WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

A Fabulous, Huge, & Very Rare Original 1909 Poster For Schichtl's Marine-Theater. Depicting Germany’s Military Might In The Air, and Sea. Produced by the Showman Known at the Time as Germany’s P,T. Barnum The Greatest Showman on Earth

An extraordinarily beautiful original theatre poster from the turn of the 1900’s, and as far a we know, it may well the the only surviving example outside of a museum collection. In Excellent plus condition.

This spectacularly beautiful piece would grace any home or office surrounding, from contemporary modern to classical. The vibrant colours, artistry and the subject are a unique combination in antique poster art

A most rare collectors piece in that it covers the areas of interest of numerous fields. Such as, original theatrical production advertising posters, the rare artwork associated with the centuries old art of puppetry, early Imperial German propaganda of their military might, as a direct taunt to the British Empire of the Kaisers cousin King Edward VIIth, a rare poster of early German airships, and last but not least a beautiful surviving example of the very specific form artistry that appeared in the late 19th century and up to WW1.

Schichtl's Puppet Theater - The Original Marine Spectacles.

Museum of Adolph Friedländer. A variety theatre that put on a production depicting Imperial Germany's Maritime and Aeronautical might for the amazement of the viewing public.

Set's and artists provided a theatrical view of Germany's Grand Fleet and Airships using clever sets, backdrops and marionettes.

A little like America's P.T.Barnum's circus and curiosity side shows, but more typically Germanic, having a greater militaristic perspective.

Schichtl's Marine-Theater
Werbeplakat, feine Farblithographie, Hamburg 1909, 71 x 95 cm,

gemarkt "Lith. Adolph Friedlender, Hamburg", selten.  read more

Code: 16905

An American WW2, M3 Pattern, Fighting Knife, in its Beckwith Manufacturing Company, Victoria Plastics, M8 Scabbard

The scabbard has the VP mark over a 41 on the scabbard reverse side. It is the logo of the Victory Plastics Division of the Beckwith Manufacturing Company. The number is believed to be a mould identification number for quality control purposes. the metal throat has very old applied black surface protective paint which may reveal a US M8 BMCO stamp beneath, but we would not recommend removing it, as it is part of its character and history. One can see the layered cotton ducking and Tenite under the surface of the scabbard green paint on the both the front and reverse very easily. Metal tip to scabbard with lanyard hole,

The traditional double edged bladed M3 has no maker markings, it has a usual stacked leather washer grip but with a three washer, composition material, replaced top section. possibly through combat damage. The crossguards have both been custom shortened and squared off etc, likely accomplished when the three top washers were replaced. It came from a WW2 and Korean War American US Marine veteran who settled here and married in the UK in the 1960's. The blade has grey overall old surface corrosion traces. We have no knowledge of its past service use anymore, but one can see it has certainly seen use for the purpose for which it was designed. An interesting and speculative vintage combat piece, with old repairs etc. but none the less interesting for that

When the United States adopted the M3 fighting knife, they also adopted the M6 leather sheath to carry the new combat knife in. Despite having been one of the first militaries to adopt cloth field gear in place of leather belts, cartridge cases, etc., the U.S. military still used leather goods extensively for holsters, knife handles, and other materials. While perfectly fine for hunting knives, leather sheaths (as well as other leather products) have a tendency to mildew and rot in wet weather conditions like those found in the trenches of WWI or the jungles of the Pacific. As reports from the field came in, the shortcomings of the leather M6 soon became apparent. The Ordnance Department began looking for an alternative.The new scabbard consisted of a composite plastic material made from a combination of layered cotton ducking and Tenite. By heat treating the combination, it could be pressure moulded into a solid shape.The new scabbard was able to withstand temperatures fluctuations from 170 degrees Fahrenheit to 45 below. Superior to the Model 1910 in durability, the Army Ordnance Department adopted it as the M3 in the summer of 1941. To meet the contract, Beckwith purchased a plant in Hudson, Mass. Victory Plastics was born.

