Blank Iron Cross Document

[Zemper]

Hello-

I have what I believe to be an original Iron Cross 1st Class document that was never issued and would like your opinions as to weather or not it is original. It looks well worn and does not glow under a UV blacklight. The Back side is blank. Thank You - Eric Zemper

See Pictures:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6488/ic1fq5.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5820/ic3wz3.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8902/ic2ni1.jpg

[Hank C.]

From the pics provided, it looks like it might be okay, but would probably need a hands-on to be 100%. The only concerns I would have is:

1. If it's unused, why is it so beat up? (poor storage, I suppose...)
2. Some of the letters are missing ink in a couple of places. The makes me think of a modern computer printer, as opposed to older presses.

Those are just my thoughts...as said, probably need it in hand to be sure.

best
Hank

[keifer kahn]

Hi Zemper,

2 things i look for in original documents,

Flecks in the lettering.Light magnification should reveal "flecks" of the base paper evident in the black lettering.

An impression of the lettering coming through on the the reverse.Basically the letters on the reverse should have a light relief to them.

Reproduction documents tend to have solid ink lettering and no flecks.Also most being reproduced on modern printers lack the relief that you should see on the reverse.Modern printers dont reproduce the heavy rollers of original presses.

[Larry deZeng]

Just a thought on something I probably shouldn't be commenting on since most of you have more expertise in this area than I have, but the poor printing quality that is most noticeable in the word "Obersten" could be the very reason the printer discarded this copy. I believe the old rotary printing presses created a number of discards until the printer "proofed" the copy and was satisfied with the ink distribution and overall quality. If the "flecking" and reverse side tests check out, then this may be the reason it was tossed.

--BHS1956

[Zemper]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I'm new to this field, so the information is very uselful. Below is a link to a close-up of the word "Obersten" on the document. Is this what you mean by Flecking? I'll also compare it to the same IC document a friend has from a family member of his that we know is original, to see if it has a similar impression of the letters on the reverse. As to the beat up condition it is in, I am also assuming it is from poor storage from previous owner(s).

Thanks Again! - Eric Zemper

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2455/ic8zv4.jpg

[keifer kahn]

Hi Eric,
Thats what you are looking for.It looks to have very "heavy"flecking.(in other words a heavy amount of base paper coming through the lettering.(indicating poor contact between print rollers and paper).

Id say along with the portions of lettering missing and the "heavy flecking" that it is simply, as BHS states, a discard.

Id vote original.


Also when checking the "relief" of lettering on the reverse,remember this will vary from heavy to almost undetectible.On cardstock based type documents,it will normally be evident to some extent.
On the thinner "paper" style documents(like some IAB,PAB,s),the relief will be virtually undetectible.

This looks to me like its cardstock,so it would be a nice charactersistic to see.