EK Books

[Leroy]

Here's Prowse (old and beat up or, in other words, used).

[streptile]

Here's Prowse (old and beat up or, in other words, used).

Thank you, Leroy. It looks almost like a pamphlet.

[Leroy]

It IS a pamphlet (62pp.) Published in 1974 as one of 400 copies.

[streptile]

It IS a pamphlet (62pp.) Published in 1974 as one of 400 copies.

An Iron Cross fanzine...

[Leroy]

That's basically right.

As antiquated as a lot of these references are, they are still worth having. There is still no one individual work which has everything in it and by having as many as possible, you will cover a lot more bases. Dietrich's book is the best so far on the Knights Cross (and higher pieces), but I still would want Williamson, Forman, etc., etc. as well. Sorting through the contradictions can be fun!

[George Stimson]

"As antiquated as a lot of these references are, they are still worth having."

I agree completely with this. When it comes to reference books, you should get them all -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[streptile]

Well, I just ordered myself a copy of the Prowse Iron Cross fanzine. It was the lowest price I'd seen in some time, and my curiosity's gotten the better of me.

I should also say, since a few people have commented to me about this in PMs: I think "quaint" was a little harsh as a description of Bowen's book. I love it, personally: he's got English translations of a lot of the actual government documents relating to the Iron Cross, and spins a great narrative, especially on the 1813 EK. I just meant that the science of collecting wasn't where it is today.

And a question: There's another book I've heard about but never seen, published in 1916 and written by Heinrich Zille, called Das Eiserne Kreuz. I believe some of the photos in Bowen's book of EKs being made are lifted from Zille, if memory serves. Does anyone have Zille? Is so, what's it like?

Thanks in advance,
Trevor

[streptile]

Time to update this thread with a few new additions.



-- Unkn, Der Lohn Der Tat. As near as I can tell, it was published sometime between 1941 and 1944, and was intended to familiarize German youth with the awards available to soldiers in the Wehrmacht for outstanding bravery and service. Shown in greater detail and discussed a bit HERE.


-- Prowse, The Iron Cross of Prussia and Germany. Yes, it's been shown upthread, but this is my copy, a bit different from the others. States on the cover it is a "Reprint from "The New Zealand Numismatic Journal" and was limited to 500 copies.
-- Reichel, 127 Jahre Eisernes Kreuz. Also a reprint from a WWII original patriotic and informational book. Nice, but the fraktur text makes for tough reading.



-- Kranz, Orden und Ehrenzeichen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
-- Geeb & Kirchner, Deutshe Orden und Ehrenzeichen.

For those of us who also love and respect the 1957 EKs, these are interesting books. A bit from the inside pages:

[HuD]

Very nice thread guys, i do love to get reference book and i am trying to recover the old ones...
Last week i got the small Williamson book on ebay france and i think it was good cause i payd a fair price for it

My first reference on Iron Cross was a very big book printed in Italy at the beginning of the 90s by a retired army officer.
Here you have a pic of the book "Decoration to the Valour and Merit of the German Army 1933/1945"

Cheers,
Stefano

[Darrell]

...... . Lets say for an access fee , renewed every 3 to 5 years, ... ......

Douglas

I'd say the Access Fee has already been paid by Assn Members.

[Dietrich Maerz]

As antiquated as a lot of these references are, they are still worth having. ... Sorting through the contradictions can be fun!

Don't forget "Detecting the Fakes!" Lot's of fakes inside to detect.

[Steve Campbell]

Looks like a great library there Trevor. I would love to have a look at those. I have Pretveria's "Iron Time" and I must say the pictures and some of the examples he shows, especially the cased items are unreal. It's Iron Cross porn!

[streptile]

Looks like a great library there Trevor. I would love to have a look at those. I have Pretveria's "Iron Time" and I must say the pictures and some of the examples he shows, especially the cased items are unreal. It's Iron Cross porn!

Thanks, Steve. I agree with you that some of the examples in The Iron Time are just out of this world. For an Imperial collector, there is simply nothing like the 2nd Ed. -- especially the greatly expanded section on the 1870 Iron Cross. I spend hours looking at it.

I'm really looking forward to Dietrich and George's EK1 book, then the EK2 book. The next trick is to get those two interested in the Imperial crosses -- now that would be a book!

[Leroy]

Don't forget "Detecting the Fakes!" Lot's of fakes inside to detect.

You mean it's not reliable??? I am shocked!!

[DavidM]

Hello

Only just seen this thread, via the link Trevor put into a more recent one. So, here are my EK related books, some of which you will have already seen. As for 'Detecting The Fakes', it was written in 1989 and was at least an attempt to bring to the notice of collectors, all be it in a small measure, that there are fakes out there, and to be aware. Granted, today it is of very little use, given the sophistication of some fakes now and the information exchange available one forums like this.

I'll leave the last words on books to Benjamin Franklin who said:

If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him. and An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Regards
David