Probably got burned on this KVK doc...

[Hank C.]

I've had it in my collection for awhile, and although I always thought it was good, I think I've been had. Purchased 2 - 3 years ago for around 70 euro (when the dollar was about 1 to 1).
The fact that it was crumpled/wrinkled is always a red flag; docs can be worn, folded until they're torn, frayed, and ripped, but really WRINKLED is a rarity, I've found. Still, this looked good upon quick examination.
The second red flag is the vertical fold is NOT in the center. Hard to see from my scan, but it's about 1/3 from the right side, 2/3 from left. The horizontal fold is in the middle, but once again, it's very seldom a doc isn't folded 1/2 by 1/2.
So, being home on vacation, I was perusing my stuff, and noticed that the Rank/Title designation appears to have small dots on the letters, indicating a modern computer printer. Another strike.
Lastly, there is an "r" missing from "Verbande" in the stamp. The kiss of death, I figure.
Anyhoo, figured I'd post some pics, to possibly maybe help others when they look at documents, to learn from my mistake.

all the best,
Hank

Here's full doc; as stated, the vertical fold is off to the right, (goes roughly through the "K" in Klasse) not centered.

[Hank C.]

Closeup of stamp....

[Hank C.]

Closeup of "typing". Bad? Probably.

[Hank C.]

Last, the signature. I'd always figured the rough edges were due to a pen with a wide tip. Now, I think probably otherwise.

[PHILBROWN]

hello hank, i think the stamp looks fine ,and the signiture is certainly ink as it has bleeding in the paper, and although its difficult to access the quality of the paper in the picture, period paper does bleed slightly, im usually wrong, but i would guess its ok.

[PzV]

documents

there are unfortunately a number of copies coming out of the woodwork on old paper. I agree that the missing "r" on the stamp is deadly although the stamp is very well done. I have gotten used to looking at documents with a magnifying glass after I purchased a Bandenkampabzeichen document which later turned out to have the small dots typical of a laser printer. At least I was lucky and got my money back.

PzV

[jmark]

Closeup of "typing". Bad? Probably.

I know nothing about award certificates but I do know about printing. No modern printers I have seen would leave such dots... laser printers are incredibly precise and would leave a nice clean edge. Dot matrix printers leave dots / pixels, but they can be easily spotted. Other printers leave a pixelated edge on the curves (the best place to look for evidence of modern printers is on the curves of letters).

I've just had a look through a whole stack of my period documents and many of them show the same small dots as on your document (and these documents are without doubt 100% genuine). I can post some samples if you wish. I believe the dots are on each typewriter's raised metal letters because without them, there would only be a solid square of ink on the page if the typewriter key is pressed too hard or the paper too soft. The little raised dots make sure the letter is still legible, no matter how hard the key is struck. I hope that makes sense.

In my opinion, the typing seems consistent with a war-time typewriter. The other red flags can be better addressed by the experts.

All the best,
Jason

[Hank C.]

I....edit... I can post some samples if you wish....edit....

All the best,
Jason

That would be great, thanks.

Haven't burned the document yet, will wait and see if more people weigh in. Maybe - just maybe - my fears are unfounded.

I really appreciate the responses so far. Thanks to all of you.

best
Hank

[DZR]

Probably got burned on this KVK doc...

IMO I'm troubled by the how the paper looks like it was wrinkled BEFORE the typing, stamping, and signing! If you look for wear to the ink where it crosses the paper folds and creases - there doesn't seem to be any. This is not what you would expect from an original.

Those "dots" are from ink between the threads of cloth in the typewriter ribbon! Not a problem.

[Simon O.]

Guys, forget about ink, paper, typfaces etc. etc.
Hank is quite right in that crumpled docs like this are almost always bad and a sign of amateurish attempts at adding wear and tear but there's basic stuff here that kills this thing stone dead and the info is easily available from internet sources not just specialist text books. The misspelled stamp is a howler but just as bad are the signature, title, location and date.

Just google the title minensuchverbände nord and you'll see what i mean.