Beckwith began production of replacement for the M6 sheath, as well. Incorporating the materials produced at Victory Plastics, the new M8 had a metal throat, stamped “U.S. M8” and “BMCO” (for Beckwith Manufacturing Company). The “ears” of the throat were turned down to accommodate the angled hilt on the M3 knife.  read more

Code: 24911

Very Rare Aeronautical Stamps. Canada: 1918 (Aug) Aero Club of Canada 25c "flaming Zeppelin" Stamps

label CLP2 tete-beche pair, perfectly centred, one stamp very lightly mounted, the other unmounted, one with surface tear. A scarce collectable stamp from the very earliest Canadian Airmail service. We have seen good single stamps of this type achieving prices up to $1100. We are pricing as for a single stamp with it's matching companion free.  read more

Code: 16711

A Most Rare Original, Nazi Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei Serving Platter From the Graf Zeppelin

The platter has the German Zeppelin Co. logo, of the Third Reich Zeppelin, flying across the globe, the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei. Manufactured by GEBRUDER HEPP PFORZHEIM, in 90 grade. In March 1935, the South Atlantic flights became the responsibility of the Nazi controlled Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei, after this company had been set up jointly by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, the German Air Ministry and Deutsche Lufthansa. The DZR was created at the instigation of Air Minister Hermann Goring as a way to increase Nazi control over zeppelin operations, and can be see as part of the larger policy of Gleichschaltung, or coordination, which affected all aspects of German life in the years following Hitler?s assumption of power.

Consistent with Nazi ideology, the airship was expected to be more than just a private commercial venture; it was to be a public symbol of the new German nation. In a speech marking the founding of the DZR, Goring commented: ?I hope that the new ship will also fulfil its duty in furthering the cause of Germany? The airship does not have the exclusive purpose of flying across the Atlantic, but also has a responsibility to act as the nation?s representative.?

The even larger airship, the LZ 129 'Hindenburg' joined the 'Graf Zeppelin' in 1936, and, in addition to South Atlantic flights with its partner, inaugurated a service over the North Atlantic, between Frankfurt and Lakehurst in New Jersey, in the summer. Also in 1936 the South American route was extended to Rio de Janeiro. Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei ceased operations as the commercial use of airships came to an abrupt end on 6 May 1937, when the 'Hindenburg' exploded at Lakehurst.
This large silver tray is made of German silver plate, 90 grade, and was the product of the same silver company that made the Third Reich military cutlery and other silver objects for the Third Reich hierarchy - Gbr. Hepp. His company alongside his rival, Wellner, was a maker of much of the Fuhrer's formal dinnerware, and the Reich chancellery dinnerware pieces. Many items by were used in several of Hitler's residences, the Hotel [Der Deutscher Hof] personally used by Hitler, and numerous state offices. The Zeppelin Corps became one of the shortest-lived German service branches of World War II. After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Luftwaffe ordered the last two Zeppelin airships moved to a large Zeppelin hangar in Frankfurt. In March of 1940, Goring ordered their destruction and the aluminium fed into the Nazi war industry. In May, a fire broke out in the Zeppelin facility which destroyed most of the remaining parts. The rest of the parts and materials were soon scrapped with almost no trace of the German "Giants of the Air" remaining by the end of the year. 49cm x 32.5cm  read more

Code: 22618

A Very Scarce, Fascist Italian 1938 WW2 Issue Fighting Knife, Used by Italian Fascist Forces and the German Wehrmacht

With original frog mount, and a lot of original blueing. In pretty much sleeper condition. A nice and unusual bayonet-fighting knife used by the Italian Fascists and Germany in WW2, and very rarely seen in the UK these days. .Used by soldiers of the German Heer and SS of the Third Reich on the imported guns that were sent from Italy. It was initially designed as a folding bayonet but the action proved to have a weakness so it was adapted and strengthened by making it non-folding knife which in fact made it more efficient and popular as a close combat knife. As it's design was also so very neat, as compared to the K98 Mauser bayonet, with a sound blade but around the size of a British FS dagger, it proved to be an excellent close combat knife, and it was popular as such by the both of the German-Italian axis allies. Good piece, with original serial number, and most collectable.  read more

