How to determine value?

[Steve D]

I have 2 items that are not for sale but have been looked at and the prices from various collectors and dealers are across the board. Is there a way to value these items? The items are:A panzer flag bearer patch(what I was told) and a pair of shoulder boards, farrier instructor at german vetriniary schools. Are there guide books out there that would have values in them? New to this forum so if posting of this kind is not allowed moderator please delete. Thanks, Steve

[Rick Research]

Steve-- good place to ask. Value and price are two often separate issues, and your two very specific examples should get some good responses from people who know about them specifically.

Generally, a dealer who intends to resell items is always going to quote lower prices--if one paid $1 on the dollar, they wouldn't stay in business. Collectors will generally offer more than a dealer--but the trick is finding the RIGHT collector.

You might take something to shows for years and get no interest, while the person who really wants something is going to pay top dollar up front, no hesitation.

There are regional variations as well. Our prices tend to be lower in my region than elsewhere. Our supplies of "stuff" are certainly no better now... but remembering when they WERE tends to keep prices down.

I'm not a fan of "price guides" in general... since there are NO "general" prices. Europeans, for instance, go insane for little miniatures award groups on chains that are virtually impossible to sell here. What someone is willing to pay for Item X in Place Y is almost never going to be what it might fetch in Place Z.

[Klaus O.]

Fahnenträgerabzeichen der Panzertruppen

Steve,

Price can vary. It depends on conditions and how rare the patch in question is: an infantry patch would be more common than a mountain troops one. I can imagine that flag bearer patches are all quite rare, no question what the color of the Waffengattung is. For example I have never seen an original Panzer patch!

Just for your reference: on this dealer's website there are three available: http://www.relicsofthereich.com/insig-flag.htm .
As you can see prices are varying from USD 450.- up to USD 625.-. The most expensive is the flat wire machine embroidered arm Motorised/motorcycle Reconnaissance units' patch, which in my humble opionion, it's even rarer than yours.

Here is the image of this latter patch:






I wouldn't spend more than USD 400.- / USD 500.- for such item, if I would collect it. But I have already seen on catalogues, this is about the right price. Finally a collectible piece is worth what the collectors are ready to spend for it. Since I am far to be a specialist in these embroided patches, I wouldn't be able to tell you whether the patch illustrated here above is original or not. The fact that it's machine embroidered is already a good point. It could be less probable that it's a fake, since I have seen some hand embroidered repros coming from Pakistan.

I hope this helped you.

Ciao,

Claudio