What is this nonsense

[zachb]

Please tell me I am correct in assuming that these flags have had these stamps applied post-war or are complete fantasies? Are these even original wartime flags? The seller in one of the descriptions claims he has five of these. Would IJN and IJA symbols ever be on the same flag anyway?

http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-JAPANESE-AR...QQcmdZViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-JAPANESE-NA...QQcmdZViewItem

[Edokko]

It's crap, and the seller is a fraud.
The stamps are added on as "enhancements" by the seller.

[zachb]

This guy is relentless, his stuff is getting more and more ridiculous. Let this serve as another warning to anybody contemplating bidding in one of cupman3's auctions.

[MikeB]

What is this nonsense

Hi Zach-
Good eye Zach! As Edokko said, these were added......for some strange reason. I guess the more ink on the flag, the more interesting it might appear to someone. Some stamp markings like small airplanes, flagpoles with flying flags, postal stamps with images of planes, tanks, guns, troops, in different colors, etc. were added during the War. But these kinds of things should always be viewed as secondary when examining a flag.
As an aside, there is another Tojo flag for sale on eBay. I have seen two available in the past 3 weeks or so. All are virtually identical. MikeB

[RussellM]

How about this one from the same guy??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180278247702

Regards
Russell

[MikeB]

What is this....

If the dealer really wanted to, he could scan an image of the send-off photo and shoot nice close-up shots of the flag too for comparison. From the fuzzy, tough to be 100% sure images, it appears that the flag and photo are the same. I did notice what appears to be a stain on the flag in the image that does not appear to be present on the actual flag, but it is hard to say for sure. .....and that's the point. This might be a good auction lot and then again, maybe not. The flag could be a re-creation of the photo or it could be authentic. Unfortunately, with fuzzy images, everything becomes a bit of a guess. All you have after that is the dealer's "good name." MikeB

[Edokko]

Mike, Russel, surprisingly this one could be the real deal.

[RussellM]

Like Mike, I also thought better pics of the flag in the photo would have been shown. I saw the stain which may be on the photo, but I also wondered how the flag was being held in the pic, no sign of hands anywhere, perhaps by string or ties? There seems to be some wavy black lines showing around the flag which could be ties of some sort, but if they are, the lines at the bottom don't seem to hang as they can be seen rising up on the flag. Any ideas?

Regards
Russell

[MikeB]

What is this.....?

The tie strings appear to be in place if you look at the current images the seller posted. If you look at the vintage picture in the left hand column, third one down, there is some kind of round mark present near the lower right corner of the flag. If you then click on the recent image on the upper right hand side, that mark is not there. Perhaps the images are just not clear enough, who knows....MikeB

[RussellM]

Mike, looking at the pics again the stain is visible in both pics 2 & 3 on the left hand side. What do you make of the black lines around the flag, and how it is being held?

Regards
Russell

[MikeB]

What is this.........?

Not sure what the dark "strings" are other than that they have something to do with helping to keep the flag rigid....? If you look at the first image in the upper right side, the "stain" is not present. That is odd since if it was in the vintage photo (which is the early/earliest photo,) then it should be present in the recent photo taken by the seller too. MikeB

[kaigunfan]

Hello,

YEP - this guy sells a lot of "put together" junk. He burned me on an WW II IJN
mechanic round rate (mounted in a frame w/picture) that was 100% vet owned, yada yada.

When it arrived, I pulled it out of the frame, 100% repro and after I contacted him, the seller would not issue a refund.

Buyer beware. Luckily, it didn't cost me a fortune but being a reputable seller is not about money - honesty/integrity.

Ron

[Jareth]

I just noticed he has 100% positive feedback? How did that happen? Last time I looked he had alott of negs? He also seems to be living back in the states or he's using a stateside address now? Either way he's an F'ing crook!

[Tora_Tora_Tora!]

I just noticed he has 100% positive feedback? How did that happen? Last time I looked he had alott of negs? He also seems to be living back in the states or he's using a stateside address now? Either way he's an F'ing crook!

I suppose be the last, crazy and stupid ebay policy to erase all the negative feedback since the last 12 months of activity whatever you are seller or buyer...

[Mike Dalton]

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Cupman is still out there. What a surprise. Far as I know he is no longer in Nippon. I remember running into him at the flea markets and swapmeets. Not a very friendly sort and always watching what what we would be finding. heard that things have 'dried' up over there unless you are buying from dealers. Beware the Cupman and especially his stories. Estates? My azz.