I would have to agree very much with the sentiment that we as collectors attach nostalgic value to an otherwise inanimate item that may be well worthless to a layman or collector of another interest. The assertion that items should only be valued on a strictly military historical basis is admirable but naive.
As collectors, we seek out those items that interest us, and as whole, collectors have always assigned a higher value to things that have a provenance to a notable character in history, whether it is assigned by popular culture or by heroic or infamous deeds, thereby increasing its value- the very definition of collections or collectibles.
A pencil box owned by Private Schmidt of the 333rd Kochgeschirr Repair Battalion (Schwere) would not garner as much interest or value as Hitler's pencil box.
Of course, this is mitigated or amplified by geographic region, particular interest, or culture. What may be of an intense interest and value to a collector of items with a provenance related to French historical figures may not have any interest whatsoever in an item that has a provenance that lays with an American historical figure.
I believe that it is very fair to say that collectors as a whole, by virtue of the nature of the historical significance to us personally, causes us to assign higher values to otherwise mute objects that otherwise hold no value.
We would most likely scoff at buying a Prada keyfob at USD $9500.00 touched by Donatella Versace, but would have no problems with paying $9500.00 for an old helmet worn by ObLt Witzig at Eben Emael.
Both items probably cost a few dollars to make, but the value lays with the person who temporarily holds onto the object in their lifetime, and then it is passed on to another collector...
As collectors, we seek out those items that interest us, and as whole, collectors have always assigned a higher value to things that have a provenance to a notable character in history, whether it is assigned by popular culture or by heroic or infamous deeds, thereby increasing its value- the very definition of collections or collectibles.
A pencil box owned by Private Schmidt of the 333rd Kochgeschirr Repair Battalion (Schwere) would not garner as much interest or value as Hitler's pencil box.
Of course, this is mitigated or amplified by geographic region, particular interest, or culture. What may be of an intense interest and value to a collector of items with a provenance related to French historical figures may not have any interest whatsoever in an item that has a provenance that lays with an American historical figure.
I believe that it is very fair to say that collectors as a whole, by virtue of the nature of the historical significance to us personally, causes us to assign higher values to otherwise mute objects that otherwise hold no value.
We would most likely scoff at buying a Prada keyfob at USD $9500.00 touched by Donatella Versace, but would have no problems with paying $9500.00 for an old helmet worn by ObLt Witzig at Eben Emael.
Both items probably cost a few dollars to make, but the value lays with the person who temporarily holds onto the object in their lifetime, and then it is passed on to another collector...
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