Memorabilia

Imperial Front Line Canteen Stein

Half liter stoneware stein has gray salt glaze finish with blue slip Iron Cross motif and inscription "1914-1917 HEERESGRUPPE KRONPR. RUPPRECHT VON BAYERN" and "0.5L" incised below lip, nice example! 

$50 - $100

German Stein Lot: One Original and Two Reproductions

Includes a nice original .5 liter stonewear stein depicting Imperial German martial scenes with Hindenburg figure on the lid.  Also includes a modern Hoffbrau House 1 liter stonewear stein, and a reproduction reservist souvenir for JR 127.  

$100 - $150

WWI US 347th Field Artillery Soldier's Souvenir Insignia Belt with Several Scarce German Cockades

Often described as a 'hate belt' or 'trophy belt', these were common souvenirs among the doughboys of WWI: a mixture of insignia from friend and foe alike, mounted on a German belt.  In this case, it is a brown leather Imperial German belt with a nice feldgrau Prussian buckle, but interestingly the internal buckle billet has been relocated to the exterior of the belt.  Belt is mounted by 25 insignias, mostly German uniform buttons and NCO rank collar buttons, with the better pieces being a Baden cockade, a scarce Saxe-Weimar cockade, and a similarly desirable Hamburg & Lübeck (Hanseatic) cockade.  The belt also has a US "347 / Artillery / B" numbered collar disc, and is inscribed behind the buckle billet with the service number and unit of the doughboy to whom this belonged: Jean Domeco of Oakland, California, who served as a Cook in Battery B, 347th Field Artillery.

$100 - $200

Imperial German Infantry Regiment 29 Reservist's Pipe

JR 29 Reservist's souvenir pipe has a short but nice quality stag horn stem.  Bowl is adorned with martial vignettes and a roster of this reservist's unit: 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment Nr. 29 'Von Horn', from 1902 / 1904.  Bowl has a pickelhaube motif metal lid.  Includes a collector's custom made display stand.  

$100 - $200

Imperial German Motif Desk Statue / Ornament Lot

Four pieces, the largest of which is the bust of Paul von Hindenburg at 12cm (4-5/8") wide x 18cm (7-1/8") tall, of bronze tinted spelter on a black marbled base.  Also of the same materials is the helmeted head of an Imperial soldier.  M16 helmet over crossed swords is of cast brass on a black polished stone base, and the Baden helmet appears to be cast resin on a green base.  

$100 - $150

Imperial German Reservist's Souvenir Flasks: Lot of Five

Includes a very nice Imperial Kaiserliche Marine example, as well as flasks from JR26, JR143, and a very elaborate example with lithograph printed color panels and a frame of rifle cartridges. 

$200 - $300

Imperial German Motif WWI Souvenir Lot: Cigarette Cases, Letter Openers, Match Safes & More

Eleven items total.  Includes four cigarette cases with Iron Cross, spike helmet, or artillery shell motifs, two match safes, a shell splinter letter opener,, Iron Cross motif letter opener with measuring scale on the blade, a large Iron Cross paperweight, trench art made from a shell casing, fired bullet, and aviation fleschette, and a nice Iron Cross motif locket style coin holder with two spring-loaded interior pfennig dispensers. 

$200 - $300 

Imperial German & Austro-Hungarian WWI Service Souvenirs & Patriotic Tchotchkes Mixed Lot

Lot features a nice Imperial German WWI Veterans Organization Iron Cross Motif Flag Pole Top, a miniature officer's dress saber letter opener complete with knot, Iron Cross motif jewelry box, another jewelry box with enamel Hohenzollern eagle insignia, a set of silver Imperial eagle motif cufflinks, and a trench art carved souvenir box with crossed Imperial German and Austrian flags.  The latter is filled with shrapnel pieces, a shell casing, and a pair of Austrian Machine Gun collar insignias.  

$200 - $300

Imperial German & Austro-Hungarian National Hero Plaque, Portrait, and Table Medal Lot

Ten pieces in total; includes bronze table medals, wall plaques, and small oval portraits of notable central powers figures including Paul von Hindenburg, General Alexander Heinrich Rudolph von Kluck, General Erich von Falkenhayn, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph, and Franz Xaver Josef Conrad von Hötzendorf (Chief of the General Staff).  The largest piece is the bronze wall plaque of Hindenburg, which measures 17cm x 26cm (6-5/8" x 10-1/4")

$200 - $400

WWI Princess Mary Gift Box, Trench Art Lighters & Match Safe Lot

Includes an (empty) Princess Mary gift box, two nice trench art lighters, two match safes, a trench art cigar case with a US Infantry machine gun company collar disc, a wood trench art box inscribed "K. Stoiber / 1914-18 / Ingolstadt", and a napkin ring with "GOTT MIT UNS" roundel.  

$100 - $150

French WWI Soldier's Personal Items & Postwar Souvenir Lot

Features a French WWI Compass In Original Pasteboard Retail Box: campaign compass by the firm of "J. Auricoste" is complete with its original pasteboard retail box.  The box has damaged lid corners, but remains intact; lid features the flags of France and her wartime allies.  Lot also includes a single ammunition pouch, cigarette case, soldier's large folding pocket knife, and a "Douk-Douk" inexpensive pocket knife.  Post-war souvenir items include a Verdun table medal, wax and ceramic 'sacred soil' mile marker souvenirs, and a commercial souvenir representation of the train car in which the Armistice was signed.  

$150 - $200

WWI Iron Cross & British Tank Motif Trench Art Desk Display made by German Soldier

20cm x 8.5cm (7-3/4" x 3-3/8") clipped corner wood base is home to a rather elaborate trench art model of a British tank with fired copper artillery shell driving bands for tracks, fitted with small muzzles protruding from side sponsons and decorated by German coins on both sides.  Front has a copper plaque worked with an Iron Cross motif and "WORLD WAR 14 / 18".  The tank has inscription "GEFREITER / FRITZ OPPERT / JR 1/66".  10cm (4") tall overall.  

$50 - $100