TonyR

Close up of military dignitaries during Spanish departure:

Here's another 19thC with the caption on the photo "Capt. Gen Castellanes & Staff leaving Havana 1-1-1899". with these following words written on the reverse (in English): The Capt Gen leaving Havana Jan 1st 1899 for Madrid Spain hard to tell who was the happiest the spanish soldier or Cuban both seamed to happy (sic). I believe the spanish soldier to be the happy man in this day.

here's a photo from the turn of the 20th Cent. No badges are discernable but the guajiros are in full force. Tony

Here's a 53 marked u-boat I recently purchased from JohnT of GermanWarBooty (before reading this thread). Here are photos from the seller's archives: http://www.germanwarbooty.com/medals%20m1126.htm Let me know if you want additional photos. Tony

I may be wrong but my 2nd pattern pole top is light like aluminum so that's a good guess but it could equally be some similar alloy. I'll estimate price to be around $650-$700US but that's only a guess, I haven't seen any recent ones for sale with which to guage a current price. Tony

here's the mm for Beco who made minesweepers and destroyers (at least one that I've seen). Tony

and the maker mark of "ges. gesch. Gahr" for Otto Gahr who made the standards and other fine items for the party and SS. I've only seen one other 2nd pattern political pole top by this maker and 'heard' of another so to speak. Tony

reverse of eagle

Here's a regular 2nd pattern political but with an uncommon maker mark. Tony