Code: 15098

Solid Silver Hallmarked L.Z.127 Graf Zeppelin Airship Aerospace Medal 1929 World Flight Issue

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, STADT Medal 1929 (stamped by Josef Bernhart) on the 1st world flight of the LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin". Busts of Zeppelin and Eckener l. Rev: Zeppelin. Beautiful patina. 36mm; 25g excellent condition Edge stamped hallmark: PREUSS. STATE COIN. SILVER 900

The around-the-globe flight of the German-built and -operated hydrogen-filled airship began in August 1929 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, where it ended 21 days, five hours and 31 minutes later after covering some 20,651 miles in four legs.

Sponsored in part by Newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, one of the worlds most influential newspaper owners and also one of the richest men in the world, in his day. His notoriety was also subject to a biographical movie loosely based on his life, Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles. The result of which caused W.R.Hearst to spend many years trying, and in many ways succeeding, to destroy Orson Welles' career.

Costs for the flight were subsidized by the transport of souvenir mail to and from the stops in Lakehurst, Friedrichshafen, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, and these pieces are highly collectible today. 1929. it was originally owned and run by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft German Airship Transportation Corporation Ltd But in 1935 Reich Minister of Aviation, Hermann Göring insisted that a new agency be created to extend Party control over LZ Group. A personal rivalry between Göring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels also played a role. Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei was therefore incorporated on 22 March 1935 as a joint venture between Zeppelin Luftschiffbau, the Ministry of Aviation, and Deutsche Lufthansa.

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German passenger-carrying, hydrogen-filled rigid airship which flew from 1928 to 1937. It was designed and built to show that intercontinental airship travel was practicable. Its operational history included several long flights, such as a polar exploration mission, a round-the-world trip, trips to the Middle East and the Americas (operating five years of regular passenger and mail flights from Germany to Brazil), and latterly being used as a propaganda vehicle for the ruling Nazi Party. The airship was withdrawn from service following the Hindenburg disaster.

Although to most this piece looks like a coin, in Germany and also in France, medals could come in the table medal variety, not ever meant to be worn but for display in a table cabinet or mounted and framed. Awarded for the same reason as a medal made to be only worn on the person, as all British medals are.


Photo in the gallery of the medals with the armband of the Ortsgruppenleiter, from whom the medals came from all sold seperately  read more

Code: 24905

Solid Silver Hallmarked L.Z.127 Graf Zeppelin Airship Aerospace Medal 1928 Issue

Zeppelin Aerospace medal in solid siver.
Silver medal 1928 (J. Bernhart) Airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin". Half-length portraits of Zeppelin and Eckener side by side to the left / Airship over ocean. Edge stamped hallmark: PREUSS. STATE COIN. SILVER 900 FINE. 36 mm, 24.37 g Fine patina,

L.Z.127 Graf Zeppelin airship medals, one awarded in 1928 the other 1929. Sold separately, acquired with the Ortsgruppenleiter's armband taken as war souvenirs in 1945, sadly the name of the NSDAP Ortsgruppenleiter and his medals was not noted at the time.

LZ127 it was originally owned and run by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft German Airship Transportation Corporation Ltd But in 1935 Reich Minister of Aviation, Hermann Göring insisted that a new agency be created to extend Party control over LZ Group. A personal rivalry between Göring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels also played a role.Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei was therefore incorporated on 22 March 1935 as a joint venture between Zeppelin Luftschiffbau, the Ministry of Aviation, and Deutsche Luft Hansa.

