Jugendmeister Badge - Please Help!!!

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

I may have the chance to purchase a Jugendmeister Badge (Golden Clasp Of The German Youth Champion) this coming weekend.

However, I have never seen one before, aside from a few minutes handling the one I may be able to purchase, last weekend.

According to the present owner, his father brought it back from Germany at the end of the war (who knows whether this is true or not). Anyway, as I understand it, this is quite a rare badge and consequently not cheap.

Consequently, since forewarned is forearmed, can anyone give me any info / help / pictures to compare etc, in fact anything that would enable me to discern whether this is the real deal. In fact, has the Jugendmeister badge been heavily faked?

So, please, please help.

All the best,
Toby.

[VerKuilen Ager]

A "Jugendmeister" piece isn't ringing any bells. Since you mentioned this as a "clasp", I'm wondering if this isn't really the Jungmädel Leistungsabzeichen (Proficiency Badge for Young Girls), a small rectangular frame with the letters JM?

[TobyR]

Hi Histaria,

Thanks for replying. Please see page 283/284 of Fuhrer & Fatherland (Pol & Civil) for a more detailed description. I have scanned the representation of the award too (also shown in Forman's Guide).

Hope someone can help - time is running out.

Thanks,
Toby.

[VerKuilen Ager]

Toby,
Don't know how I forgot this one, having examined one not more than three or four months ago. The concensus on that one was that it was too "iffy" to risk the big bucks on. Disqualifiers were a combination of minty condition, no maker's mark, and no number. Not that the latter are documented attributes, but everybody kind of agreed (not ever having seen a certified original) that that's what we'd expect based on related awards.
Sorry not to have something concrete to offer, but unfortunately this is one of those pins that's so rare that it falls in the "if in the least bit of doubt . . . don't" category.

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

Finally some photos.

Personally, I have a good feeling about this (I've bought it now so I have to be positive). The enamel looks right, there are also those telltale fragments of impurity in the white enamel. The blue enamel also has depth and a pattern beneath it.

Also, the badge shows clear signs of wear: the top of the pin; corrosion to the 6'o clock area on the reverse (rubbing against cloth perhaps started it off).

I know there is no makers mark but is this proof positive that it is not genuine.

Incidentally, I was told by the seller that it was in fact his uncle who brought this back. He was stationed in Germany after the war as a member of a British army bomb disposal team. I see no reason why the seller should lie in this instance, so maybe this is the real thing.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Thanks,
Toby.

[TobyR]

And a closeup:

[TobyR]

And the reverse:

[TobyR]

And an angle shot:

[VerKuilen Ager]

Maybe somebody else will be able to find something to criticize in this, but I can't find anything that makes me nervous. An obviously die struck HJ diamond, fire gilt, legit aging, etc. IMHO you have a winner.