Yes gentlemen, Hugh has but a short time and I expect to hear from Mary anytime now of his passing. Hugh's passion for the hobby is only exeeded by his honesty and integrity. I only wish that I had been acquainted with him many years ago.
I was not the lucky person who purchased Eitel's BO grouping, i have no idea who was. Br. James informed me that the BO was sold by Ulric of England close to ten years ago and then again by eMedals several months back. Also, there was a photo album and a 1938 Coburg Commemorative Pokal with engraving on auction several years ago. Hugh told me he purchased the CB while in Europe from a Hermann Historica auction.
Thank you for all of the kind remarks and compliments guys.
Concerning the badge, it has obviously been repaired before, perhaps even more than once. Look closely at the sword where the spine on the blade is completely worn away as well as the wear on the laurels, esp. on the bottom. I've never seen this much wear on any other examples I've seen, so Herr Eitel wore this badge a great deal, perhaps daily at some point. Certainly he was very proud wearing it and could have afforded him some "perks" along the way. It has a wonderful tone and hue, esp. under artificial lighting.
As for the documentation, I believe it gives hints of Eitel possibly receiving the badge later than the 1932 reunion and perhaps not being awarded until a 1933 meeting of recipients in Coburg. Is anyone recognizable in the group shot to you guys? I'd love to know where the photo was taken. Eitel stresses the year 1933 on the framed photo, even going to the trouble to place a mini CB within. To me, this is a clue to when he received the badge. In the photo too, Eitel is seen wearing another badge, which could be the Eckart badge, which by the way was NOT part of the grouping, but was listed for sale at the same time Hugh listed the CB group. I'm just not sure what else it could be. The 1933 RPT badge was not round that year, so it rules that one out.
Concerning the pink Besitz-Zeugnis (possession document), that is the only part of the grouping that I am not 100% certain about. Of course it is a copy of the nice, embossed certificate and common sense would be that the CB recipients would not carry these on their person, only to be damaged in a short period.
Yet with the strict enforcement of not allowing Party members who were not officially "Mit Hitler" at Coburg, and the fact that no official Besitz-Zeugnis was issued due to the small amount of 1st pattern badges awarded (436) it does make sense that "something" was used as a physical form of official ownership. The paper is old and at one point the badge was pinned to the top of the sheet leaving an impression of the badge. During this era, small table top presses were used, similar to, but not exactly like the old memiographed copies we used in school in the 1970's. I am not overly concerned about the B-Z document as it is the badge and the other items that make this grouping so special and of main importance. Perhaps someday another will surface or some period documentation will be discovered explaining what was carried "on person."
Again thank you all for your interest. I'm happy that Erich made it possible to place the grouping along with all of the other fine and beautiful examples shown on this wonderful thread, which has given me many hours of reading enjoyment and a great history lesson.
Marcus
I was not the lucky person who purchased Eitel's BO grouping, i have no idea who was. Br. James informed me that the BO was sold by Ulric of England close to ten years ago and then again by eMedals several months back. Also, there was a photo album and a 1938 Coburg Commemorative Pokal with engraving on auction several years ago. Hugh told me he purchased the CB while in Europe from a Hermann Historica auction.
Thank you for all of the kind remarks and compliments guys.
Concerning the badge, it has obviously been repaired before, perhaps even more than once. Look closely at the sword where the spine on the blade is completely worn away as well as the wear on the laurels, esp. on the bottom. I've never seen this much wear on any other examples I've seen, so Herr Eitel wore this badge a great deal, perhaps daily at some point. Certainly he was very proud wearing it and could have afforded him some "perks" along the way. It has a wonderful tone and hue, esp. under artificial lighting.
As for the documentation, I believe it gives hints of Eitel possibly receiving the badge later than the 1932 reunion and perhaps not being awarded until a 1933 meeting of recipients in Coburg. Is anyone recognizable in the group shot to you guys? I'd love to know where the photo was taken. Eitel stresses the year 1933 on the framed photo, even going to the trouble to place a mini CB within. To me, this is a clue to when he received the badge. In the photo too, Eitel is seen wearing another badge, which could be the Eckart badge, which by the way was NOT part of the grouping, but was listed for sale at the same time Hugh listed the CB group. I'm just not sure what else it could be. The 1933 RPT badge was not round that year, so it rules that one out.
Concerning the pink Besitz-Zeugnis (possession document), that is the only part of the grouping that I am not 100% certain about. Of course it is a copy of the nice, embossed certificate and common sense would be that the CB recipients would not carry these on their person, only to be damaged in a short period.
Yet with the strict enforcement of not allowing Party members who were not officially "Mit Hitler" at Coburg, and the fact that no official Besitz-Zeugnis was issued due to the small amount of 1st pattern badges awarded (436) it does make sense that "something" was used as a physical form of official ownership. The paper is old and at one point the badge was pinned to the top of the sheet leaving an impression of the badge. During this era, small table top presses were used, similar to, but not exactly like the old memiographed copies we used in school in the 1970's. I am not overly concerned about the B-Z document as it is the badge and the other items that make this grouping so special and of main importance. Perhaps someday another will surface or some period documentation will be discovered explaining what was carried "on person."
Again thank you all for your interest. I'm happy that Erich made it possible to place the grouping along with all of the other fine and beautiful examples shown on this wonderful thread, which has given me many hours of reading enjoyment and a great history lesson.
Marcus
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