What have you in the drawer that's rare?

[Stogieman]

OK Girls & Boys, what have you stashed in your collection that falls into the really rare category?? Show us what you have! And I mean rare!!

[Guest Rick Research]

Rare by NUMBERS or "rare" as in High Priced?

Ricky's treasures fall into the Obscure But Unwanted category.

As far as I have ever been able to determine, this is one of 118 gold class National Sports Badges (as they became later) awarded in 1913-14 by the German Olympics Committee

[attachmentid=11866][attachmentid=11867]

I have never been able to discover what the regulations were on these PRE-World War One badges were, which then came in only bronze and gold grades. The regulations shifted fairly constantly-- reference book assertions to the contrary. As far as Official Price Guides go, this one doesn't even exist as a variant-- so I guess that qualifies as "rare," eh?

And here is what makes this little beauty special--

[attachmentid=11868]

Eugen Marcus, Court Jeweller made the earliest DRA badges-- but this is 900 silver gilt. The scan does not do justice to the soft gilt finish.

Here's another silver-gilt obscurity--

[attachmentid=11869]

This is the very LAST Freikorps award, presented in 1934 on the 15th anniversary of the liberation of the Bavarian city of W?rzburg from Red revolutionaries by the accidental arrival of a train of returning troops from Georgia in the Caucasus. Yes, this one will be found with Tamara stars! There are bronze one piece "tinnie" versions of this W?rzburg badge, but this is the three piece silver and gilt "decoration" version, just as the Third Reich put all such badges under the ban except the Baltic Cross, Silesian Eagle, and Bremen's Iron Roland. Exact numbers are unknown to me, but since most of those involved were simply passing through on their ways home, possibly not everyone entitled from 1919 actually got one in 1934. I've never seen an award document, and the badge itself has borne the designation "*" for "none sold publicly to establish market price" in every Official Price Guide since... 1982.

So I guess that would qualify.

PS I will NEVER show the reverse-- this one IS still SO rare it has not been faked. It is maker marked etc. Anyone who gets one, please contact me to verify marking but do NOT post what the reverse looks like. BAD people read our website, too.

[Claudio]

Hi both Ricks!

I guess this qualify as pretty much rare... and both on the same "spange"!!!

? Schaumburg-Lippe, Kreuz 4. Klasse mit Krone, Silber, 11 Verleihungen! (OEK 1214)

? Hessen-Darmstadt, Orden des Sterns von Brabant, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse, gem. Nimmergut 13

Verleihungen! (OEK 856)

Enjoy...

Ciao,

Claudio

[Stogieman]

Yep, rare by the numbers awarded! Pricing is not always relevant to rarity.... or in the case of "The Evil Twin"... obscurity! There's a tremendous amount of stuff out there that is scarcer than hen's teeth and few collectors are even aware of it! Hence the theme of the thread!

;>)

[Claudio]

This Herzog-Ernst-Medaille mit Schwertern is pretty rare, too. It was created very late in the war by Duke Ernst II. It was meant for military personnel who were native of Altenburg or serving in the 8th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 153. In addition, the awardees had to possess at least the IC 1st class first, to be considered for bestowal. This medal became one of the least frequently bestowed Imperial German awards of the war; total number of awards only 86.

[Claudio]

Another rare "Steckkreuz" of WWI: the war merit cross of the Principality of Reuss, instituted by F?rst Heinrich XXVIII (!!!). It was awarded for bravery in the presence of the enemy and could go to men irrespective or rank who held the IC 1st class. It could also be awarded to someone who had not as yet earned the IC 1st class but whose deed in action was do distinguished that an exception could be made. I think that this cross was awarded less than 400 if I do remember correctly...

I don't have the picture of my example unfortunately, but I can show one cased gone for quite a lot of many, much more than the starting bid! With the compliments of HH...

[Claudio]

These are pretty rare, too: a KO 4.Kl. with swords in "Prinzengr?sse"... even more rare! Notice the botton on the back of the ribbon with maker J. Godet Berlin.

Edited September 26, 2005 by Claudio

[Claudio]

This type of medal bars would also qualify for being extremely rare... Prinzengr?sse!!!!

Edited September 26, 2005 by Claudio

[Claudio]

mmmmhh.. I guess I have a bit of a problem with space limit... Damn! How annoying...

Edited September 26, 2005 by Claudio

[David Gregory]

This card is certainly not unique, but there can only be very few left elsewhere, and I am confident it can be considered rare.

It once belonged to a certain Oberleutnant Hausser, who served with Infanterie-Regiment 155 and attended the Kriegsakademie in Berlin from 1908 to 1911. He was later to become better known as "Papa" Hausser, "Father" of the Waffen-SS.

Since the Kriegsakademie reference is crossed out, the card probably dates from around 1912 when Hausser was assigned to the Imperial Navy to qualify as an aerial observer.

With the exception of a few signatures of PlM and Knights Cross holders on various documents, this is the only item I have that can be directly attributed to a reasonably well-known historical figure.

David

[Deruelle]

One of the rarest item is the Carl Eduard Kreuz. Only 97 .

[Deruelle]

Another rarest medal is the Max Joesph knight cross

[Deruelle]

The reverse of MJ3

Christophe

[Deruelle]

I Schwarzburg Ehrenkreuz 3 Kl. mit X.

[Deruelle]

The reverse

Christophe

[Deruelle]

Claudio,

I just want to tell you that you have got a wonderful collection .

Merci de partager avec nous certains de tes joyaux. N'h?sites pas ? nous en faire profiter encore, mon ami.

Amicalement

Christophe de France

[HeikoGrusdat]

sorry for not having too much shining enamel in my displays... my rare pieces are smaller

Heiko

[Deruelle]

Vrey nice Heiko

[Stogieman]

When it comes to rarity, I have been fortunate to have many interesting things pass through my hands. I have thought about this all day. The first piece i will share is not rare in and of itself. but it is still the only one I have ever seen in the Scharffenberg (House Jeweler, Saxony) presentation case and the only miniature I have ever seen. I will share some "one-of-a-kind" pieces like this with you tonight. The Saxon LS bar is pretty special when resting in its' case on the custom pedestal inside!

[Stogieman]

Another "one-of" Prussian centennial Medal in the rare Kaiser Presentation Case.........

[Stogieman]

And one more for now. Again, only one like this I've seen. Mint in the cello issue packet, mint ribbon in the interior mint packet. Common piece, yep! Like this? Pretty darn hard to find.

Rarity does not have to cost a collector thousands.......... look dilligently and some very simple, but exceedingly rare pieces can be yours for very reasonable prices!!

[Guest Darrell]

I, like Mr. Research, has one of those "rare" ones ...

[Bob Hunter]

I have some rare stuff but nothing that qualifies as super rare per Stogie's guidance and what's on display.

[David Gregory]

I, like Mr. Research, has one of those "rare" ones ...

Darrel,

I have a gold one just like that also made by Eugen Marcus.

However, since it doesn't have the silver mark to the right of the catch, I understand that it is the less common gold badge awarded after 1918. Sadly, these are not as uncommon as Rick's silver gilt pre-war type.

Still nice to have.

David

[Guest Darrell]

Darrel,

I have a gold one just like that also made by Eugen Marcus.

However, since it doesn't have the silver mark to the right of the catch, I understand that it is the less common gold badge awarded after 1918. Sadly, these are not as uncommon as Rick's silver gilt pre-war type.

Still nice to have.

David

DOH !!!!

Oh well ... I was running neck and neck with Rick for about an hour or so