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German passenger-carrying, hydrogen-filled rigid airship which flew from 1928 to 1937. It was designed and built to show that intercontinental airship travel was practicable. Its operational history included several long flights, such as a polar exploration mission, a round-the-world trip, trips to the Middle East and the Americas (operating five years of regular passenger and mail flights from Germany to Brazil), and latterly being used as a propaganda vehicle for the ruling Nazi Party. The airship was withdrawn from service following the Hindenburg disaster.

Photo in the gallery of the medals with the armband of the Ortsgruppenleiter, from whom the medals came from all sold seperately

Although to most this piece looks like a coin, in Germany and also in France, medals could come in the table medal variety, not ever meant to be worn but for display in a table cabinet or mounted and framed. Awarded for the same reason as a medal made to be only worn on the person, as all British medals are.  read more

Code: 24904

Original Third Reich NSDAP, German 1930's National Socialist WW2 German Greatcoat or Tunic Armband of an Ortsgruppenleiter, Only 4 ranks Below Hitler In The Order of Seniority & Authority

Thanks to a very similar example, also of another Ortsgruppenleiter, that we had around four months ago, it was viewed and noticed by a regular of ours, we were offered by him this fine example, also with the German NSDAP man's two Zeppelin silver medals, but unfortunately we know not from which region or district Operational Regional Office Leader, who wore this arm band and owned the medals, was in control of. The medals are offered for sale separately.

Our other past example, complete with his collar tabs, was for a Group Leader of Berlin. This piece came with two solid silver L.Z.127 Graf Zeppelin airship medals, one awarded in 1928 the other 1929.

The Zeppelin Airship company was originally owned and run by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft the German Airship Transportation Corporation Ltd But in 1935 Reich Minister of Aviation, Hermann Göring insisted that a new agency be created to extend Party control over LZ Group. A personal rivalry between Göring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels also played a role.Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei was therefore incorporated on 22 March 1935 as a joint venture between Zeppelin Luftschiffbau, the Ministry of Aviation, and Deutsche Luft Hansa.

In exceptional almost mint condition. Ortsgruppenleiter (Operational Regional Office Group Leader) was a Nazi Party political rank and title which existed between 1930 and 1945. The term first came into being during the German elections of 1930, and was held by the head Nazi of a town or city, or in larger cities, of a neighbourhood, for the purposes of election district organization. After 1933, through the process of Gleichschaltung, the position of Ortsgruppenleiter evolved into the Nazi leader of a large town or city or of a city district. The rank of Ortsgruppenleiter was originally the fourth tier in the Nazi Party hierarchy after the Führer, Reichsleiter, Gauleiter, and Kriesleiter

As with Gauleiters and Kriesleiter they were appointed by Hitler personally.

The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterparte or NSDAP), was an extreme socialist political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920. The Nazi Party emerged from the extremist German nationalist, racist and populist Freikorps paramilitary culture, which fought against the communist uprisings in post–World War I Germany. The party was created to draw workers away from communism and into völkisch nationalism. Initially, Nazi political strategy focused on anti–big business, anti-bourgeois, and anti-capitalist rhetoric, which was later downplayed to gain the support of business leaders. By the 1930s, the party's main focus shifted to antisemitic and anti-Marxist themes. The party had little popular support until the Great Depression, where worsening living standards and vast unemployment drove Germans into political extremism.

The NSDAP had supporters and branches throughout other European countries, for example in Ireland They operated like a normal political party, collected subscriptions, kept membership files and reported regularly to party headquarters. The difference with the German Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1930s Ireland, however, was that its headquarters was not in Dublin but in Berlin. The party’s membership—numbering from 50 to 100, depending on whether visitors are included—owed their loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Their Christmas parties were held at the Gresham Hotel, while other social events took place at the Red Bank restaurant in D’Olier Street and at the Kilmacurragh Park Hotel in County Wicklow.

