Used In WW1 & WW2. An Imperial German Issued Peaked Cap for Fire Protection Officer of Lubeck. Used From WW1 & Through to Early WW2 After The Organisation Was Taken Over By Himmler’s SS

A rare service cap, that is historically very interesting indeed, yet remarkably affordable.

Blue wool cloth with two red piping borders and single red and brass disc roundel. In super condition, worn areas to the lining and sweatband, as to be expected, but the peak and dark blue cloth are superb.

Made in WW1 Imperial period, worn right through the later Weimar period and into the early Third Reich era. When used in the Third Reich era, by the Fire Protection Police, it was an organization that was an auxiliary to the Ordnungspolizei, and during the war was absorbed into the SS. Feuerschutzpolizei. By 1938, all of Germany's local fire brigades were part of the ORPO. Orpo Hauptamt had control of all civilian fire brigades. ORPO's chief was SS-Oberstgruppenfuhrer Kurt Daluege who was responsible to Himmler alone until 1943 when Daluege had a massive heart attack.

From 1943, Daluege was replaced by Obergruppenfuhrer Alfred Wunnenberg until May 1945.

ORPO was structurally reorganised by 1941. It had been divided into the numerous offices covering every aspect of German law enforcement in accordance with Himmler's desire for public control of all things.

A very attractive and interesting piece in super order and totally complete.  read more

Code: 21181

A Very Fine & Rare Pair of Cased WW1 Great War Imperial German Epaulettes. For An Officer Of Adolf Hitler’s War Service Bavarian Reserve Regiment. It Is Distinctly Possible He Served With The Later Fuhrer

For the Imperial German 40th Infantry officer. Used by the German regimental officers that fought in the trenches with Adolf Hitler's infantry, and apparently the 40th relieved to command Hitler's company within the List Regiment, the Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 16 (1st Company of the List Regiment).

Beautifully preserved In their original storage case in mint condition overall.
Mid blue cloth background with gilt crescent and Infantry number 40. Red back cloth.

During the war, Hitler served in France and Belgium in the Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 16 (1st Company of the List Regiment). He was an infantryman in the 1st Company during the First Battle of Ypres (October 1914), which Germans remember as the Kindermord bei Ypern (Ypres Massacre of the Innocents) because approximately 40,000 men (between a third and a half) of nine newly-enlisted infantry divisions became casualties in 20 days. Hitler's regiment entered the battle with 3,600 men and at its end mustered 611. By December Hitler's own company of 250 was reduced to 42. Biographer John Keegan claims that this experience drove Hitler to become aloof and withdrawn for the remaining years of war. After the battle, Hitler was promoted from Schutze (Private) to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal). He was assigned to be a regimental message-runner

The List Regiment fought in many battles, including the First Battle of Ypres (1914), the Battle of the Somme (1916), the Battle of Arras (1917), and the Battle of Passchendaele (1917). During the Battle of Fromelles on 19?20 July 1916 the Australians, mounting their first attack in France, assaulted the Bavarian positions. The Bavarians repulsed the attackers, suffering the second-highest losses they had on any day on the Western Front, about 7,000 men  read more

Code: 22240

Original WW1 Gurkha's Kukri Field Marshall Manekshaw once said, " If someone says he does not fear death, then he is either telling a lie or he is a Gurkha".

