Recommended Reference Books?

[grzmot]

Hey all, I'm interested to know what you guys consider some of the best reference books and material for SS collecting. I already own "Artifacts and Insignia of the Waffen-SS" by Mr. Bando. What are some other titles you guys often find yourself using to help authenticate and identify items?

Another note: I hope this was the right forum to post this in, if it is not just inform me and I'll move it.

Thanks,
Carson

[Waffenreich]

Hey all, I'm interested to know what you guys consider some of the best reference books and material for SS collecting. I already own "Artifacts and Insignia of the Waffen-SS" by Mr. Bando. What are some other titles you guys often find yourself using to help authenticate and identify items?

Another note: I hope this was the right forum to post this in, if it is not just inform me and I'll move it.

Thanks,
Carson

Good evening Carson,

I think this Forum is probably the best reference book you are going to find. On this Forum you can use the Search function like a Table of Contents or Index in a book and find hundreds of very informative Threads on every item showing all manner of original and reproduction examples, discussed by the best experts in the field. There are excellent books out there, but before you sink the hundreds of dollars that some of these books cost I encourage you to navigate this Forum and find an area you like and then dig into some of the books as most of them are focused on one subject or another.

BTW - did you go to the SoS in February? I met a very polite young gentlemen named Carson that I gifted a Black Wound Badge to. Was that you by chance? If so, glad to see you made it here and I look forward to keeping the chat up and helping any way I can.

Best regards!

Bob

[grzmot]

Good evening Carson,

I think this Forum is probably the best reference book you are going to find. On this Forum you can use the Search function like a Table of Contents or Index in a book and find hundreds of very informative Threads on every item showing all manner of original and reproduction examples, discussed by the best experts in the field. There are excellent books out there, but before you sink the hundreds of dollars that some of these books cost I encourage you to navigate this Forum and find an area you like and then dig into some of the books as most of them are focused on one subject or another.

BTW - did you go to the SoS in February? I met a very polite young gentlemen named Carson that I gifted a Black Wound Badge to. Was that you by chance? If so, glad to see you made it here and I look forward to keeping the chat up and helping any way I can.

Best regards!

Bob

Hi Bob, thanks for the reply. I assumed this was probably the best resource (and on top of all of that it's free!) but also wanted to see if there were any broad books that the community suggested.

And, unfortunately, that was not me. I've always wanted to go to the SoS but haven't been able to make the trip. However, I do try to correspond with as many fellow young collectors as I can - gotta make sure the hobby stays alive after all. So, with that being said, If I happen to meet any other collectors named Carson I will certainly send them this way.

Many thanks,
Carson

[Waffenreich]

Hi Bob, thanks for the reply. I assumed this was probably the best resource (and on top of all of that it's free!) but also wanted to see if there were any broad books that the community suggested.

And, unfortunately, that was not me. I've always wanted to go to the SoS but haven't been able to make the trip. However, I do try to correspond with as many fellow young collectors as I can - gotta make sure the hobby stays alive after all. So, with that being said, If I happen to meet any other collectors named Carson I will certainly send them this way.

Many thanks,
Carson

Thanks for the reply Carson, and good to know now there's two Carson's interested in the hobby

There are a ton of great reference books, but as mentioned - many are very expensive due to the amount of effort that goes in to the study of the subject examples and publishing costs. Is there a particular field you're interested in within the SS? That may help narrow the field a little. Also, I would recommend posting your question again in the Collector's Community Forum so it gets more visibility.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

Best regards!

Bob

[grzmot]

There are a ton of great reference books, but as mentioned - many are very expensive due to the amount of effort that goes in to the study of the subject examples and publishing costs. Is there a particular field you're interested in within the SS? That may help narrow the field a little.

Yes, I've found I've got a particular affinity for Waffen-SS cloth insignia. I'll be sure to post the question in the other forum, thankyou for the suggestion I really appreciate it.

-Carson

[Robert H]

Angolia SS cloth insignias books, Mollos SS Uniform books.
Some Beaver books are good. Modern books are mostly only photo books with out much background Informations and even some have mistakes inside.

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

for SS cloth insignia, the WAF will be probably better than the existing books.

Not only will you find "common" Dachau stock models discussed, but also less common variations of rare models.
I would suggest you to stick to the common Dachau models for the first months, you have hundred of topics on this SS subforum to read.

SS cloth insignia prices are down for years, due to the amount that were found and taken back by the US soldiers in the Dachau stock warehouses after the Liberation of the camp.

See You

Vince

[rbno]

Carson, I've posted this list several before, but I'm happy to do it again. I have an extensive library on many phases of military collecting. Some things are more easily found on the forums and some things are more easily found in books.

There will be those who will strongly disagree, but IMHO, the occurance of missinformation and errors in the forums and in printed references is about the same.

“Cloth Insignia of the SS” by John Angolia: This is the most comprehensive book on the subject of cloth insignia. It covers all branches of the SS, to include Waffen, SSVT, SSTV, Foreign Volunteer formations, etc. Drawbacks include: relatively small pictures, some of which are of indifferent quality, many variations of cuff titles are not referenced and there are a few questionable pieces included.

“A Collelctors Guide to SS and Political Cuffbands” and “Collecting Third Reich SS & Political Cuffbands” by Ulric of England: This is actually a volume I and Volume II. This is by far the most detailed reference on SS cuff titles and includes many excellent shots showing construction details, front and back along with good descriptive material. It is, however, far from comprehensive, and is limited to cuff titles.

