Large Japanese GI signed flag up auction

[oldflagswanted]

Ran across online a large Japanese flag up for auction. Any comments?

(below) online listing... Lot #475, Auction 25 Feb 2012 @ 10:00
http://www.icollector.com/WWII-Japan...Flag_i11872317
"Large Historical WWII Japanese Headquarters Flag, 8-1/2'x12', maker marked and dated,
captured by U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima and then acquired by 1st Lt. Paul H. Wine, U.S. Air
Corps P51 pilot stationed at Central Field, Iwo Jima, as an escort pilot for B29 bombers.
Wine had the flag autographed in the white field by all members of his squadron, B29 crews,
nurses of the 232 General Hospital, and the Red Cross girls at the hospital. Paul Wine retired
in the late 1970s as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He proudly displayed this flag on his garage
door every August 15 (V-J Day). Condition is very good to near fine, of multi-panel construction.
White area is toning somewhat." Estimate: $1,200-$1,800. With a minimum start bid = $600.

[Der Texaner]

I predict that flag will go for quite a bit more than estimate. Here is the kicker for me though....a P51 pilot got it from marines who captured it on Iwo Jima. Sounds perfectly fine, trophies traded all the time. I'm sure he did have it signed by all those people on Iwo, but can you be 100% sure it's from Iwo Jima? What if a sailor had this in his pack since Guadalcanal and traded to a marine who landed on Iwo Jima? Neat piece.

Joel

[Der Texaner]

100 views and only 1 reply. This surprises me a bit. I thought this might create a bit of a buzz in the market. hmmmmmm

Joel

[Darrell]

100 views and only 1 reply. This surprises me a bit. I thought this might create a bit of a buzz in the market. hmmmmmm

Joel

That's the sad thing. If it doesn't have a swastika 90% here could give a crap.

[GHolp]

What a fantastic flag! But very difficult to display at home

Chris

[b-m-n_animal]

The size of it makes me think it's naval instead of Army, I can’t think of anything large enough army wise that would need a flag this large except maybe an airbase?
But flags aren’t my thing. No way of knowing if it was from Iwo originally as you say it might have been picked up before that and traded. still very nice though.
Hope that someone keeps up his tradition of displaying it on VJ day.

[Alan Smith]

To me, the best part of the grouping is the post-war history of how the vet utilized the flag to remember his wartime service. The flag itself is nice, but is (IMO) in this case merely part of a bigger story.

[Matthew T S]

Looks like a really interesting flag. There would probably be more buzz about it if it had been listed on ebay, I've never been to icollector.com before now.

[JeremyJ]

..

Interesting piece/story.

Thanks for the post.


Jeremy

[oldflagswanted]

went for ???

I predict that flag will go for quite a bit more than estimate...
Joel

JW:
Flag sold to the Bahamas for $1,900.00 USD + $332.50
(17.5%) added as a buyer's premium. Pre-auction bid
estimate was $1,200 to $1,800. Auction location was at
16600 Aston Street, Irvine, California, 92606, USA. The
Auctioneer was Carol Watson's Orange Coast Auctions.
Total for this item is listed as $2,232.50 USD. # bids unk.
OFW