And They Lived Happily Ever After: Long Range Collecting In Practice

[Rick Research]

June, 1995: the pre-internet snail mail catalog of a Certain Midwestern American militaria auction house--

[Rick Research]

Thanks to my detailed interrogation of Al in Descriptions, this arrived at my house July 11, 1995:

[Rick Research]

WHAt thhhuuuhh????....

German eBay, June, 2004:

[Rick Research]

Nine years to the week...

TODAY arrived at my house

[Rick Research]

Correctemundo-- UNIQUE ribbon bar matching UNIQUE medal bar obtained half a world apart... nine years to the week apart.

Sadly, because I am not, will not, do not, and never HAVE collected for "investment," I paid over TWICE what the ribbon bar was "worth" and indeed, the RIBBON bar cost me what the MEDAL bar did.


because it was the Right Thing To Do.

They are back Together Again...

[George Stimson]

That's an amazing and inspiring tale, Mister Research!

[Mike C]

Rick,

Regarding the cost of the medal bar - you simply had no choice. Given the match, it was something that had to be done. And the group is now even more spectacular!

Mike

[Bill D.]

Remarkable, and gratifying to see the love of history and the quest for historic preservation take precedence over the dollar.


All too rare in this hobby.

[David S]

Absolutely smashing

Cost is secondary (relatively) when it comes to reunting pieces . . . I'm sure that the amount of joy when it arrived overshadowed the amount of money it cost.

There is hope for the rest of us

[Blitz]

Ahh... How lovely.. Brings tears to my eyes.. Such a happy ending.
Thank you for making the sun shine, Rick.

[Dez H]

Nice to read a happy tale here on the forum, rather than hearing of groups being split up and destroyed forever. Good job Rick

Now.....

What have you done with von Lundstorm?

[John Skandalis]

Family is back again united.

Rick, the one who always seeking, always finds (old saying).

[Klaus O.]

Dear Rick,

I am so happy for your that you can reunite this "family"... I saw it on Ebay and was very tempted to bid on it... I am quite releaved that I haven't done it. Good job! In a couple of occasions I tried to keep together items which belonged to the same owner/wearer... unfortunately unsuccessfully! Finally a story with a happy ending.

Ciao,

Claudio

[Adrian Stevenson]

Well done Rick This is what collecting should be about.


Cheers, Ade.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Nice job!