Part of a collection of 3 original military Gurkha's kukri, two WW2 and one WW1 and a WW2 Japanese soldiers flag {now sold}. All without scabbards, with very good blade with signs if combat use and surface marking and some areas of old pitting. They were all formerly on display on the walls of a defunct in 1968 regimental officer's mess the Royal Warwickshire Regt, moved when it merged in 1968 to become Fusilier Brigade with a WW2 Japanese silk flag. All 4 pieces are being sold by us separately. Tempered steel blade and carved wood hilt. The Kukri is the renown and famous weapon of the Nepalese Gurkha.A Superb WW1 Gurkha's Kukri Combat Knife "Ayo Gorkali" The Gurkha Battle Call "The Gurkhas Are Coming!" Field Marshall Manekshaw once said, " If someone says he does not fear death, then he is either telling a lie or he is a Gurkha". The Gukhas are the finest and bravest, combat soldiers in the world, with legendary loyalty to the British Crown. When worn in combat it would normally be in a khaki canvas cover. Superb tempered steel blade, overall in fabulous condition. Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw once said, " If someone says he does not fear death, then he is either telling a lie or he is a Gurkha". On 12/13 May 1945 at Taungdaw, Burma now Myanmar, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung VC was manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy. Twice he hurled back grenades which had fallen on his trench, but the third exploded in his right hand, blowing off his fingers, shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face, body and right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman, now alone and disregarding his wounds, loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for four hours, calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point blank range. Afterwards, when the casualties were counted, it is reported that there were 31 dead Japanese around his position which he had killed, with only one arm.In the Falklands War in 1982 the Argentinians abandoned Mount William without a fight simply because the enemy forces advancing towards them were the 2nd Battalion, 7th Ghurka Rifles. Probably the most respected and feared warriors in the world, the Gurkhas of Nepal have fought in the Gurkha regiments of the British Army for around two centuries. With a degree of loyalty and dedication that is legendary, there is no greater soldier to be at one's side when in battle than the noble Gurkha. With a Kukri in his hand and the battle cry called, "Ayo Gorkhali!" "the Gurkhas are coming!", no foe's head was safe on his shoulders. Battle hardened German Infantry in WW1, or WW2 Japanese Shock Troops, have been known to tremble in their boots at the knowledge that they would be facing the Gurkhas in battle. Some of the most amazing feats of heroism have resulted in the most revered medal, the British Victoria Cross the world's greatest and most difficult to qualify for gallantry medal being awarded to Ghurkas. The blade shape descended from the classic Greek sword of Kopis, which is about 2500 years old.
Some say it originated from a form of knife first used by the Mallas who came to power in Nepal in the 13th Century. There are some Khukuris displaying on the walls of National Museum at Chhauni in Kathmandu which are 500 years old or even older, among them, one that once belonged to Drabya Shah, the founder king of the kingdom of Gorkha, in 1627 AD. But, some say that the Khukuri's history is possibly centuries older this. It is suggested that the Khukuri was first used by Kiratis who came to power in Nepal before Lichchhavi age, in about the 7th Century. In the hands of an experienced wielder Khukuri or Kukri is about as formidable a weapon as can be conceived. Like all really good weapons, Khukuri's or Kukri's efficiency depends much more upon skill than the strength of the wielder. And thus so that it happens, that a diminutive Gurkha, a mere boy in regards to his stature, could easily cut to pieces a gigantic adversary, who simply does not understand the little Gurkha's mode of attack and fearsome skill. The Gurkha generally strikes upwards with his Kukri, possibly in order to avoid wounding himself should his blow fail, and possibly because an upward cut is just the one that can be least guarded against however strong his opponent. Approx 18.5 inches long  read more

Code: 23722

An Absolutely Perfect Discerning Collectors Piece, by Charles Dickens. A Fabulous 3 Volume Charles Dickens Ist Edition, The Old Curiosity Shop & Barnaby Rudge, In, Master Humphrey's Clock. London: Chapman and Hall, 1840-41,

Alongside A Christmas Carol, the Old Curiosity Shop ranks as a true iconic tale of Victorian England, and ideal for the Christmas season.

Could one imagine anything better than settling down to read, or better still, to be read to, over a few cosy candle lit nights, a succession of Dicken’s short stories. These are the very first, original volumes, that were read at the very same time, in the very same same way, but some two centuries ago in Victorian England, and likely, dozens of times subsequently since by their various, most fortunate owners.

