Aurelius

Paul and Auke, my birthday is coming up so this would be a great gift for me. hint hint

Thank you gentlemen very very much for the information! I have forwarded this link to the owner of the items. Hopefully, he will respond soon.

Many thanks again!

A

ps Paul, you got that Red Banner research back yet??

Thanks Paul. I have sent the link and now it will be his responsibility to post them for a review.

Those damn RBs though, research on them sometimes takes forever.lol

Hi fellas. I tried posting this before but no luck. I know someone who collected WW2 British, Canadian and some German aviation awards, etc. during the 50s, 60s and 70s. Included are extensive documented groupings to pilots who fought during the Battle of Britain. He has expressed a desire to sell them for quite some time. I collect Soviet stuff and it is a minefiled out there for buying or selling. I told him to post his stuff on a forum and also to find reputable auctioneers/buyers. Can any of you recommend the latter?

I'm kinda lost as to how to help him and any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers and thanks,

A

It is very, very funny that a number of you think that rich Russian collectors are everywhere. In fact, they will be phoning you all soon to buy your collections. However, prior to doing so, why are Igor's shelves not empty? Certainly, instead of buying a Bic Mac meal that day, they could easily purchase a 28K USD cavalier group. Whoops, forgive me, they are focussing on your collections to buy.

The greed in this hobby will see it's demise soon enough. Thereafter, it will once again be affordable to those who TRULY respect the fighting men and women who earned these. The people who earned these awards lived through absolute hell. For some of you, your lack of regard pertaining to their achievements is outright sickening. You WILL NEVER possess a minute fraction of their integrity or courage-merely to continue to be carpet baggers or vultures at the scene of a gopher kill.

To reiterate, for Ed and others, there ARE sellers out there who feel this way and conduct themselves accordingly with the respect.

Shame, shame to you vultures out there.

Buying and selling amongst those who appreciate the efforts of those who earned the awards is one thing. Vermin which hoard to make a quick buck, with no regard or care for the heroes, is another-a DISGRACE to those who earned the awards.

Gee Ed, for an academic, you are kinda slow. :speechless:

Perhaps justice, hoarding investment vermin may finally be on the road to getting their medicine. I hope that all GPW heroes got together in a cosmic way and caused this. Perhaps the awards will go to those who would give them a good home and research them. These are HISTORY..........................not cattle or gold. These were won by those who had more guts than all of us combined-we should do them respect!!!

But it plain that some people are BUYING them by the kilo, now.

Metal and enamel barrels of oil or pork belly futures. That's all they are... to that sort of buyer.

Look how childishly excited we get when Good Research comes in--it's better, more exciting--and truly inspiring than any fiction. REAL LIVES. INDIVIDUAL lives.

Not ...

things.

It's become as deranged as 2008 oil speculators... or the 17th century "tulip mania."

Personally-- I've moved on to other areas. Areas which will possibly mean NO research will ever be possible... but in which the utter lack of information makes the joy of DISCOVERY-- of once again Collecting The Unknown like being a child again, and every day Christmas.

Soviet collecting was fun while it was possible to get research done. It was enjoyable while sanity lasted.

Well said! Well said! Well said! Bravo General RR!

These are a part of history. Sad, sad, sad that they are viewed otherwise. Also, research does rock!

It may sound smug, but I am confident that I appreciate far far more than any nouveau riche Muscovite an "ordinary" Red Star or Red Banner won by a real live ordinary Soviet citizen because for me it is not about the mere award-as-thing, but the person who received it.

Every Red Star... is one of millions of Red Stars. EACH Red Star was worn with pride or sadness by ONE PERSON.

That is why I RESEARCHED awards.

I repeat, as I always do--

I don't give a rat's buttocks what anybody thinks something is "worth" in National Currency Units as if it was a car or wheat or a television set or shoes or just any other "product" bought and sold.

People FLINGING clinically insane amounts of money-- unearned or otherwise-- at common items in no actual "short supply" are NOT, sad to say

Preserving Their National Patrimony.

They are speculators hoarding commodities for hoped for personal future profit-- not to preserve the nation's history. THEY don't give rodents buttocks who received those "treasures," where, when or why. All THEY see is a Thing With Perceived Monetary "Value."

Which sad to say makes ME a Better Russian than many with boxes filling with tens of thousands of immediately ignored Red Stars or whatever amassed just so they can boast about their patriotism. I am a far better Russian son or grandson than someone who would cheerfully sell That Old Junk for a new ipod or whatever the hell the Youth Of Tomorrow show off to each other with these days--for as long as the gloating lasts until the NEXT New Must Have consumer product comes along.

If it was all about money, I could sell drugs, pimp girls, extort shop keepers, or sell "art" to phonies who think culture can be bought...

but I am simply in the sadly diminishing Human Memory "business." I remember simply so that what should not be forgotten is not forgotten. If family of the blood does not or will not, then family by "adoption" must.

Somebody has to.

I think that General RR (Rick Research) is 100% correct. I'm going to take a beating on what I say next but I dont care. I think that it is SICK that people collect for investment and a DISGRACE to the heroes who won these awards! If only the heroes could see how their awards have been traded, sold by SOME sellers/collectors who screw others in the process or hoard awards just to make a buck off of them. they would turn over in their graves. This, obviously, does not apply to the people who collect and give the awards a good home. I'm confident the heroes would be very happy that they be displayed and cherished instead of being in a shelf.

What has this hobby become? Good people, who would give these awards a good home, are priced out; likely friendships have been broken over bad deals, etc.,etc.,etc.

A