Who has the money for it ?

[Thälmannpionier]

But it interests me that on the rare occasion when something of this sort shows up on ebay, we then are quick to criticize the cost and question the seller. And then question the buyer. The same buyer next week we will ask to post pictures of their rare DDR items on the forum so we can all look at them.

correct and I'm not questioning the Seller at all as I know he has 1st Class Stuff for Sale sometimes and he also collects 1st Class DDR Stuff.
I was just not that comfortable with the Price for such Uniform..but than,I do only collect 2 1/2 years from now and have not that much experience regarding early DDR Tunics like many others here. I'm just very surprised that those Uniforms sell for more than Wehrmacht Tunics these days and questioning myself if this Price is justified..but it probably is

Regards
Andreas

[Thälmannpionier]

I don't critizice them. I applaud them. Lets all remember that we are preserving these items that would otherwise end up in a dust-bend or trash heap somewhere, rotting away. We are literally saving the history of the DDR. We can all take great pride in that.

100% agree and again,I'm glad that this rare bird went in good hands
looking forward for better photos of the Uniform

[Thälmannpionier]

..just a little Story that might fits or fits not in this Thread..but I would like to tell it anyway. I was on a local Flea Market today as a "Vendor"..first Time for me,because I always go on Flea markets to buy and not to sell.. I thought I would display some of my early Visor Hats with Bullseye and some with Staatswappen and Bullion Insignia...first I have to say,I did not want to sell the Visors at all!!..my intention was more to see if maybe someone comes up and says: "hey,nice Hats,I also have 1 like this from my NVA Time or.. I do collect also" because alot older people come to this Flea Market...But to my surprise, not one of the people there even noticed the Visors!! or had a look at them!!
That probably shows,that alot people here do not even know how rare such Things are.If I would have told them I want 250EUR for the Bullseye NCO LSK Visor..they would have looked at me,like I would come from Mars
But I have to add,that it was a rather small Flea Market and it probably would have been much different in Berlin..for sure.
Regards
Andreas

[Mike G.]

Hi Andreas,

This will probably come as a surprise to many, but some of the DDR memorabilia is actually much more rare than its Wehrmacht counterpart. I am not saying that it is more collectible. Lets face it, the number of people that collect Wehrmacht are tremendous vs. DDR collectors. And Wehrmacht will always be looked upon as more collectible than DDR.

But it is interesting that the reasons many people collect the DDR memorabilia, are far different from the collectors who collect the Wehrmacht memorabilia. Many seem to have a personal attachment to it via personal life experience. How many collectors living today of Werhmacht memorabilia can make that claim?

Keeping with comparisons of Wehrmacht and DDR, it is interesting to note for example, that with respect to Dark Collar Color Piped era, the uniforms - particularly Rear Services, Signals and Pioneer, are extremely rare, and very much more rare than their Wehrmacht counterpart. If you think about it, you will suddenly come to the realization that this is really so.

Finding an NVA Leistungsabzeichen of 1956 era is also virtually impossible today. That's because they were turned back in, in 1959, and punched with a staatswappen. So they exist, but not in their initial issue version without the staatswappen. When you do come across one of these without the staatswappen for sale, it will be for a very high cost. Again, given the circumstances, I don't think the cost for something of this sort, to be unreasonable.

I also think it is a mistake to compare DDR with Wehrmacht. Personally I don't make comparisons, and don't really care what a collector of a given Wehrmacht item pays, vs. what I pay for a DDR item. If I desire to have the particular DDR item in my collection, I might pay more than another DDR collector who does not need the item.

I agree that sometimes things can and do get rediculous. I've seen the Grenz Post Shields for sale lately for rediculous asking prices, and they are not even real. So I'm not saying prices cannot be beyond reasonable. I am however of the opinion, certain articles are rare enough, and in demand enough, that a possessor of such, wishing to sale it, can ask a reasonably high price for it.

And as we all know, the items will sell based upon the willingness of the buyer to pay the price. I agree fully that none of us has to buy anything out there for sale. So it is still pretty much market driven.

In the case of the articles that were for sale about which this thread originated, the driving home point for me was the fact these articles are an ensemble, and they are circa 1956 - the birth of the NVA. They didn't even wear helmets at the parade that year. It is a historic year, and I think that justifies the value of the articles being a lilttle more pricey. But I certainly agree, that is only an observation and an opinion, of which we all have different observations and opinions, and no one person is right or wrong.

It is really neat to see that this stuff still shows up from time to time, and that we collectors are still presented with opportunities to acquire some of it if we so desire. Nice to see some of the German Sellers that have the really good stuff, starting to use Paypal too.

All you Fathers out there (I'm not) - Happy Father's Day - tomorrow.

[Thälmannpionier]

Hi Andreas,

Lets face it, the number of people that collect Wehrmacht are tremendous vs. DDR collectors. And Wehrmacht will always be looked upon as more collectible than DDR.

Many seem to have a personal attachment to it via personal life experience. How many collectors living today of Werhmacht memorabilia can make that claim?

the fact these articles are an ensemble, and they are circa 1956 - the birth of the NVA. They didn't even wear helmets at the parade that year. It is a historic year, and I think that justifies the value of the articles being a lilttle more pricey.

All you Fathers out there (I'm not) - Happy Father's Day - tomorrow.

Hi Michael,
well explained and it now makes much more sense to me
Regards
Andreas

[Mike G.]

Andreas,

I as you know, will be in Berlin for a couple of weeks in September this year. I hope it might be possible for the two of us to meet. Beer and Curry Wurst mit Ketchup und Pommes Fritz is of course on me. Cheers.

[torstenbel]

Andreas,

I as you know, will be in Berlin for a couple of weeks in September this year. I hope it might be possible for the two of us to meet. Beer and Curry Wurst mit Ketchup und Pommes Fritz is of course on me. Cheers.

Hi Michael, when was it that you were going to Berlin again? I will be in Berlin again for a couple of days in July and might have to go again soonish after...possibly in September?? Would certainly also like to meet up with you and Andreas...if you let me ...Cheers, Torsten.

[Thälmannpionier]

Andreas,

I as you know, will be in Berlin for a couple of weeks in September this year. I hope it might be possible for the two of us to meet.

have sent you a PM

[Mike G.]

Andreas and Torsten,

I'll PM you.

Also, I think Bryan will still possibly be in Berlin.

[wessel]

Gordon... I have been looking back at threads relating to Helmut Bruck and see you have some of his items.
You may be interested in seeing photos of this piece that I got recently in an auction. It is a presentation eagle with dedication to him on the awrd of his Oakleaves on 19/2/43.

[wessel]

...the dedication.