First edition of this collection of short stories. Large octavo, 3 volumes bound in red half morocco over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, engraved frontispiece to each volume, illustrated by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne. In very good condition.

Master Humphrey's Clock was a weekly serial that contained both short stories and two novels (The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge). Some of the short stories act as frame stories to the novels so the ordering of publication is important. Although Dickens' original artistic intent was to keep the short stories and the novels together, he himself cancelled Master Humphrey's Clock before 1848, and described in a preface to The Old Curiosity Shop that he wished the story to not be tied down to the miscellany it began within. Most later anthologies published the short stories and the novels separately. However, the short stories and the novels were published in 1840 in three bound volumes under the title Master Humphrey's Clock, which retains the full and correct ordering of texts as they originally appeared.

First edition in book form of what Gordon Ray describes as "the pinnacle of Dickensian Gothic". He goes on to note that Phiz (H. K. Browne) "is in excellent form" and that George Cattermole's "wonderful clutter of antiquarian or architectural detail is well suited to Dickens's chosen subjects".

Master Humphrey was a publishing experiment on Dickens's part, unique in his canon, of issuing two novels together: The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge.

3 volumes, large octavo (256 x 173 mm). Contemporary red half morocco, marbled sides ruled in gilt, spines lettered, ruled, and tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, green silk bookmarkers.

Printed frontispieces and 194 woodcut illustrations, of which 154 are by Browne, 19 by Cattermole, and 1 by Daniel Maclise.

Covers rubbed, slight rubbing and wear to extremities, vol. I front joint split at foot but remains firm, light foxing to margins, small marks to a few pages, generally bright. A superb set.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Eckel, p. 67 ff; Ray, The Illustrator and the Book in England from 1790 to 1914, 60; Smith I, 6.  read more

Code: 24092

A Most Scarce & Collectable 1935 Issue WW2 Luftwaffe Combat Helmet M35 NS62 Single Decal But Only Partialy Visible. Stamped Batch Number D128. with Original Liner And Partial Chin Strap

Overall in jolly nice condition.
The liner is named for the Luftwaffe officer or airman.

Arguably the helmet was the most recognizable part of the individual German soldiers appearance. With a design that derived from the type used in world war one, the German helmet offered more protection then ones used by it’s enemies. The quality luftwaffe gray painted steel helmet with decals and rolled steel rim and leather liner was a labour intensive product and simplified as the war progressed.
The earliest model helmet used in world war two was this model 35 or M35 Stahlhelm. During the war the helmet was simplified in 2 stages. In 1940 the airvents changed from separate rivets affixed {as has this one} to the helmet shell to stamped in the main body of the shell. In 1942 a new model was introduced where the rim of the shell was left sharp and not rolled over as previous models. These models are known in the collector community as M40 and M42. The low sides that protect the neck and ears, the tell tale design that the Germans introduced in 1935 can still be seen in modern day army helmets.

The WW2 German helmet maker "NS" stands for Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke AG (United German Nickelworks) located in Schwerte, a major manufacturer producing steel helmets (Stahlhelm) 62 is the helmets size.  read more

Code: 26039

A Spectacular Condition, Original, British 1885 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's Combat Sabre. The Sword Used to Incredible Effect At the Battle of Omdurman. Stamped WD Broad Arrow, And Issue Date 1885. {War Department} Complete With Buff Hide Sword Knot

A simply stunning 1885 Pattern Cavalry Sword. This sword has been incredibly well cared for and it is amazing condition. It would, without a shadow of a doubt, be impossible to improve upon with a better example. as good if not better than the very best examples in the National Army Museum or The Tower of London collection.

After a false start in 1882, the 1885 pattern was developed following committee input on improving the sword. The first opposite ringed scabbard came out of this process along with a slightly shorter blade. This sword saw extensive use in the campaigns in Egypt and the Sudan during the 1880s and 1890s. The shortening of the blade did allow some opponents along the Nile to lie on the ground, putting themselves out of the reach of the trooper's sword! This problem was rectified in the 1899 pattern. Still this sword represented an important step in the evolution of British Cavalry swords and was used by the 21st Lancers at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898; amongst the daring lancers was a young Winston Churchill.

