Memorabilia

Imperial German Shelter Section Lot: WWI Kit Bag & Contents with 1918 Dated Zeltbahn

Field gray cotton rectangular bag with dish utility buttons, has "1916" maker date stamp and "B.A. XV / 1916" 15th Army Corps issue stamp. Complete with three pole sections, and three of the metal zeltbahn stakes. Bag has good pliable leather attachment straps. Has service wear and stains, fine overall.  Includes a M1915 field gray canvas shelter section with zinc grommets and utility buttons.  This is missing ten (five pairs) of the buttons and has a stained portion that has weakened the fabric in that spot, but very good overall condition with nice strong color.  There is no visible issue stamp, but it does have a good 1918 dated maker stamp.  

$100 - $150

Very nice condition field telephone has folding speaking funnel and black cushioned leather earpiece, metal portion retains the majority of feldgrau and black painted finishes.  Base is fitted with original cloth covered cord, lacks the attachment plug end as is almost always the case with these. Black leather carrier lacks shoulder strap; it has also lost the lid hinge strap on one side, but the lid remains and the leather is in good condition.  $150 - $250

Imperial German Fernglas 08 Binoculars Lot: Three Sets

Three sets of Fernglas 08 binoculars, includes one in an oval profile black leather belt case with metal top lid, complete with instructions on the interior of the lid.  Second and third sets are in brown leather rectangular box belt carriers; one with an intact neck strap on the binoculars and instructions on the interior of the lid, field repaired belt ring on the carrier.  Third set has contrasting brown eye pieces, has a portion of the broken leather neck strap, and the carrier lacks instructions and has damaged closure tabs, but has nice painted unit marking on the lid.  Optics on all three sets are functional - not crisp and clean, but not 'cloudy' either.  

$300 - $400

Austrian WWI Wire Cutters

20.5 cm (~8") long small size hand wire cutters with side action cutting teeth. Has traces of blued finish with spots of light surface oxidation, partially legible marking "PATENT" on one side, complete with brown leather combination lanyard and retaining strap.  $50-$100

British WWI / WWII MK VII Ground Sheet

Original example in excellent pliable condition, has inscription with a soldier's number, name, and designation "18 B / HUT.436" on the interior, otherwise unmarked.  The narrow folded edge at the base would tend to indicate that this is an early WWII example, but my (limited) attempts to verify that by running the service number did not yield results.  The inscription should be researchable should the next owner wish to invest the time and effort.  Regardless, original examples in such good condition are rather scarce, and it would work well in either a WWI or WWII BEF display. 

$150 - $250

French WWI Equipment Mixed Lot

Includes French maker marked Linneman pattern entrenching tool, a heavily cleaned Petard Racquet Grenade (inert), soiled but good French haversack, and a tin carrier containing a reenactor's recreation of one of the early war gas defense goggles sets.  Lot also includes a simple natural linen knapsack with some modern sewn repairs; interior has a very detailed purple laundry pen inscription of a Lieutenant Edouard Hanquet with an address in Liege (Belgium). 

$100 - $150

British WWI MK IX Trench Periscope & Quick Focus Rifleman Telescope

British MK IX trench periscope is 59cm ~(23-1/4") long with the wood handle installed, brass tube retains 50% olive finish and is marked "PERISCOPE / MK IX / 1918 / R.&J. BECK, Ltd."  Optics are just a bit dark but not cloudy.  Lacks carrying case.

British two-draw field telescope has a rather elegant brown leather carry case with captive end caps and adjustable sling.  Brass tube is marked "QUICK FOCUS RIFLEMAN / J.H. STEWARD Ltd. / 406 STRAND / LONDON".  Optics are a bit cloudy.  Exterior of the case is inscribed "G.M. Walker / 2 Whitby Ave. / Seaburn / Co. Durham"  Closed and capped length is 32cm, (~12-1/2"), drawn length is 62cm (~24-1/2")

US WWI Trench Periscope is a 5.3cm (~2") square wood box periscope which measures 36.7cm (~14-1/2") long with 90% olive drab finish, side with folding wood attachment stake and belt clip. Interior mirrors are present and functional.  Storage wear only, much nicer than usually encountered. 

$150 - $200