Fritz Brase, was the first Ortsgruppenleiter of Ireland
But who were these Germans and Austrians who rallied to the Nazi Party colours in pre-war Ireland? The first Ortsgruppenleiter, or branch leader, in Dublin was a Prussian bandsman called Fritz Brase, who in 1923 became director of the new Irish army’s school of music, with the rank of colonel. Brase—who rearranged many traditional Irish jigs and reels to sound like thundering Prussian martial pieces—got into hot water in the early 1930s when he wrote to the army’s chief of staff, Maj.-Gen. Michael Brennan, seeking permission to set up a branch of the Nazi Party in Dublin. Brase was either unaware of or chose to ignore the obvious conflict of interest that his request implied—an Irish army colonel swearing loyalty to the Third Reich—but Brennan got the point. He told the German to choose the party or the army, but Brase wanted the best of both worlds. Records held in Berlin show that he joined the Nazis in April 1932, just a month before his 57th birthday. Brase appears to have tried to keep his party membership a secret from the Irish army, but pressure from the military’s top brass is the most likely reason why he relinquished his post as local Nazi leader in 1934.

The latter report was likely written by the editor of the Irish times, Robert Smylie, a German speaker, also an attendee of the funeral of the German diplomat, Robert Wenzel.

"Christian Sauerzweig, mentioned some of Brase's activities to his superior, who in turn informed the head of Office of the Directorate of Intelligence, than named "G2", that at least twice in early September 1939 Brase burned papers in the boiler house of the school of music, and that, in April 1940, on the occasion of the funeral of the German diplomat, Robert Wenzel, that he and Brase wore their military uniforms and Brase gave the Nazi salute at the graveside. Besides these reports, a military intelligence file was kept on Brase also notes that he sent Adolf Hitler birthday greetings in 1939 by telegraph to the Reich Chancellery

Shown in the gallery a full uniform for illustration purposes. Priced accordingly as we know not what district it came from.  read more

Code: 24903

A 1914, 1915, Superb WW1 Central Powers Alliance Piece. A Howitzer Shell Shaped Alloy Photo Frame With Repousse Impressions of a Howitzer Cannon, A Zeppelin, and A Battleship With Crest of Prussia, Austro Hungary and Turkey

With a picture of Graf von Zeppelin. The back panel slides down to removed the picture, and this could picture could be be replaced at the time with a photograph of a family combatant serving in the war. it is designed for wall mounting, with an inbuilt rectangular hook mount. Interestingly, at the time, the symbol of the Central Powers Alliance was the Howitzer shell, see photo 3 in the gallery.

This is a beautiful quality rare piece, which we have only once ever seen before, and that was in an old history book of the Central powers early war alliance, before Bulgaria joined the alliance. In simply superb condition, an absolute beauty of a Central Powers item of original militaria.

At the start of the war, the Central Powers consisted of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Ottoman Empire joined later in 1914, followed by the Kingdom of Bulgaria in 1915. The name "Central Powers" is derived from the location of these countries; all four were located between the Russian Empire in the east and France and the United Kingdom in the west.

.The Allies described the wartime military alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire as the 'Central Powers'. The name referred to the geographical location of the two original members of the alliance, Germany and Austria-Hungary, in central Europe. The Ottoman Empire joined the alliance in November 1914 and the last member of the quartet, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, entered the war on the side of the Central Powers in October 1915.

As well as providing the alliance with its name, the geographical position of the German and Austro-Hungarian empires also gave the Central Powers at least one very important strategic advantage over the Allies they were fighting. It was much easier for the Germans and Austro-Hungarians to move troops, equipment and supplies from one battle front to another because they could do much of this on their domestic railway networks.

For example, the Germans could move 10 infantry divisions from the Eastern Front to the Western Front via a relatively straightforward journey across Germany. It was no more difficult for the Austro-Hungarians to move five infantry divisions from the Eastern Front to the Italian Front, or to the Salonika Front in the Balkans.

