Since I'm Amongst 'Gentlemen'

[Stogieman]

Hi Brian, if "collector value" is of no issue or concern, then I do not understand why you would want to alter the piece at all. Wouldn't the best way to preserve your families heritage and the integrity thereof by keeping the group intact, well documented and together for the forseeable future? If collector interest isn't the concern at all, then I would suggest the best thing for you to do would be to find a museum in Germany that would accept your bequeath and honor your intent and concerns by preserving the group and its' history intact. I'm quite sure any number of the Prussian Military Museums would leap at that opportunity and honor your desires and concerns............ without altering the pieces themselves. Of course you could take a substantial tax break for the donation, but that would be a secondary benefit of knowing your heritage has been preserved.

[VtwinVince]

I've wrestled with this same dilemma concerning the awards of my uncle, an interesting Luftwaffe fighter pilot credited with victories in both wars. I was on the verge of having them engraved for future generations, then thought better of it.

[Bill Dienna]

Is there an alternative to engraving that would be just as "permanent"?

What about having a small plaque engraved with his name and particulars? A thin but strong wire is run through the PLM suspension loop and then both of its ends are soldered or riveted to the small plaque. Would this work to preserve the history in fashion that does not alter the decoration itself?

I must say that I'm torn on this question.

On the one hand I hate to think of original Order being altered.

At the same time, I wonder...if an American Civil War soldier received a medal from his regiment, unnamed, in 1862, and his grandaughter had it engraved with his particulars in the 1930's, would that really hurt the history of the piece or would it enhance it? I once saw a post Cival War badge that was created for those officers who had served on the staff of General George Meade. It was unnamed, although there was space on the reverse where it could have been named. And I wondered "Was this worn by a Civil War veteran, or did it appear years ago from the sale of unsold jeweler's stock? Did it have a personal history, or was it a representative object?". If it had been named by his daughter or grandaughter...well, all in all, though, I suppose that the best scenario from my point of view would have bee a paper label or note with the unnamed badge that gave its particulars.

Edited September 15, 2005 by Bill Dienna

[VtwinVince]

Brian, a bit off-topic, but could you post more scans of the Schwarzer Adler that you showed in the enamel thread? It's a rare opportunity to see images of this rare order.

[Guest Brian von Etzel]

No Schwarzer Adler here?

[VtwinVince]

My mistake, Brian, I think the image you posted was of a Pickelhaube badge, with the Black Eagle and "Suum Cuique".

[Richard Gordon]

Brian

I've been thinking about your dilemma since you started this thread.

When we see engraved pieces, there really is no telling if the engraving was made just after the piece was awarded (but still in war-time) or whether the recipient had it engraved after that war ended. Absolutely no way of telling if it was the 30's, 40's, 50's etc. Just look at that thread on the engraved 1914 EK1. If the font looks period, it seems it is acceptable even if the aging is not present.

You are the direct descendant and custodian of these awards and therefore I do not see a problem with you having these pieces engraved. I would not, however, have them laser engraved or engraved in any other modern way. I would have it done, by hand, by a skilled engraver in the correct font that matches the period of the award. I would also keep the engraving as small and as discreet as possible.

Good luck with your final decision for it surely is a tough decision to make.

Rich

[Stogieman]

I'd have to say Richard's thoughts do make some sense. I would not want to be the person agonizing over this decision. I'm sure in the final analysis, you'll do what's right for you and your family and that is truly all that matters.

[Biro]

Like I said... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2181...indpost&p=18155

...but perhaps not as eloquently as Richard.

Marshall

Brian

I've been thinking about your dilemma since you started this thread.

When we see engraved pieces, there really is no telling if the engraving was made just after the piece was awarded (but still in war-time) or whether the recipient had it engraved after that war ended. Absolutely no way of telling if it was the 30's, 40's,  50's etc. Just look at that thread on the engraved 1914 EK1. If the font looks period, it seems it is acceptable even if the aging is not present.

You are the direct descendant and custodian of these awards and therefore I do not see a problem with you having these pieces engraved. I would not, however, have them laser engraved or engraved in any other modern way. I would have it done, by hand, by a skilled engraver in the correct font that matches the period of the award. I would also keep the engraving as small and as discreet as possible.

Good luck with your final decision for it surely is a tough decision to make.

Rich

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[Guest Brian von Etzel]

Thanks all and thanks Rich. That would have been exactly the way I would have it done is by hand, old font, very very discreet. I'm not too blind to assume these will NEVER end up in the hands of collectors. But if they do, they will carry his name somehow...