How do YOU display your soldbuchs?

[Rose Heppler]

I'm bored of seeing the same thread at the top for hours.. so,

I wanna know/see how YOU display your soldbuchs?

Mine are put in a shadow box with medals and insignia

[Nico C]

Rob Johnson has some wonderfull displays. Maybe he will show some to us.
(btw, he also has a magnificient collection)

[mr.dogtag]

I'm not a SB/WP collector myself, though I have some nice ones. However in my oppinion displaying paper documents have no sense at all. First of all most of them are multipage and one can't go through the book. The second argument is more serious - exposure to light is a killer agent for mid-XX cent. made paper. I'm an ingineer in printing and paper technology myself, with long time working experience in different paper mills.
My advice is - if you don't need to expose it to light don't do it. This especially applies to front pages where you normally have pictures.
The pictures will fade and paper will start becoming yellow-brownish.
If you want to keep your collection in good shape and stop paper ageing processes - put it in evnelope made of acid-free paper and keep it away from light as much as possible.
Yeah, I know what is a pleasure of hiding the collection in the dark ...
Well that's why I prefer collecting ID tags.
All best
Al
p.s. If you want to make exhibit your SBs framed - either make a good quality colour photocopy or eventually if you decide to sacrifice the book itself use UV filter cover. These are not perfect and protective properties of the filter will not last forever, however that's the only way of slowing down ageing processes I know.

[Rose Heppler]

Exactly Al.

I don't plan on having this stuff forever, thus I would prefer to enjoy it instead of worry about it being properly this and that. I'm not about preserving this stuff, I'm about seeing it and enjoying it and the history. I'm not a museum, nor do I want to be one.

You answered it. Why have it if its not something you can look at and enjoy... so mine is displayed nicely, and if someone or myself wants to look at it more closely, than I take it out of its case.

Thats good advice for someone wanting to preserve them though.

[mr.dogtag]

My God....

[polux]

Hello to all,

The advices of Al are full of common sense. I am a collector of document and he would not come to me to expose documents in the light of the day, this to damage them irreparably.

From my part, all my documents were scanned and the important documents of my collection are in my safe in the bank. The minor documents are stored in boxes under the light, to see enclosed image.

To expose a document, a good copy laser will be enough.

Cordial greetings.

Polux

[mr.dogtag]

Polux,
You will enjoy your collection for years.
In over 20 years of my collecting I have seen so many nice items damaged that I decided not to collect almost any textiles or paper documents, except these directly related to ID tags or rare Polonica related to Warsaw Uprising ( photos, ID docs, etc).
I still remember when being a schoolboy I enjoyed to use mint WH rucksack or mint polish '39 gasmask bag to carry my schoolbooks. These items got worn and damaged quickly and I have never came across ismilar items ( unless I would need to buy them). Pity, as now I would give them away to some fellow feldgear collector for free rather than damaging it so carelessly. I guess we all collect ID document tags to preserve history made up of all the small chapters written in our collectibles.

Of course Military medic - these are your items and you may do whatever you want with them, but I guess it's much better to enjoy them over a longer period of time or even keep them for some further generations.
Good luck!
Al

[CWP]

I have seen some very skillfully made framed displays using printed scans of original documents. The owners of these collectible historical artifacts keep the originals carefully and safely stored and use copies in the framed displays to prevent damage. Often the copies used in the frames are indistinguishable from the originals even at close distance. In this way the collector can enjoy the aesthetic appeal and the thrill of owning the real thing without senselessly sacrificing an irreplaceable historic document. I plan on making some displays like this at some point using copies of items in my collection to augment my uniform displays. The originals are stored in archival acid-free cardboard boxes, each in a mylar sleeve and backed with a piece of buffered card stock to help absorb and neutralize acids. I see myself as a caretaker of these pieces of history and endeavor to ensure that they will be in the same condition when I pass them to their next owner in the future.

[Rose Heppler]

While, all of your advise is good.

I asked to see how you display your items, not how to preserve them or get a lecture.

I wasn't aware that my collection method was not kosher or an approved method. They are not exposed to direct light or in any danger.

I appreciate the lecturing tone the thread has now taken, as clearly to some i am wrong for displaying my collection happily. I apologize if its offended you all, but my method nor yours is right or wrong.

[Prinz Eugen]

...my "two cents"...mine (few) SS Soldbuchs are display in a shadow box with insignia, dog tags, and so on..but close into a cupboard (in complete darkness). I think that in this way, I (or my few friends) can enjoy it without any danger! I understand Al and the reason of the others collectors to keep them for the further generations, but I think that one item (in particular paper item) is nothing without our interest....If it's stored in one box became only a piece of paper...just my opinion...in my terrible english!!!!

[Panzer Rob]

I asked to see how you display your items, not how to preserve them or get a lecture.


I appreciate the lecturing tone the thread has now taken, as clearly to some i am wrong for displaying my collection happily. I apologize if its offended you all, but my method nor yours is right or wrong.

Rose-

There is NOTHING wrong with the way you have your Soldbuch displayed. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but in the end there is no "right" and wrong" - it's up to you and you alone how you enjoy owning and displaying/storing your collection.

I usually store my collection in archival quality protectors in a few bank safe deposit boxes, but once a year I take everything out to display for a few days. I get a lot of enjoyment out of setting everything up, adding in new acquisitions, rearranging things, deciding which books to put out, etc.

These pictures are about a year old (I've added quite a few SS and Wehrmacht Panzer/StuG Soldbücher since I took these!) but in the rare occasion I do have everything set up, here's how I display my Soldbücher, Wehrpässe, Ausweis etc.

I match up all of the awards listed in the SB/WP with original examples, and also try to find corresponding pieces of tunic-removed cloth, such as shoulder boards, collar tabs, rank chevrons, etc; items that would have been worn by the Soldier the Soldbuch originally belonged to. I also try to mach early production (i.e. tombak) awards with early award entries, zinc pieces with later award entries, etc. It makes for a nice challenge, and an accurate, not to mention a very aesthetically pleasing display

I'll probably make more than a few people cringe with these, but hey - this is my collection. I'm not just interested in the "archival" aspect of the hobby, but also the historical connection that Soldbücher have. I'd much rather look at the actual document that was carried in combat and witnessed the battles instead of a high quality laser printer copy!

Some of my Heer Soldbücher and Wehrpässe:




And some of my SS collection:

However in my oppinion displaying paper documents have no sense at all.

You're entitled to your opinion, but IMHO collecting dogtags (which most of the time were issued through training and replacement units and cannot be identified to a specific field unit or individual) - to me - makes no sense at all I'd rather collect and display original SS-Ausweis and personnel files; Soldbuchs to CCC or RK recipients, or Panzer/StuG crew members that I can research, translate and make a time line for and know that they are "THE" original items and actually hold them in my hands and think about where they've been, what battles they have witnessed, etc. There's more to collecting than just preserving.

But to each his own

Rob

[Albrecht]

Beautifully done Mr. Johnson! Just stopped in on this thread, and find myself very impressed with your presentation. You do the relics a real honor.

Best,

B.A.Vierling

[Rose Heppler]

I bet you have some really nice books in there

I like your display very nicely done.

Are those what people call riker cases?

Thanks for showing your display!

Rose

Hello Rose, I believe they are called "Detolf" cases from Ikea.
Check this thread, http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=Detolf

[Rose Heppler]

Ahh Ikea another name i've heard. Thank you sir