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**Bill D.** · 11-03-2003, 01:06 PM

Just my opinion, but...
That style of "desk eagle" has been reproduced for some time now. The brass plaque on the piece is unlike any presentation plaque that I can recall seeing on a Third Reich item, in terms of its engraving. aside from that, the plaque looks brand new, with no wear or patina to it. Even if it were cleaned at some point, old cleaned brass has some evidence of age on it. finally, the plaque is screwed onto the marble base, and the screws don't even appear to be even with each other. That would seem to be rather sloppy workmanship for a Gauleiter's piece.

What is supposed to be the provenance of the item? Eigruber was a Gauleiter in what is now Austria, and was executed by the American military for his role in the operation of the Mauthausen concentration camp.

**atcase** · 11-03-2003, 02:58 PM

Hi Sal,
as mentioned by Bill the base just doesn`t look old enough to be period,
also the eagle looks poorly defined in the eye and beak areas, do you know if the item was RZM marked (and easily legible !!)on the reverse at the base of the podium section ?

My example (though not a presented pice to a high official ) to my knowlegde is of the late war period ? as the guilding has been pratically absorbed by the base metal as in some of the late naval war badges.

Ashley

**atcase** · 11-03-2003, 03:16 PM

Hope fully a few pictures.

Ashley

**atcase** · 11-03-2003, 03:18 PM

and a few more.

Ashley

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 04:01 PM

Hi Bill and Ashley,
Thamks for your input, I think he was selling for$3500 and he had some story of provenance but I will have to contact him about it. I have to run some errands right now but when I get back I'll post some close up pics and try to get the story as well. BTW he also had a very nice but in my opinion new looking wallet/cardholder from field marshal erwin rommel with cards in nit.
Sal

**atcase** · 11-03-2003, 04:42 PM

$3500 !!!!! thats a lot of dosh,

No disrespect, but i hope the sellers provenance can be verified by the origional owners parents

I find it a little strange that there is no form of dedication on the plaque rather than just his name ?? i cant see any gauleiter paying for his own desk ornament / statue

I must say i was quite happy to shell out the £17.50 for my eagle approx 15 years ago.

Sal some more pictures are a must for this piece.

Ashley

**Bill D.** · 11-03-2003, 07:51 PM

A few years ago, I spent two days interviewing retired Lt. Col. William Denson, a graduate of both West Point and Harvard Law School. Denson was the chief prosecutor of all four concentration camp trials that were held in the American Zone of Occupation after World War II. The four trials were of the camp personnel and responsible officials at Dachau, Flossenberg, Buchenwald, and Mathausen. In fact, at one point I was talking with Denson as we were looking at a photo taken of him during the Mauthausen trial, as he was cross-examining Eigruber on the witness stand.

If Lt. Col. Denson himself had given me this statue, and had told me that he had confiscated it from Eigruber personally, I would have been surprised. I also would have gotten a notarized statement from him, and taken a photo of him holding it!

On the other hand, even from just the photos that Ashley posted, I Really like th eagle that he has!

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:21 PM

Hi Guys,
here are some close ups. Don't worry its not on my shoping list! Thanks for your input.
sal

Attached Files

gau1.jpg (9.0 KB, 235 views)

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:22 PM

another

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gau2.jpg (15.3 KB, 235 views)

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:23 PM

more

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gau3.jpg (37.2 KB, 230 views)

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:24 PM

and again

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gau5.jpg (23.5 KB, 226 views)

**Bill D.** · 11-03-2003, 08:24 PM

Something else that just occurred to me as I was looking at the close-up of the plaque:

Is that actually the correct typeface for german "gothic" style print? It almost looks to me like old-english style font.

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:25 PM

and the last

Attached Files

gau6.jpg (18.7 KB, 221 views)

**Sal Williams** · 11-03-2003, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by Bill Dienna

Something else that just occurred to me as I was looking at the close-up of the plaque:

Is that actually the correct typeface for german "gothic" style print? It almost looks to me like old-english style font.

Bill, you are RIGHT!!!

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