opinion about totenkopf ring

[patriote3945]

Hello,
A friend of mine wants to buy totenkopf ring on gottlieb website.
lhttp://www.craiggottlieb.com/engine/inspect.asp?Item=2849&Filter=German+Militaria&Name =Totenkopf+Ring%2C+von+Salisch
It is expensive but with expertise of boyle.
Do you think is is serious or not ?
Thanks for your help

[Mech]

The website indicates that this ring is already "On Hold."

[Ian Hulley]

There are 2 people now giving COA's on SS Honour Rings, one is a long respected authority on the subject with an impeccable background ... and the other is Craig Gottlieb.

Ian

[sgstandard]

Impeccability

OUCH !!! ......

[Gaspare]

Forget the CoA! IF you need someones certification to buy something you should just forget the whole thing! What good is that paper if 10 yrs from now its found out it was a stunning fake? Dealer / seller long dead/retired/gone!

Some guys get a little cash and bam, 'gotta get me one of them HRs!',,and it comes with a Don Gottleib CoA too! Yahoo!'

Let it go guys,,study the dammed thing,,try and handle a few, look, listen, and learn,,,THEN buy what YOU like and forget the paper..........

[Ian Hulley]

look, listen, and learn

To whome G ? The problem is that if what we older collectors who studied the 'Don' way are rubbished by the new kid on the block then what he say's is suddenly gospel ... bad becomes good and vice versa ... hence the level of resentment.

As someone who no longer collects I have no financial outlay at stake here but I'm watching another item of SS regalia bocoming uncollectable and that hurts.

Ian

[Michael Fay]

Manichaean merger

,,and it comes with a Don Gottleib CoA too! ......

On "Don Gottlieb"
As I appreciate this members comments and suspect some dont notice(perhaps willfully) a few subtle points he has been trying to make for a few weeks, I am taking it upon myself to highlight one illuminating example of word-play.
"Don Gottlieb"
is elucidating what I consider to be a comment on the proclivity of so many of us collectors to create a Manichaean world view of spiritual proportions wherin we see cetain individuals writ large as being angelic or demonic , and so make value judgements on their motives in merely the dualistic comparisons of black and white.
Of course the painful thing about becoming adults is to learn that the world is not black and white , but shades of grey.

[piw]

Personally i wouldnt invest a penny in these rings. Far too much controversy.

[RUHL13]

Well, they were not before, until "another" book came out

[patriote3945]

thanks

Thanks for your help !

[sgstandard]

Von Salisch Ring

PATRIOTE only needs to read the website description, look at the photos, and then decide if he really missed out on anything. If he thinks that $12,000 is a great price for a ring that has a section of the band replaced/repaired?, and an inscription style that differs completely from all known originals, then he's bummed. OR ....He totally missed out on a rare Totenkopfring with EXTREMELY RARE engraving. Play or pass....

[Gaspare]

*Ian,,, Dons 1st work was in 1993 I think. Way before many here knew very much about them. Don set the what beginners needed to know,,the standards that are even true right now:
There was a early, a late, and interim pattern..
They were 2 piece, band and skull soldered on front covering sizing seam.
They were die cast.
There are a certain set amount of dates.
Had to be engraved a certain way. [no first initial , no 0 in front of single digit date].
The main few die flaws.
Criteria for getting them.
Approx. number made.
And, what they weren't,,no silver content mark, no RZM, no SS runes in band etc.
- No one is going to serious dispute any of the above.

You understood that, then studied engraving tools and period engraving [from any type jewlery]. Handled a few to get the weight, thickness down and finer details and I'd say your well on your way..

*Mike,, that is one cool post! But,,
"wherin we see cetain individuals writ large as being angelic or demonic , and so make value judgements on their motives in merely the dualistic comparisons of black and white.
Of course the painful thing about becoming adults is to learn that the world is not black and white , but shades of grey."
I disagree with you about that. When we except this shade of grey about pieces,,variants,, exceptions to the rule,, etc. that is the beginning of the end..

[Michael Fay]

*any of the above.

*Mike,, that is one cool post! But,,
"wherin we see cetain individuals writ large as being angelic or demonic , and so make value judgements on their motives in merely the dualistic comparisons of black and white.
Of course the painful thing about becoming adults is to learn that the world is not black and white , but shades of grey."
I disagree with you about that. When we except this shade of grey about pieces,,variants,, exceptions to the rule,, etc. that is the beginning of the end..

Gaspare, I may not have been clear enough, as I meant the shades of grey to address only the compulsions of humans.

The items (such as an Honor ring), are like islands of stability (to be judged in black in white) while the individuals selling (and buying them) are tempest tossed seas of seething ambiguity....these rough seas are colored in shades of grey.

[David Fettes]

http://www.craiggottlieb.com/engine/...ox%2C+Pictured

I have just read this bit and thought, you cheeky thing (or words to that effect)

"It comes with a Don Boyle certificate (for those who still need them)"

[Mech]

I don't know why you guys make such a big deal out of this. There are plenty of guaranteed original ones on eBay.