DE sells for $86,365 , in case you missed it ???

[Niblet]

I am a newcomer to the hobby and I have often wondered "whos going to buy my stuff in 20 years?"

If you look at the youth of today,,my nephews are 19-20 years old and are interested in World of Warcraft and other electronic crap,,,

back in the early seventies our culture was a little different,,
and alot of those who got into collecting had direct relatives who were involved in the war,,,nowadays,,,what do we have?

Look around at the shows,,how many "younger" collectors do you see?

mostly guys in there 50's and 60's,,,,I'm not so sure that these crazy TR prices will continue,,,but I could be wrong In the last year alone I have seen a signifigant downward shift in prices on common items

[Bob Hritz]

Bill,

I have been hearing the same since the 1960s. It is the lament of those who do not have faith that they can build a collection with middle class income. They can and many do, but it takes work and not buying everything from glamour dealers at top retail prices.

However, in seriously difficult economic times, the common and mundane will truely suffer. The best iof the best will continue to be in demand by those who do not suffer economic problems.

Bob Hritz

[Bill D.]

I agree, Bob.

The collecting of military objects has been a part of history for quite some time.
I don't see it ending anytime soon.

Just a few years ago a dealer who might have been offering an early 1957 Knights Cross at a show would have left the show wondering why he even brought it along. Now they are in great demand.

Back in the 70's a Gendarmerie gorget would sit unsold on a table if it was priced at more than $50; an SA dagger would do the same. An original Blood Order was perhaps $250.

The demand remains, which is why the prices for many items have had a steady increase, a trend that exploded when the internet arrived and made the collecting community a global one.

And while the "family connection" to WW II veterans was a big factor for many who started collecting in the 1950's and 1960's, the fact is that no one alive today had an immediate family member in the Civil War. But the demand for Civil War memorabilia is stronger than ever.

[Niblet]

You make a good point on the civil war stuff,,But I guess you guys have more faith in the next generations than I do,,the world is changing,,and not in a way that will help our hobby,,,this is only my opinion,, I just some some stooge pay big $$ (cash money) for a diplo dagger at a local crooks table at the recent Raleigh show,,

[schmelpboy]

I guess I'll speak up and say I'm surely part of that "next generation." My grandfather was a tank driver and saw almost every major battle of the war. After he passed away a couple of years ago, I got extremely interested in what it is he went through. Now, my cousins and their husbands tried to basically "steal" everything in the house after my grandfather was gone and my grandmother had just had a stroke. While they were cleaning out every inch of the house I snuck into the basement and over to the cabinet I was never allowed to open. Inside was the items my grandfather had brought back from the war. I consider myself a thief of sorts as I didn't ask for anything in there, but had it not been for me that stuff would've been pawned years ago. It was at that point I began to vigorously research my grandfather's experiences and the items I found in his cabinet. They are all safely tucked away in a safe never to be sold, but I got extremely interested in the hobby. Not just because my grandfather was a WWII vet, but because I really liked what I was holding. Fast forward 5 years and I went from having a few daggers, some flags, etc. to now owning 20+ daggers of various types, some personality items, a couple of train eagles, and over 20 gorgets. There is no way I plan on slowing down my collecting- So I definitely consider myself that younger generation as I started collecting at 22 and am now 26. I'll be that young guy you'll see at every show. I love the experience and I love the knowledge. Just my .02!

[Niblet]

I'm glad that you discovered what you did and have come as far in the hobby as tou have,,,dont get me wrong,,
but how many of your peers spend $$ at shows???

[oldflagswanted]

Nice to hear from you ...

I guess I'll speak up and say I'm surely part of that "next generation." ...[have] some flags, ...and over 20 gorgets. There is no way I plan on slowing down my collecting- So I definitely consider myself that younger generation as I started collecting at 22 and am now 26. I'll be that young guy you'll see at every show. I love the experience and I love the knowledge. Just my .02!

<h3>Hello schmelpboy:
Indeed nice to hear from younger blood in this hobby! Wow, 20
gorgets, that is pretty cool and serious too. Likewise, would
be interesting to hear more about your flags - my own ~40 year
collecting passion. Regarding this thread, the DE auction price
may have been a record, but deals can still be had at shows, like
the DE 1934 streamer I picked up for $850 at the last PMS, and that
was on saturday afternoon (show day two) after lots of other folks
had likely already seen it - online they list for several thousand.

[Killerbee]

This subject is always of interesting conversation. As far as TR collecting, it is my opinion that we really won't know whether or not the current pricing and pace of the hobby will continue for at least the next 5 to 10 (maybe 15) years. Although, I also believe we are at the beginning of that crossroad of TR market changes and we are beginning to see some changes. Be patient as any market like this is like moving a big ship… a slow process. And prices will be all over the place trying to find equalibrium and stablization of some kind.

