Chris Liontas Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 I'm pulling a Boonzaier here!! I just got a call from the wife (who I am surprised is speaking to me) and my box from France arrived!!! Totally cant wait to get home. More to come!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGunner Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Ooh la la... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) No, unfortunately no Oooh la la....I tired ordering that once from Paris, and when it arrived, my wife locked herself in the bathroom.... Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Just got home and got everything settled, kid to sleep and a well worn copy of Snoopy and the Red Barron read. Downstairs I found this waiting for me. After a little concern, the box looked to be in good shape. Was really excited, Laurent Mirouze told me about these groups several months ago. Thankfully he held them for me so I was able to organize and grab them. One group is going to a friend who collects American Volunteer stuff (hint to what is coming) and one piece was for me. A huge thank you to Laurent and Jean-Laurent for all their help and explanations since my French is terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Here's is quick shot of the opened box. I figured I would take photos as I went, as we all, I am sure, love the expectation of opening a new box. I feel like a kid on Christmas when something comes. The first photo I just got it opened, I always get nervous when I open the box. I've never damaged what is inside, but I've come close in my haste to get inside. Second photo is the inside after I removed all the French newspapers, the tunic is visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Here is the uniform. It is named to Alastair Ian Grant Valentine. Note it is an aviation uniform. The French aviation buttons are original. Alastair was not Lafayette Flying Corps, but was something even rarer. He was in the French balloon corps as an artillery spotter. Research done by a collector, Tom Fife states that Valentine volunteered with American Field Service SSU 32 in 1917. He was not allowed entry into the US Military at the start of US involvement in hostilities in WWI, so he volunteered with the Red cross and was an ambulance driver in Italy in 1917-18. At the end of that enlistment, he volunteered with the French Foreign Legion, was accepted into artillery training, and became a spotter in the French Balloon Corps until the end of the war. Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) A shot of the medal group now owned, I think, by Scott Kraska. The photo is of Alastair during his service. I was amazed by the individual story of this group. Here was a man, who did all he could to ensure he served in World War I. He was denied by his own country, yet continued to find ways to volunteer for frontline service. The fact that he joined the French Aviation Corps, after service on both the Western Front, and the Italian front are a testament to his bravery. Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 The second part of "the box" was in this smaller box. So I actually got two boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) This was honestly the box I have been waiting for, and was really nervous that it was damaged in any way. Happily there was not damage to the box, and everything was sealed up tight (thank you again Laurent!). I've loved WWI aviation for years, but always thought it was outside my grasp as a collector; especially since my interested is in WWI Aero Squadron fabric insignia from aircraft fuselages. Thanks to some friends and just plain luck, I've been able to get a nice collection of aviation fabric. I used to dream of owning one piece of fuselage fabric with an Aero Squadron insignia, now I have been lucky enough to have several. I had to sell my WWI 32nd division collection, and all my pickelhaubes, but in the end I think it was a good choice. The second box contained a French fabric insignia from a SPAD. I collect mostly American insignia and uniforms, but you cant study American WWI aviation without a healthy study of the French Escadrilles as well. I've always loved French insignias, but several insignias stand out for me: SAL 1 (the Snail), SPAD 48 (The singing Rooster), and SPAD 152 (the crocodile) Well, needless to say today I am happy---thrilled more like it Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) A original port side insignia from SPA 152, even better---this is the personal insignia from the plane of LT Jean Lafargue, SPA 152 "Escadrille des Crocodiles". Lt Lafargue was assigned to 112 N, September 2 1916. He is then transferred to N84 12 April 1917 to help form a new squadron, N 152. I believe LT Lafargue was credited with one German aircraft in 1916, but his greatest accomplishment was the assisted downing of the German Zeppelin L49. L49 was returning from bombing England when she was set upon by several French fighters. Lt Lafargue, along with several other pilots forced L49 to land in French territory, and was captured completely intact. Lt Lafargue ended with war with N 162 as far as I understand. Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Better shots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Full shot sent to me from France before I got the fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) a huge thanks again to Laurent. Lt Lafargue's entire collection came up for auction in France and I missed it by about a month. I didn't think I would ever get another chance, but I was able to get the insignia. I believe there is a trunk and other items that have been scattered. Now the long task of getting them all back together begins. A last photo of Jean in his SPAD Edited September 27, 2014 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 That is really very fantastic indeed!!!! I love boxes like that!!!!! I am not sure which is cooler, the tunic or the canvas.... I guess maybe the canvas..