Question regarding documents signed in colored pencil

[Brad Raeder]

Hi all

This might be an crazy question to ask. But i have noticed some documents signed in colored pencil (blue). They appear to be orders mostly. Is this something common? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Brad

[Hank C.]

Documents are mostly signed in black pen or stamped, but there are many, many variations. Some pencil, some other colors, etc.

Hank

[hucks216]

It is a pretty common occurance. If signed in the field the officer would have had map marking pencils close to hand, but even back in Germany it was common for pencils to be used. I think even Himmler used pencil to sign some paperwork (green pencil mostly I think I am right in saying).

[max history]

Many members here may not be old enough to remember that pencils were in common use as writing implements before the ballpoint pen or it's more modern counterparts. People often wrote letters in pencil, policemen made notes in their notebooks in pencil, many documents and letters were signed in pencil. And not just graphite pencils; coloured crayons were also in common use. Fountain pens were considered more formal, but were also commonly used.
Himmler certainly did sign and note things in green crayon, but he also used red and graphite. His letters and documents are more commonly found in ink. Hitler is also known to have used graphite and red crayon. I have several Heydrich signed pieces where he used coloured crayon.
So, in answer to your question, yes, it is quite normal (and in fact common) to find original items signed in pencil.
Max.

[JUNGCO]

Wow, now I feel old!
Jeff

[Simon O.]

It's quite common to find award documents signed in blue or rather an almost purple or mauve pencil.

[Br. James]

Indeed, here in the USA, people not too many decades ago even wrote checks -- both business and personal -- with pencil; that probably only fell out of usage when someone discovered how easy it was to erase the amount and rewrite it...for a larger amount!

As for TR documents, Himmler used a green pencil or crayon to initial correspondence indicating that he had read it (I have an example of a letter sent to him by Dr. Lammers), and Röhm often used a purple pencil/crayon to sign documents and autographs.

Br. James

[pauke]

pencil

The purple colored pencil often seen used on documents was indelible and thus avoided being changed by someone for any reason. It was a basic office pencil found everywhere. This information was told to me by a veteran who had a business degree and spent the war as a "Schreiber" on the staffs of AA 33 and Pz. Gren. Lehr Regt. 902 as the I-a Schreiber. And he's still alive at age 96.

[Brad Raeder]

Thanks guys for your quick answer. Much appreciated. I have seen this before on "internal" documents/orders and it makes sense.

[max history]

As for TR documents, Himmler used a green pencil or crayon to initial correspondence indicating that he had read it (I have an example of a letter sent to him by Dr. Lammers), and Röhm often used a purple pencil/crayon to sign documents and autographs.

Br. James

As previously stated, Himmler used green, red and (to a lesser extent) graphite pencils to note his correspondence as read. I don't remember ever having seen a purple crayon used by Röhm. His preferred colour was cerise, but I have also seen his signature in graphite and ink.
Max.

[Brad Raeder]

Thanks Max for the info. Much appreciated!

[Br. James]

I have a paperbound first edition volume entitled Kadettenleben – The Cadet’s Life – published in 1927 by Artis-Verlag in Munich and autographed on the first page by Ernst Röhm with a full signature in blue-purple pencil. The book is a compilation of essays on military life written by a number of retired army officers. I have also seen letterhead documents signed by Röhm with purple pencil.

Br. James

[max history]

I have a paperbound first edition volume entitled Kadettenleben – The Cadet’s Life – published in 1927 by Artis-Verlag in Munich and autographed on the first page by Ernst Röhm with a full signature in blue-purple pencil. The book is a compilation of essays on military life written by a number of retired army officers. I have also seen letterhead documents signed by Röhm with purple pencil.

Br. James

I'd like to see that. Here's a document signed in Röhm's preferred cerise crayon.
Max.

[max history]

And another signed in cerise, but also in graphite at the bottom.
Max.

[max history]

And another from this forum.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...highlight=rohm