 - 3000.....I had hoped that would have been discovered as a fantasy by Forman between 2001 and 2012. It wasn't ...
If one compares the reference numbers of the badges one will see that No. 69 in 2001 was the Numbered Tank Assault Badge in Bronze and that is also No. 69 in 2012 and has the same text.
Forman has done nothing else than to assign new pricing to old categories. He has ignored the last 11 years of studies and research and - to make the book appeared "new" has separated the pricing from the picture in an successful effort to make the book extremely hard and cumbersome to use. For good measures, he has filled black pages with small pictures which have either pink, violet, bright blue or red antique frames (well, no I did comment on the color layout ....).
IMHO this book is a nice reflection of the state of the research of 1988 (Forman's first edition) and should immediately reassigned into the antiques category. A new and useful book it is not not - not even by a far stretch. Forman has not done his homework and has produced something that in certain categories is dangerous since it suggests the genuine existence of orders and badges which are only known as fakes! And he assigns high values to such fakes.
Dietrich
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