Please add what you can to the history of modern knowledge of RKs.
I can find little to nothing in publications regarding RKs by maker. RK core and beading defintion.
Here's what I have from my library and knowledge base...
Signal Magazine - 1940's. Great photos and today we can draw conclusions from many of the RK photos. That is today...
"Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich" Littlejohn and Dodkins 1968. Nothing to indicate maker. Pages 117-118. A nice photo of an RK w Oaks on 118. No mention of makers. (Same year I got a Rounder.)
Gordon's book "The Iron Cross" 1984 does NOT detail makers and distinguishing characteristics. (I bought this because I knew NOTHING of the cross. Had one but knew nothing other than what I was told, "they are the equivalent of your grandfather's PlM for WWII."
"Auszeichnungen Des Deutschen Reiches" Kurt-G.Klietmann 1984. Some very nice dark photos but no conversation regarding cross maker type distinctions.
Gordon's book "Knights of the Iron Cross" 1987 begins to show some cross details. For me the first book to show something about the cross. The FIRST I had ever seen. This is mostly a winners book and not intended as a collector's guide to different makers. BUT, now we have an author talking about an L/12!
From Gordon, 1987, "...makers marks being only rarely encountered. The one which does occur most often, however, is that of the esteemed Berlin firm of C.E. Juncker, whose code number was L/12." And, this is important, "Collectors may occasionally encounter a specimen which bears the '800' silver mark and yet is clearly some other metal silver-plated. This does NOT necessarily indicate it is a reproduction. Continental hallmarking practices permit the use of silver marks on such pieces indicating the grade of the silver used in the plating!"
Ailsby's "Combat Medals of the Third Reich". No definition of maker types. 1987. But COLOR photos, I practically wore this book out looking at the photos.
Forman's "Guide to 3rd Reich German Awards..." 1988. Small photos and indications of hallmarked crosses worth more than others.
Why am I listing these resources? A lot of banter has come up lately about "Rounders showing up in the 70's." OK. Considering the first publication I can find of any definition of crosses at all was in 1987 what other publication before then, and I mean to indicate collectors knew about cross differences existed in the 70's? In the 60's?
I have some old Military Advisors but only from the early 90's.
Please help shed some light on the history of the knowledge of RKs.
I can find little to nothing in publications regarding RKs by maker. RK core and beading defintion.
Here's what I have from my library and knowledge base...
Signal Magazine - 1940's. Great photos and today we can draw conclusions from many of the RK photos. That is today...
"Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich" Littlejohn and Dodkins 1968. Nothing to indicate maker. Pages 117-118. A nice photo of an RK w Oaks on 118. No mention of makers. (Same year I got a Rounder.)
Gordon's book "The Iron Cross" 1984 does NOT detail makers and distinguishing characteristics. (I bought this because I knew NOTHING of the cross. Had one but knew nothing other than what I was told, "they are the equivalent of your grandfather's PlM for WWII."
"Auszeichnungen Des Deutschen Reiches" Kurt-G.Klietmann 1984. Some very nice dark photos but no conversation regarding cross maker type distinctions.
Gordon's book "Knights of the Iron Cross" 1987 begins to show some cross details. For me the first book to show something about the cross. The FIRST I had ever seen. This is mostly a winners book and not intended as a collector's guide to different makers. BUT, now we have an author talking about an L/12!
From Gordon, 1987, "...makers marks being only rarely encountered. The one which does occur most often, however, is that of the esteemed Berlin firm of C.E. Juncker, whose code number was L/12." And, this is important, "Collectors may occasionally encounter a specimen which bears the '800' silver mark and yet is clearly some other metal silver-plated. This does NOT necessarily indicate it is a reproduction. Continental hallmarking practices permit the use of silver marks on such pieces indicating the grade of the silver used in the plating!"
Ailsby's "Combat Medals of the Third Reich". No definition of maker types. 1987. But COLOR photos, I practically wore this book out looking at the photos.
Forman's "Guide to 3rd Reich German Awards..." 1988. Small photos and indications of hallmarked crosses worth more than others.
Why am I listing these resources? A lot of banter has come up lately about "Rounders showing up in the 70's." OK. Considering the first publication I can find of any definition of crosses at all was in 1987 what other publication before then, and I mean to indicate collectors knew about cross differences existed in the 70's? In the 60's?
I have some old Military Advisors but only from the early 90's.
Please help shed some light on the history of the knowledge of RKs.
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