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogi Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Very cool additions and lots of congrats :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacHel Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 WOW!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 That is really very fantastic indeed!!!! I love boxes like that!!!!! I am not sure which is cooler, the tunic or the canvas.... I guess maybe the canvas..... Honestly I don't know which is cooler to say. The coolest thing I have seen during the centenary of WW1 is that uniform you posted of the French LT in the field where he was killed. Coolest means different things to different collectors. But here on this forum, anything with a personal connection to the Frist World War, to me, is much cooler than any special "thing" no matter what the rarity. I love the canvas, but that is what I collect. Do I think it is better than the uniforms, no not at all. WW1 is one area of collecting where items are massively undervalued I think. Chris B's uniform in field where the LT died, other named uniforms of a Chevauleger, Uhlan, Poilu, or commonwealth soldier are just as equally valuable and interesting in my opinion. the canvas is pretty cool isn't it though?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Finally got it up and framed. Very happy with conservation mount and the whole process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 ooooooooohhhhh.... that is indeed fantastic!! Those canvasses are world class! You may want to consider doing something to block or dim the direct sunlight though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Those canvases are amazing. How are they stabilized? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuka f Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudius Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 That is an AWESOME man-cave! The canvas looks great mounted on the wall. But I agree with Chris, you might want dim that sunlight coming in. I learned that even reflected sunlight is damaging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Liontas Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Thank you guys for the comments!! I appreciate it! I agree with you, the sunlight is a pain. I block out that window usually with a blanket so nothing gets through. I bought blinds for the whole room, except that window for some reason....completely overlooked it. I appreciate the comments on the canvases. I have been very lucky and been able to get several that are named to the pilot and traceable to the plane/loss/scrap date. I've not shared my collection online yet, but if there is interest I will start a new thread about what I have. Each canvas is stabilized a little differently, depending on condition. Jean's Croc was in pretty good shape, so after a week of stabilizing the linen, it was framed with acid free V brackets on the corners and the canvas was stabilized with pressure from the matting. The matting doesn't touch the paint, there is a layer of something in-between so nothing touches the fabric. The glass is out from the fabric as well, so the paint has a small room to breathe. Honestly I should have these framed open, so the vapors can exude, but with the amount of dust here, that would damage them more. In the photo the German and the 91st Aero Squadron (the knight chasseing the Devil) are glued to wood, and were done so years ago. I have had them cleaned and will try to put some glass around them soon. There unfortunately is nothing I can do to remove the silk 91st or the linen German from the wood The eagle (27th Aero Squadron) is mounted a tad differently. It was at the bottom of a trunk for years and was torn and wrinkled heavily. We decided to attach it to a heat stable conservation foam board that doent allow the fabric to wrinkle. It is the same idea the Smithsonian uses with their rolled fabrics. The Rabbit from Escadrille SAL 39 was framed in 1920 and is a beast to lift. Iron frame. It looks good and is stable, so I have not taken it apart yet. A different shot of a few other fabrics Edited January 19, 2016 by Chris Liontas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacHel Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Speechless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Now that I've wiped the droll off my laptop, wow! One comment, Chris, on the light issue. I took a conservation course a few years ago now as part of a Museum Studies certificate, and one class we had was on lighting and LED display lighting. State of the art is fibre optics, so that one lights exactly the artifact and nothing else. The bonus is that the light so delivered is without UV and infrared, the elements which damage cloth, wood and so on. I'm not sure about cost, as I don't have a museum, or even a man cave, so I didn't care much, but you might consider at least looking into it. The US National Parks Conservation Asscoiation is, I'm pretty sure, the group who publish a whole series of conservation articles, aimed at historic sites and museusm, and may have some useful advice available on-line. I'm prety sure that's where i stole info. and ideas for some papers I did at the time. Lovely lovely stuff. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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