Greetings,
I attended a moving sale the other day and found four Third Reich items just by chance. For sale was a small Party flag, 2nd class War Merit Cross, a cigarette photo album on Hitler, and this item. All were very nice (especially the small flag), but since I was short on money and my Wife was along (odd but the two often go together!), I could only spring for this badge and nothing else. At any rate, this item really caught my eye as I have never seen anything quite like it. The seller is a self confessed pack rat and bought this at an estate sale of a WW2 vet. All four items were in the bottom of a box filled with old German and English books and the family was only aware (as was the buyer) of the Hitler cigarette album.
The badge is quite heavy and rather large. The swastika is made out of brass and appears to have been nickel plated with about 40% of this finish remaining. The oak leaf wreath is silver and has a moderate amount of patina to it. It is fastened to the swastika by the means of two pins. The small enamel shield is 100% intact and has a very odd set of figures on it. It almost looks like a stylized HJ, but that doesn't explain the center figure. There is a long pin and catch on the back side but no maker's marks or any other markings are visible. At some point it took a pretty good hit as both of the arms on the swastika that hold the pin hinge and catch are bent. Also the pin itself is bent yet functions fine.
So what is this? It is very well made and I'm pretty sure it's authentic. Also, how scarce is this badge and any idea of value? Oh by the way, I talked him down from $100 to $85. Good deal or am I nuts?!
Regards and many thanks,
Eric.
I attended a moving sale the other day and found four Third Reich items just by chance. For sale was a small Party flag, 2nd class War Merit Cross, a cigarette photo album on Hitler, and this item. All were very nice (especially the small flag), but since I was short on money and my Wife was along (odd but the two often go together!), I could only spring for this badge and nothing else. At any rate, this item really caught my eye as I have never seen anything quite like it. The seller is a self confessed pack rat and bought this at an estate sale of a WW2 vet. All four items were in the bottom of a box filled with old German and English books and the family was only aware (as was the buyer) of the Hitler cigarette album.
The badge is quite heavy and rather large. The swastika is made out of brass and appears to have been nickel plated with about 40% of this finish remaining. The oak leaf wreath is silver and has a moderate amount of patina to it. It is fastened to the swastika by the means of two pins. The small enamel shield is 100% intact and has a very odd set of figures on it. It almost looks like a stylized HJ, but that doesn't explain the center figure. There is a long pin and catch on the back side but no maker's marks or any other markings are visible. At some point it took a pretty good hit as both of the arms on the swastika that hold the pin hinge and catch are bent. Also the pin itself is bent yet functions fine.
So what is this? It is very well made and I'm pretty sure it's authentic. Also, how scarce is this badge and any idea of value? Oh by the way, I talked him down from $100 to $85. Good deal or am I nuts?!
Regards and many thanks,
Eric.
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