Compare this situation with the difficulties faced by the Allies in moving men, equipment and supplies from one battle front to another. This usually involved long circuitous routes across or around multiple countries, each with different rail networks and logistical procedures. It was also likely to require transport by sea, which posed its own set of risks, notably from German and Austrian submarines. So while it could take two or three weeks to transport a British Army unit and its equipment from the United Kingdom to the Salonika Front, the Austro-Hungarians, and the Germans if need be, could move reinforcements there in less than a week.

The military term for this strategic advantage of the Central Powers is 'operating on interior lines'. It was used to most dramatic effect in early 1918, when the rapid transfer of large numbers of German divisions from the Eastern Front to the Western Front enabled the great German spring offensive in the west.  read more

Code: 24899

From 'A Bridge Too Far' Production Movie Collection. A Bronze Grade, WW2 German Army, Navy or SS Close Combat Clasp by F & B L

Supposedly Manufactured F & B L, 'Funcke & Bruninghaus' in Ludenscheid, although the maker mark F & B L is inverted pseudo style upwards instead of downwards. From an original collection from the film production of 'A Bridge Too Far' starring Sean Connery, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Michael Caine, Maximillian Schell, Liv Ullmann,, Dirk Bogarde, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, James Caan, Edward Fox, Hardy Kruger, Lord Oliver, etc. etc. of a senior person involved in the film who was given as a gift original pattern 3rd Reich Items, such as war badges, SS Caps etc. including German wartime pattern pieces made for the film's main actors, including a Knights Cross with Oakleaf, a War Cross in Gold etc.. This is one of those pieces from the production, not original but a very good simulacrum indeed. We acquired the collection some while ago and have been selling it a piece at a time.

For 100 years we have prided ourselves on specialising in original ancient, antique and vintage collectables. However, the vintage collectables area also encompasses items of collectable interest made, and or created, for world of film and theatre. Over the past thirty years this has now become an intriguing and incredibly popular aspect of the collectors world, and we are pleased to very occasionally offer such pieces that are relevant to our usual line of interest, such as this finely made piece.

The original award was initiated by Adolf Hitler on the 25th November 1942 to recognise personal bravery, by a member of the Army Navy or SS The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket. The clasp was die-cast and made of either tombac or later zinc, with a slightly curved centerpiece consisting of the national emblem surmounting a crossed bayonet and hand grenade. The award was bestowed in three classes:
For 15 battles of close combat a Bronze Class was awarded.
For 25 battles of close combat a Silver Class was awarded.
For 50+ battles of close combat a Gold Class was awarded.

In order to receive this distinguished decoration, all battles and their dates had to be officially documented by the battle commander, verified by the general in charge and authenticated by several divisions of the war department. It was possible that more than one close combat battle per day was fought and therefore recorded as a separate entity.

An exemption was made if the soldier was wounded in battle so badly that his injuries precluded a return to the front. In such a case, the criteria were reduced to 10, 20 and 40 battles. The highest number of battles in combat recorded is listed at 84 by SS-Hauptscharf?hrer Hermann Maringgele.

The Gold Close Combat Clasp was often regarded in higher esteem than the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by the German infantry. Of the roughly 18?20 million soldiers of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, 36,400 received the Bronze Class, 9,500 the Silver Class and 631 the Gold Class.

In 1944 a version for the German Air Force was created to note the increasing number of Air Force personnel and paratroopers taking part in direct combat The decoration was designed by the military artist Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus. The badge was die-cast and made mainly of zinc. Depending on the manufacturer the clasp is either straight or slightly curved and measures between 95mm to 97mm wide.

The design features a central motif consisting of the national emblem of eagle and swastika surmounting a crossed bayonet and stick grenade. The centerpiece was cut out and backed with a thin, flat square steel, crimped in place on the reverse. The gold and silver awards were often plated in the same metal, whilst the bronze badge was lacquered with a composition called brennlack
Eligibility;Soldiers of the Heer, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS
Awarded for Achievement in hand-to-hand fighting in close quarters  read more

Code: 22113