Need A Book Recomendation

[Matthew S.]

Considering that SS items are the bread and butter of repro artists, the last thing I want to do when I get some disposable income is blow it on junk. What are some good reference books for SS items, particularly uniforms, insignia, and headgear?

[Donald Abenheim]

Search

I think if you look in old files here, you shall find the bibliographical orientation you need. If you wish to collect this stuff, you would do well to invest both money and time (the latter being even more precious and demanding...) in this little pursuit. Otherwise, your disappointment will be greater than the financial loss.

[Matthew S.]

Well, I'm young so I have plenty of time (Its the money thing that could use some addressing ). I will give a look around the old posts.

[Donald Abenheim]

bon chance!

Well, I'm young so I have plenty of time (Its the money thing that could use some addressing ). I will give a look around the old posts.

I am old, and have gotten that way, partially, by having spent much of forty years chasing this stuff. However, these sites (to include the German dagger one..) do contain lots of references to books of merit. The money issue is problematic, to be sure. When I was your age, this stuff was too expensive; now, it is still too expensive. However, the books are a bargain, at any price, because the more you know, the better able you shall be to avoid the thousands of nasty traps. The place to start, to be sure, is the single volume wrap up of Andrew Mollo's multi-volume work from the 1960s and 1970s. It is in advanced book exchange or the other sites of merit. The second step are the Beaver books, which are a more costly proposition. They contain a wealth of images. However, the pictures do not make sense without the organizational structure and regalia contained in Mollo. You should also read a general history of the SS, of which Hoehne remains a simple beginning, but there are now many, many valuable works of great merit. However, if you want to understand real uniforms and badges, you have to find the things themselves in established collections and feel them, smell them, and even look at them again and again. However, with the internet, a young person has something at hand that I never had. The owl of Minerva takes flight at dusk, but young inquiring minds need not wait that long to figure it all out. Also, these sites contain some figures with a lot of knowledge. It might pay to become chums with one of them, as well. Afterall once I have a massive stroke, what good will all of this do, anyway?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hmm?

Mollo 1-6
Beavers 3 volume Uniforms of the Waffen SS
Cloth Insignia of the SS, Angolia
German Military Cuffbands, Gordon WIlliamson

Then the hard part. Determing wether an item is fake or real is akin to handling counterfeit money so you are going to have to look at some real stuff frequently. This involves making friends and figuring out who knows what they are talking about and who just wants in your pocket. Good luck and stay sharp and start hitting the shows and making friends, its your only chance. This hobby is rife with charlatans beggers and thieves, oh and some damn fine people who can save your ass.

Doc

[TonyS]

I would add a couple of headgear books to Doc's list

Mollo 1-6
Beavers 3 volume Uniforms of the Waffen SS
Cloth Insignia of the SS, Angolia
German Military Cuffbands, Gordon WIlliamson
SS-Steel, Kelly Hicks (for helmets)
The Collectors Guide to Cloth Third Reich Military Headgear, Gary Wilkins

Also I would go through as many old posts on this site and GDC as you possibly can.

[Donald Abenheim]

internet sites

To be sure, the sites and their many threads contain much extraordinary material. One has to spend many, many hours with this data as well as figure out who knows a bit about this (...and who does not...), and go from there. I would caution that the electronic pictures are far from the last word, but they can also be very helpful. Sapere aude.

[fknorr]

Another recommendation is to listen and find a good, knowledgable person to either (a) go to shows with, or (b) run all your items by BEFORE you purchase them. (or both)

Most people are more than willing to help out another collector.

for all your book needs, Jack & Pat:
http://www.ww2bks.com/pages/1/index.htm

[Gary Wood]

all good reference books above and good advice, collecting is a continuos learning game (for us all I think) i learn new things every year,

cheers
Gary