Gold Party Badge by Deschler

[JamesT]

Good day

What do you think of this Deschler made GPB? I think it shows some of the characteristics of a real badge but the hole below the pin looks very odd and the pin may have been re attached - looks messy.

Many thanks

[ErichS]

It’s a fake.

[Br. James]

Just as Erich says: "It's a fake." Hope you haven't spent any money on this piece, which was created to deceive historians and collectors.

Best regards,

Br. James

[JamesT]

Thanks Erich and Br James. I haven't spent any money but I know others will. It's in an auction nearby.

[Br. James]

Thanks for your quick and positive response, James; glad you haven't lost any money on this fake GPB. That said, it's sad to know that some other collector may lose quite a bit of cash on this piece of crap. It's always possible that an auction house is innocently offering a phony piece, without any knowledge that it's a fake; indeed, that's how many of the existing fakes have gotten into long-time collectors' collections all around the world. If you know the auction house and the auctioneer personally, it might be possible to warn them that they're about to give a phony GPB their 'stamp of approval,' and it will probably come back to bite them in the future. No honorable business should want to become known for offering fake materials to the public!

Just a thought! Cheers,

Br. James

[salzmann]

[sjl]

As has been pointed out - a fake. To get into specifics:


1) The leaves have ridges that are too pronounced - originals are much smoother.
2) "Gilding" is poor.
3) Letters and other silver lines on front are too thick
4) Red enamel and stippling underneath are poor
5) On back, numbers non-standard font
6) Pinplate wrong shape, and "DESCHLER und SOHN" is printed in reverse
7) "Breather hole" on back isn't really a drilled hole
8) Verdigris is rarely seen on a GPB because of the base metals used.


Compare to an original and you see the difference in quality.

[Yubari]

[JamesT]

Thanks everyone for your help and assistance. SJL - your detailed analysis is most helpful and instructive. If you don't mind I'm going to use it as an aid memoire.

[sjl]

My pleasure. My old GPB website is here with more hints. http://pages.interlog.com/~sjl/GPB/

[Br. James]

GLAD to know that your GPB website is still available to the collecting community, Stephen -- it is of primary assistance to everyone interested in this historic subject!

Cheers,

Br. James

[JamesT]

That is a great resource SJL - thanks for pointing me there.