I would have to agree wholeheartedly. A "big name" German dealer once offered me a complete KC group (medals and award docs) that in his words "just came directly from the family." I told him I would buy the complete group if he could provide provenance, he could not, so I just bought the award docs. Some months later I was able to get in touch with the family and I learned from the son that he had sold his father's medals years prior to another dealer. I still have all of the emails from the dealer. He made no apologies for flat out lying to me.
This is a for-profit business and many, to include dealer's and some of the vets themselves, will gladly add medals to a document group to enhance the value. Is there not a KC Holder who was discovered to have sold "his medals" several times over to different, unsuspecting collectors?
I believe that many are too quick to accept "provenance." We all must decide what is acceptable for our own collections - for me, a dealer's word or COA is not an acceptable form of provenance.
Sepp, thanks for posting the eye candy though!
Best,
John
This is a for-profit business and many, to include dealer's and some of the vets themselves, will gladly add medals to a document group to enhance the value. Is there not a KC Holder who was discovered to have sold "his medals" several times over to different, unsuspecting collectors?
I believe that many are too quick to accept "provenance." We all must decide what is acceptable for our own collections - for me, a dealer's word or COA is not an acceptable form of provenance.
Sepp, thanks for posting the eye candy though!
Best,
John
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