The Best Badge Find on Forum This Weekend

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Yesterday I aquired a solid silver cap badge of the 11th Battalion the Border Regiment (The Lonsdale Pals).

Working from my 1977 price guide (no typo) I see that Keith Rawlinson rated this badge at that time at 60 pounds.

I`m very sorry to claim this is the best find of the weekend, I`m just chuffed to bits because this is probably in the top ten of the rarest WW1 British cap badges

Steve.

[ROBB]

No doubt thats a very nice badge but was it the Bargain find of the weekend? Rob.

[Jim Maclean]

OK I cheat a little, this was last weekend

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That a very nice badge Jim although I have seen others for sale. One came up in Bosleys mail auction Feb of this year it made 232 pounds. I thought that price was a tad high as the Armoured Car Company was on the go from 1922 to 1938. Dont get me wrong its still a rare badge. I dont have one simply because its not something you could find in a general antiques shop for a few pounds because its got the words "armoured car" on it which creates an instant interest.

The 11th Borders were formed in 1914 as one of the famous Pals Battalions and were reduced to cadre in 1918. I would consider an other ranks brass example to be common but as the one I have is officers silver dress it makes all the difference.......an almost 20 fold price difference.

I paid 15 Brit for my badge. There is no way for me to guage its current market value as Ive never seen another come up.

Steve.

[max7474]

How about my new purchase of a plastic economy Buckinghamshire cap badge with both blades in place and the red felt. Only 11000 made and that makes it of of the rarest plastic after the Education corps (800 made and worth about £600) and the Scots and Coldstream Guards which had about 5000 each. Value - don't know but a couple of hunderd would not be unknown?

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I hope I dont get in trouble for pinching some material from another forum.

'It is also recorded that the 11th Battalion of the Border Regiment, the Lonsdale Pals? I think where also given a Solid Silver Badge by Lord Lonsdale when in a camp in southern England awaiting the move to France a pitch battle took place with a Battalion of local "Terriers" and a lot of the badges where taken as spoils of war! Wouldn't mind a few of those, going for an amazing £500 a piece if you can find one.'

Steve.

[max7474]

I hope I dont get in trouble for pinching some material from another forum.

'It is also recorded that the 11th Battalion of the Border Regiment, the Lonsdale Pals? I think where also given a Solid Silver Badge by Lord Lonsdale when in a camp in southern England awaiting the move to France a pitch battle took place with a Battalion of local "Terriers" and a lot of the badges where taken as spoils of war! Wouldn't mind a few of those, going for an amazing £500 a piece if you can find one.'

Steve.

So is this an officers badge or the gift from the Lord to the new recruits. Hallmark date should help. 1914 or later?

[Ciaran Byrne]

I am interested to know what the top ten rarest badges are. Any chance of listing them all in order?

[max7474]

I am interested to know what the top ten rarest badges are. Any chance of listing them all in order?

Quite impossible. There are too many and some are rare because so few were made or some because they are so sought after. Some are rare because no one collected them at first such as the WW2 plastic ones. You then have officers adges - the list goes one.

[Jim Maclean]

That a very nice badge Jim although I have seen others for sale. One came up in Bosleys mail auction Feb of this year it made 232 pounds. I thought that price was a tad high as the Armoured Car Company was on the go from 1922 to 1938. Dont get me wrong its still a rare badge. I dont have one simply because its not something you could find in a general antiques shop for a few pounds because its got the words "armoured car" on it which creates an instant interest.

The 11th Borders were formed in 1914 as one of the famous Pals Battalions and were reduced to cadre in 1918. I would consider an other ranks brass example to be common but as the one I have is officers silver dress it makes all the difference.......an almost 20 fold price difference.

I paid 15 Brit for my badge. There is no way for me to guage its current market value as Ive never seen another come up.

Steve.

OK you win Steve, I paid 27 quid, but this particular badge was only in use in '37 & '38.

Silver badges seem to realise incredible prices, Fleapay, in the last week had a 4 piece Seaforth officer's go for £216. I'm off to caress my 3 piece.

[leigh kitchen]

How about my new purchase of a plastic economy Buckinghamshire cap badge with both blades in place and the red felt. Only 11000 made and that makes it of of the rarest plastic after the Education corps (800 made and worth about £600) and the Scots and Coldstream Guards which had about 5000 each. Value - don't know but a couple of hunderd would not be unknown?

Got the Grenadiers & the Scots Guards plastic economies a couple of months ago for about £80 each. 21702 Grenadiers & 5040 Scots produced.

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Come on lads you have to admit its a great badge with out any doubt.

Sadly, the badge isnt hallmarked. But it wouldnt of been in my collection now for 15 pounds if it were because I dont think the dealer realised its silver. I am 100& sure it is not plated. You can see from my photo the high points of the badge have been polished.

At first I did think it was officers dress silver, then I found that post. But now Ive changed my mind because I didnt know the history of the battalion.

As for the top ten cap badges. I think perhaps it may be possible to list the top ten for each period, Victorian, Edwardian, WW1, Post WW1 etc. Perhaps we could then take these lists and come up with a definitive top ten. I can see a lot of arguements on the horizon, but heh, it would be a boring forum if we all agreed with everything thats said here.

Steve.

[Jim Maclean]

I am interested to know what the top ten rarest badges are. Any chance of listing them all in order?

No is the short answer to that.

Probably the rarest are WW2 units like RSR, LRDG, PPA etc. Steve's is rare and if it is actually one of the first issued rather than a private purchase Officer's badge.

If you want really rare go for the HMS Fisgard beret badge, locally made and cast. Probably less than 100 made.

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The big problem with badges is that there were hundreds of privately made officer items that themselves are unique. I once saw a solid gold Notts and Derby badge at the old Nottingham Arms Fair........not a sweet hearts. That was unique.

So if we were to come up with a list we would have to discount those.

Steve.

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

you win Steve! that's an excellent find

it looks like a very high quality no expense spared cap badge