FAKE Army Paratroop Badge Document

[Eric Queen]

I have not seen very many of these so I thought I would post it here. This one was purchased off of ebay for $235. The gentlemen then sent it to G.Petersen for authentication. George told him to send it to me so I have unfortunate task of breaking the news to him.

Before I post some originals, can you guys see what's wrong with this?

[ERIC S.]

HMMM?

Hi Eric,
It is definately signed in the wrong place - #2 The shaded box with the Urkunde number in it is not there - #3 under that the
award date (Berlin,den 0.0.37) is also missing. - #4 there are no lines under the recipients name or unit. Just the differences I see between this one and a '37 type document.
ERIC

[Eric Queen]

That's right Eric. Everything you mentioned is absolutely correct.
In addition to those and other small things, the size is wrong
( originals were in the DIN A4 format and this one is DIN A5 ), and the price is wrong. I am not sure how this gentlemen thought he was buying a real one for $235. A real one would honestly be at least 20 times that ( I know, I know, strange things happen on ebay, but not that strange )

An original

[ERIC S.]

Oh Yeah!!

Hi Eric,
Your original document? !WOW! Very nice indeed! You don't see those popping up anywhere. The last genuine document I saw went at auction for $2,525! - I think it was from The Collectors Guild, but I'm not sure.
ERIC

[Eric Queen]

Eric,

Even $2500 seems extremely low ( although it is closer to reality than $235 ) The last one I knew for sale on the open market was
Heinrich Krieger's ( # 228 from the second and last batch awarded on 18.12.37 ). Helmet Weitze sold it for $5400.00 in 1996 ( I offered $4500.00 but he wouldn't take it )

In all these years of looking I have never seen or heard of one in an auction. If you can find out any details of it ( who it was named to and the number ) please post them here.

Thanks,

Eric

[ERIC S.]

O.K. I'll Look For It!

Hi Eric,
Yes, relatively cheap at todays prices! This auction was back in the mid to late 80's. God, I just can't remember for sure where! I'll check some of the older Guild catalogs.
ERIC:o

[Eric Queen]

Thanks Eric.

Yeah, that makes more sense. That price was about right 15 years ago or so. I noticed that this early LW badge document in the DIN A4 format just sold on Manions a couple of days ago for $150.00. I think that was a real reasonable price for an early original from 1939. Although much more plentiful than the army, you don't see these real early LW ones for sale everyday either.

[ERIC S.]

Eric,
How True! It sold for $150 at Manions you say? Someone got a very nice document for, IMO, a great price!
ERIC