Photo of Eric Topp & other crewman - okay?

[bratwurstdimsum]

Guys,

Got these last night, they appear to be the real deal but I am no expert, can you comment on whether they are rare items or was I ripped off?!! I have included below the description on ebay:

Here is an opportunity to obtain four original wartime photos from the album of a sailor on the famous U-552, the boat of Knights Cross winner, Erich Topp!! They would make an excellent display if framed together. The largest, the one of Topp at the periscope is famous, and I imagine copies were available to all crew members. It measusres 5" X 3.5". The other three are of less famous persons, the cook, a guy named "Koch" taking a nap, and a small head shot that I imagine was taken in one of those arcade booths. I obtained these directly from Germany about 10 years ago because there is an additional photo of an identified sailor who I already had a document for. The one photo was what I needed, and these came in the package deal. I'm sure the high bidder will be well pleased when they arrive.

It is interesting that no person named "Koch" served aboard U-552 according to the Uboat waffe website, any other comments?

[aardvark]

hey...you piped me on this auction!!!! Damn you. Ok I'm over it. I think the photos are very real. You'll just need to get them in your hands to make sure. You know maker marks etc...As far as the name Koch..means "Cook" the seller mentions this..there is a photo of the cook..in fact both or all three photos may be of the same guy. The photo of Topp is very cool...I don't know what happened to it though...looks like a chemical boo boo.

regards,

Mark

[aardvark]

Interesting though that you bid over $300...and you weren't sure if the photos were real?

regards,

Mark

[PZIV]

I agree. I do not think they could so accurately make the "rip out of album" look from the back. A shame something happend to Tropp's photo, but still very neat. Great find!

[aardvark]

What may have happened is the photog gave the poorer photo to a lower ranking guy...(maybe the cook)...the photog referenced him as the cook (the guy lying down). I think the seller is a good guy too...they look great to me!

-Mark

[bratwurstdimsum]

hey...you piped me on this auction!!!! Damn you. Ok I'm over it. I think the photos are very real. You'll just need to get them in your hands to make sure. You know maker marks etc...As far as the name Koch..means "Cook" the seller mentions this..there is a photo of the cook..in fact both or all three photos may be of the same guy. The photo of Topp is very cool...I don't know what happened to it though...looks like a chemical boo boo.

regards,

Mark

Sorry mate! I was spoiling for a win after someone else beat me to winning an entire u-boat album last week . I'm finding Kriegsmarine photos are definitely more expensive than Army!

[bratwurstdimsum]

Interesting though that you bid over $300...and you weren't sure if the photos were real?

regards,

Mark

Its a real dilema isn't it? You want to ask this forum but you don't want to alert the same people to a great find on ebay. A calculated, if costly risk

Mark, send me your email via the forum and I'll scan you a copy when it arrives.

[aardvark]

BE very careful!!!! There's an album up now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fotoalbum-einer-...QQcmdZViewItem

See those really cool photos of a U-boat in rough seas? The originals were taken by Buchheim. These are reprints/copies IMO. Rick White was selling these same photos a couple of months ago...and someone else before that and someone before that. Really sick of seeing this crud. Just be careful and don't go too wild because, as you said, U-boat photos can get expensive.

-Mark

[bratwurstdimsum]

Thanks for the heads up mate, having a quick look at the photos, it is exciting that we can see Buchheim's work esp in lieu of the success of the "Das Boot" movie. But not at the price of a "typical" Uboot album!

[aardvark]

There have been a few nice albums on Ebay. But recently I've been seeing so called "U-boot fotoalbums" consisting of a couple drab u-boat photos and the rest the odd ship and blurry snapshots of EM. The one I linked to is a red herring. There's a nice one on germanmilitaria.com ...but at 2k it's too much for me right now...it's very nice with little drawings. Good albums IMO will be toned down and not have a plethora of amazing photos like the Buchheim photos but still have something of interest. And I wanted to make a point about asking for advice here before bidding. People who are really interested, already know about the photos when they come up...and they are getting really pricey.

best,

Mark

just looking at Collector's Guild...germanmilitaria.com...the album is sold/gone...it had been there at least two years. Damn.....

And congrats on the Topp photos...you got some nice one's!!!

[bratwurstdimsum]

just looking at Collector's Guild...germanmilitaria.com...the album is sold/gone...it had been there at least two years. Damn.....

And congrats on the Topp photos...you got some nice one's!!!

Mate,

The albums are still there!

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Krieg...os/K10652.html

and look! The word "Koch" appears again, I guess with the rolling pin and spoon "coat of arms" you must be right about it meaning "cook"


Jeff

[aardvark]

Hey Jeff...how did I miss it! I've looked at it a dozen times and just blanked it. If I had the money, I'd buy it. The album itself is a Kriegsmarine version too..which is really great. Looking back at all the single photos I've bought at too high prices (Ebay madness), I could have afforded this album three times over. I really do think the man in all three of your photos is the same guy...the cook..look at the sideburns of the cook and the burns in the small photo..should be easier to tell when you get them. Also..very nice to see the U-552 emblem peeking out on the cook's cap.

have a good one,

Mark