“German Military Cuffbands, 1784 – Present” by Gordon Williamson & Thomas McGuirl: This is probably the most comprehensive work on Waffen SS cuff titles. Most variations are included. However, it is limited to Waffen SS cuff titles and the photos could be a little larger, and more detailed.

“Insignia and Artifacts of the Waffen SS” by Michael D. Beaver / Mark A Bando: Excellent color photographs of Waffen SS insignia! Also includes some information on metal insignia, etc. In this case, the drawbacks include lack of Foreign Volunteer units of the WSS and lack of Allgemeine insignia.

“Uniforms of the Waffen – SS, Volumes 1 – 3” by Michael D. Beaver: This is by far the best reference on SS uniforms. Drawbacks are that headgear is not included and insignia is not the primary focus of this work (But there are many great insignia shots!)

“Uniforms of the SS, Volumes 1 – 7” by Andrew Mollo: This series has a little of everything, but its forte is the extremely detailed line drawings of insignia. The drawbacks are small photographs of indifferent quality and lack of comprehensiveness.

“SS Uniforms, Insignia & Accoutrements, A study in Photographs” by A. Hayes: Great color photographs of a wide variety of SS items, many of which are not shown in other references. Its drawbacks include the inclusion of a few questionable pieces and a lack of comprehensiveness.

“Inside the Allgemeine SS 1925 – 1945” by Ulric of England: Great color photographs of a wide variety of Allgemeine SS items, many of which are not shown in other references. Some of the some photos could be a little larger; it is far from comprehensive and covers only Allgemeine SS.

“The Collector’s Guide to the Distinctive Cloth Headgear of the Allgemeine and Waffen – SS” by Michael D. Beaver with William Shea: This is an excellent book on all cloth SS headgear with great color photos and descriptions. The downside is that insignia is not the focus of this book. There are excellent shots of the insignia attached to the headgear, but not reverse sides.

“Collectors Guide to Sturmabteilung Insignia” by David Fuller: This book is not about SS insignia. It is about SA insignia and its construction much of which applies to SS insignia. It includes numerous detailed pictures illustrating construction techniques. For that reason, I highly recommend it.

[grzmot]

Carson, I've posted this list several before, but I'm happy to do it again. I have an extensive library on many phases of military collecting. Some things are more easily found on the forums and some things are more easily found in books.

There will be those who will strongly disagree, but IMHO, the occurance of missinformation and errors in the forums and in printed references is about the same.

“Cloth Insignia of the SS” by John Angolia: This is the most comprehensive book on the subject of cloth insignia. It covers all branches of the SS, to include Waffen, SSVT, SSTV, Foreign Volunteer formations, etc. Drawbacks include: relatively small pictures, some of which are of indifferent quality, many variations of cuff titles are not referenced and there are a few questionable pieces included.

“A Collelctors Guide to SS and Political Cuffbands” and “Collecting Third Reich SS & Political Cuffbands” by Ulric of England: This is actually a volume I and Volume II. This is by far the most detailed reference on SS cuff titles and includes many excellent shots showing construction details, front and back along with good descriptive material. It is, however, far from comprehensive, and is limited to cuff titles.

“German Military Cuffbands, 1784 – Present” by Gordon Williamson & Thomas McGuirl: This is probably the most comprehensive work on Waffen SS cuff titles. Most variations are included. However, it is limited to Waffen SS cuff titles and the photos could be a little larger, and more detailed.

“Insignia and Artifacts of the Waffen SS” by Michael D. Beaver / Mark A Bando: Excellent color photographs of Waffen SS insignia! Also includes some information on metal insignia, etc. In this case, the drawbacks include lack of Foreign Volunteer units of the WSS and lack of Allgemeine insignia.

“Uniforms of the Waffen – SS, Volumes 1 – 3” by Michael D. Beaver: This is by far the best reference on SS uniforms. Drawbacks are that headgear is not included and insignia is not the primary focus of this work (But there are many great insignia shots!)

“Uniforms of the SS, Volumes 1 – 7” by Andrew Mollo: This series has a little of everything, but its forte is the extremely detailed line drawings of insignia. The drawbacks are small photographs of indifferent quality and lack of comprehensiveness.

“SS Uniforms, Insignia & Accoutrements, A study in Photographs” by A. Hayes: Great color photographs of a wide variety of SS items, many of which are not shown in other references. Its drawbacks include the inclusion of a few questionable pieces and a lack of comprehensiveness.

“Inside the Allgemeine SS 1925 – 1945” by Ulric of England: Great color photographs of a wide variety of Allgemeine SS items, many of which are not shown in other references. Some of the some photos could be a little larger; it is far from comprehensive and covers only Allgemeine SS.

“The Collector’s Guide to the Distinctive Cloth Headgear of the Allgemeine and Waffen – SS” by Michael D. Beaver with William Shea: This is an excellent book on all cloth SS headgear with great color photos and descriptions. The downside is that insignia is not the focus of this book. There are excellent shots of the insignia attached to the headgear, but not reverse sides.

“Collectors Guide to Sturmabteilung Insignia” by David Fuller: This book is not about SS insignia. It is about SA insignia and its construction much of which applies to SS insignia. It includes numerous detailed pictures illustrating construction techniques. For that reason, I highly recommend it.

Thankyou for the list, I'll certainly look into purchasing a few of these down the road. Thankyou all for the help! I greatly appreciate all the suggestions.

Carson