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LOT 1532
Grouping of German Military Aviation/Nautical Artifacts, Including a World War I Aviation Badge and a Signed Postcard from “Der Seeteufel” Felix von Luckner - The group consists of eighth photographs, one postcard, a WWI vintage Iron Cross First Class, a loose section of Iron Cross ribbon, and a WWI aviator’s badge. The aviator badge is marked for C.E. Juncker of Berlin with an “800” silver purity mark, while the Iron Cross is unmarked. Two of the pictures are the same image of a Vizefeldwebel Rosengart (pilot) and Oberleutnant Georg Behrla (observer) with their Albatros C.V. biplane, Rosengart in the traditional pilot’s seat and Behrla in a hole in the fuselage behind the observer position. Behrla and Rosengart had been involved in an odd incident in May of 1917 where, when preparing to engage an enemy,
their Albatros hit an air pocket and violently dropped, causing Behrla, who had
been readying his weapon, to be dislodged from the plane. Instead of falling to his
death, Behrla went into a brief free-fall and then collided with his own plane when
it regained lift, leaving him stuck in the fuselage until they could land. Other images
of men with Albatros planes are included, though not labeled, with one featuring
a young officer wearing an Iron Cross and an aviator badge identical to the ones in
the lot. The postcard and three of the pictures are of Captain Felix von Luckner, aka
“The Sea Devil”, a highly accomplished commerce raider of World War I noted for his
success record and very low casualty rate with Der Seeadler, one of the last sailing ships to see combat in war. CONDITION: Very good, with minor wear and creasing on the pictures, some of which show traces of adhesive from scrapbook mounting. The ribbon is worn and torn. The medals are good, with mild wear on the Iron Cross and a mixed patina on the aviation badge.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1533
Three World War II German Cuff Titles and Three Commemorative Medallions - The grouping includes
a pair of “Brandenburg” cuff titles for the Brandenburg division (white text and trim on feldgrau cloth), a “Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe” cuff title for a war correspondent assigned to the Luftwaffe (white text on blue cloth, no trim), and three small commemorative pins/medallions. One of the medals is a commemorative for the Gebirgs-Nachricten-Abteilung 95, an intelligence unit attached to the 5th Mountain Division. The Brandenburg were one of a number of “ur-Special Forces” units to emerge during World War II. Recruiting skilled German linguists and disaffected residents of target nations, the Brandenbergers would infiltrate operation zones in advance of invasions, using their knowledge of local language and operations to sow chaos and disrupt enemy defenses. The Kriegsberichter cuff is noted as being formerly of the collection of George Petersen.
CONDITION: The Kriegsberichter cuff is good, with some minor wear. The Brandenburg cuffs are fair, with one showing minor moth activity and the other showing stains and scuffs. The medallions are in good condition. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1534
Grouping of World War II German Firearm Accouterments and Walther Items - The grouping includes
two scarce alternate color Walther PP/PPK magazine baseplates (one red, one seafoam/yellow), a set of inert
cartridges (two rifle-sized, five 7.65mm, one 9mm kurz, and three 9mm parabellum, with the rifle rounds bearing Walther factory markings and one of the parabellum rounds fitted with a handle), an alloy Walther PP keychain ornament, stripper clips, K43/G43 sniper scope sunshade and eyepiece, barrel brushes and an incomplete
winter trigger.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, with some mild handling marks.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,000 373