WW1 P08's- The question is???

[TP Alexander]

It's 2010. The 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW1 is less than 4 years away. In the 1960's, the value of Civil War items rose dramatically because of the 100th anniversary of that war.
Is anyone of the opinion that WW1 P08's will rise in value as of 1 August 2014 or will prices on these and other WW1 memorabilia stay about the same??
Just my idle curiosity at work again.

Tim Alexander

[frundsberg]

That's a good question ! but I don't think that will happen !!

[james m]

WW I doesn't have the same "Mystique" as WW II for most collectors. I also doubt there will be a significent rise in prices.
Jim

[GWA]

I think that anyone who doesn't foresee the rise in value of WWI related items in 2014 is either living in a bubble or less than 30 years of age. I'm an old fncker and was in high school in 1961 and 1964. In those years respectivly American War stuff and the WWI stuff went through the ceiling in price, less so the latter. In the summer and fall of1964 all major US magazines ran enormous feature specials on the first world war, "Life" I think was the best. That was when Tuchman's book "The Guns of August" came out. It's also the year in which I stopped collecting WWII stuff and turned to the earlier war. As I recall "The Blue Max" and "Sergeant York" also premiered around that time.

This time around, with the centennial, I would expect to see a flood of motion pictures on the "screen" and Europeans at the SOS.

[AFF96]

I think that anyone who doesn't foresee the rise in value of WWI related items in 2014 is either living in a bubble or less than 30 years of age. I'm an old fncker and was in high school in 1961 and 1964. In those years respectivly American War stuff and the WWI stuff went through the ceiling in price, less so the latter. In the summer and fall of1964 all major US magazines ran enormous feature specials on the first world war, "Life" I think was the best. That was when Tuchman's book "The Guns of August" came out. It's also the year in which I stopped collecting WWII stuff and turned to the earlier war. As I recall "The Blue Max" and "Sergeant York" also premiered around that time.

This time around, with the centennial, I would expect to see a flood of motion pictures on the "screen" and Europeans at the SOS.

I hope soooo as I really like and am collecting the pre-1919 P-08's!
Greg

[TP Alexander]

I posed a parrallel question of this nature over in the Imperial Militaria Forum and someone stated that they thought that with the economy the way it is, that things will continue to go to hell in a handbasket. While I posed these questions to stir some conversation concerning said subject, I had to disagree with the gentleman, respectfully.

My answer to him:
I realize, unlike some others, that this depression/recession could last for years. The Great Depression, that began in 1929, didn't really end until our entry into World War 2, despite the best efforts of FDR.
But I'm not really sure that this depression will last for another 4 years. It's something that we'll just have to see about. But I'm thinking of buying a nice WW1 DWM Luger as an investment, in spite of the fact that I collect only WW2 German items. I think that we'll see a big wave of buying in 2014, honestly.
I could be wrong. I have been before, but I wouldn't bet against myself in this case.
Tim


I remember buying a record album, an LP, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the landings on D-Day. Come to think of it, I may still have that album. The hype with which Hollywood surrounds and encompasses important dates in history is a real boon to our hobby, even if we personally feel that the politics of certain members of that community leave a lot to be desired. I believe that starting with the year 2013(?), all the way up through 2018, we will be overrun with historical epics, full of mistakes, but still BIG pictures in the Hollywood style. I just know I will see an MG42 being fired at the Battle of the Somme or that we will see Browning 1919A4's being fired over the flowers of Flanders!!!!
Then we can look forward to movies about flappers and the Roaring 20's!

[AFF96]

Very sound analysis TP! If the major media & Hollywood imbrace the anniversary of this historic event!
Greg

[PlaceOfBayonets]

It's not even the 100th anniversery and prices on WWI are already on the rise I think.

Check out this thread,

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/FORU...d.php?t=460144

[MrSmith]

Popular WW1 items: Iron Crosses, P08's, helmet's etc... are on a steady increase in value, I don't see this changing anytime soon.

No doubt the 100th anniversary will bring out more people looking to obtain these items, so the price will increase, maybe not by much

[Johnny Peppers]

There has just never been as much interest in WWI as WWII, and that has been reflected in prices of WWI collectibles. I have always thought the primary reason for this was the huge number and variety of WWII collectibles as compared to WWI. The P.08 prices for WWI and WWII have always been close as they are both Lugers, and collectible in their own right. Some WWI Lugers have gone up dramatically in price, but this is primarily due to collectors recognizing that some dates and variations are extremely scarce. WWI helmets have always lagged WWII helmets in collector interest and price, but that gap is rapidly narrowing. I don't look for prices of WWI collectibles to shoot up just because of the 100th anniversary of WWI, but I do look for prices to come into line with WWII prices.