It is also my opinion that you can not judge or use what happen in the 60s, 70s, 80s or even 90s as a primer for what will happen with this hobby in the future. I say this because those time periods are a measure of “ourselves”... we should not judge the future based upon our own reflections… we need to based our forecast on the forecasted actions of the next generation of collectors. Again, the current TR market interest and the money being paid for this TR stuff is just a reflection of our own interests and wallets, as it was in the 60 – 90s. The difference is that we just have more disposable income to spend and we no longer want to wait to have something that we always wanted. Human nature.

IMO, the big questions are 1) To what degree will the current pricing push existing collectors out of the market, and 2). to what level of interest will the next generation of collector’s have for TR stuff... and will they be willing to pay the entry fees?

Right now the pool of next generation TR collectors IMO seems very small; much smaller than when I (we) started collecting. So the facts regarding the future just doesn’t forecast very well for the TR collecting hobby. TR collecting will exist in the future but the big question is to what degree.

And the Civil War pricing example is an interesting observation to judge the future of TR collecting. But to be honest I just don’t get Civil War collecting. Must be a Southern state or Eastern state thing… as I would not give you a nickel for any of those things. The history is interesting but the items just bore the heck out of me. Maybe the big interest in Civil War items are in the fact that for many that live in the Southern states had family members (Great Grand Dads) that were directly connected to that time period. Or is it that all the annual Civil War reenactments inspire continued interest. Kids see it and are then interested in it. Or maybe, as many Southern colleagues of mine tell me, the war really never ended. Anyway, I just shake my head at Civil War stuff. But what is really funny is that many of my peers and especially my kid, nephews etc from the ages from 10 to 20 or even in their 30s have the same feeling with my TR stuff. They say neat when they see it… but when the walk out of my museum, it is just forgotten. And they would never ever spend the money that I spent on TR stuff. As far as they are concerned, its’ just crazy old dad collecting dead people’s stuff… and to be honest it just amuses me.

But as far as the pricing of the subject item of this thread, well, the pricing doesn’t surprise me. I know if I have the money, and I want it bad enough, I’ll buy it. I’m sure the guys bidding on this item didn’t care to much on the pricing but they had a cap… personally, I use my Las Vegas money when I buy any thing TR and I really don’t care if I get my money back. As far as I’m concern it is a “sunk” cost. Don’t’ really care what I will get for it in the future. If I do sell anything, I’ll accept whatever the market will bare at that time. It was never an investment, just another consumable item for me.

Jim

[Niblet]

Jim,,
Good post,,I agree with you on the Civil War stuff,,,I am interested in it,,but a vast majority of it is "old crap" to me,,and in crappy condition,,why would I pay huge sums of money??? to each his own I guess,,,

meanwhile,,I'll continue to go broke on TR stuff!

[prussian.guard]

the other thing you have to remember is at school we were taught about ww2 and all that went on.nowadays in the uk at least it is brushed over and not considered pc.collectors of this stuff will demise over the next few years as its too expensive and the kids have no interest unless its xbox or some other electronic crap.going to shows kids can't be bothered to go out to the park unless its to get pissed up and have a shag.
in 20 years time there will be very few of the old collectors and indeed us left.
if you say people will still collect why are there hardly any people that collect roman artifacts.

[oldflagswanted]

about collecting Roman standards ???

...if you say people will still collect why are there hardly any people that
collect roman artifacts.

Hello prussian.guard:
The NSDAP DE standard is actually based on the ancient Roman Legion
examples, but sadly no known original ancient Roman standard is known
to still exist today. Lots of folks do collect other Roman artifacts, mostly
coins survive some even showing Legion standards. So these days as a
modern substitute for the ancient I've sought out some Hollywood versions,
which are quite collectible in their own right. But my ultimate goal remains
finding a "real" ancient Roman standard, or parts thereof.
....................
........................

[Robert T.]

But my ultimate goal remains
finding a "real" ancient Roman standard, or parts thereof.

I found a nice copy, but Arminius has his foot on it....


Cheers,
__________
Robert

[oldflagswanted]

Very cool photo, thanks !!!

I found a nice copy, but Arminius has his foot on it....
Cheers,
____________
Robert

Robert T:
Very cool photo, thanks for posting it! Obscure viewing angle for
sure, doubt most even know the 18th Legion eagle is even there
when Arminius is viewed from ground level. The actual 9AD lost
Roman eagle was recovered years later, and returned to Rome.
Post Arminius the German tribes lost big time, as depicted in the
Gladiator-2000 movie, which yielded me somemore nice standards.
............ OLDFLAGSWANTED ..............

[Military]

What a lovely eagle!

[Robert T.]

The actual 9AD lost Roman eagle was recovered years later, and returned to Rome.

Returned to Rome and for sale here;http://www.niximperial.com/

Cheers,
_________
Robert