The Battle of Omdurman was fought during the Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan between a British–Egyptian expeditionary force commanded by British Commander-in-Chief (sirdar) major general Horatio Herbert Kitchener and a Sudanese army of the Mahdist State, led by Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, the successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad. The battle took place on 2 September 1898, at Kerreri, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of Omdurman.

Following the establishment of the Mahdist State in Sudan, and the subsequent threat to the regional status quo and to British-occupied Egypt, the British government decided to send an expeditionary force with the task of overthrowing the Khalifa. The commander of the force, Sir Herbert Kitchener, was also seeking revenge for the death of General Gordon, who had been killed when a Mahdist army captured Khartoum thirteen years earlier.3 On the morning of 2 September, some 35,000–50,000 Sudanese tribesmen under Abdullah attacked the British lines in a disastrous series of charges; later that morning the 21st Lancers charged and defeated another force that appeared on the British right flank. Among those present was 23-year-old soldier and reporter Winston Churchill as well as a young Captain Douglas Haig.

The victory of the British–Egyptian force was a demonstration of the superiority of a highly disciplined army equipped with modern rifles, machine guns, and artillery over a force twice its size armed with older weapons, and marked the success of British efforts to reconquer Sudan. Following the Battle of Umm Diwaykarat a year later, the remaining Mahdist forces were defeated and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established.

Pictures in the gallery of photographs of the regimental armourers sharpening their 1885 cavalry swords before combat.  read more

Code: 26038

A Scarce US Civil War Service 1817 Model US Army Rifle, Dated 1826, Percussion Conversion For American The Civil War

Made in Middleton Connecticut by either Simeon North or Robert Johnson. The breech is marked in three lines with US / AH / (circle) P. The P proof mark is in a depressed rosette. The inspector initials AH are those of Asabel Hubbard who was a Springfield Armory armourer and contract arms inspector.

The M1817 nicknamed the 'common rifle' in order to distinguish it from the Hall rifle was a flintlock muzzle-loaded weapon issued due to the US Dept. of Ordnance's order of 1814, produced by Henry Deringer and used from 1820s to 1840s at the American frontier, and after conversion to percussion, in the American Civil War in the 1860's.

This type of rifle-musket was used in the Civil War with service in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry, CS. A seldom seen, good looking longarm to fit any military collection, with shortened fore-stock wood, smooth bored.

Under contract with the government, Henry Deringer converted some 13,000 such flintlocks to percussion, muzzleloader rifles with the ‘drum’ or ‘French’ style system.

Unlike the half-octagon barreled Model 1814 Rifle that preceded it, it had a barrel that was round for most of its length. The barrel was rifled for .54 calibre bullets. For rifling it had seven grooves. Like the Model 1814, it had a distinctive large iron oval patchbox in the buttstock.  read more

Code: 26036

A Wonderful Museum Grade Masterpiece, A Rare 18th Century French Small-Sword of Purest Gold Applied to Lustrous Crafted Silver & Hand Chiselled Steel. As Fine As Anything Comparable in the Royal Collection, or Les Invalides Army Museum in Paris.

A stunning museum grade sword, a pure masterpiece of the sword makers art! Magnificently decorated with purest gold, applied to the finest hand chiselled steel, worthy of a finest collection of 18th to 19th century fine art, decor and furnishings. A singular example of the skill of the artists in the French king’s and the later Emperor Napoleon’s court. Almost all of the executed King’s artisans were recruited by Napoleon for his service at the Emperor’s court..

Likely made at Versailles by a Royal swordsmith of King Louis XVIth, such as the master swordsmiths of the king, Lecourt, Liger or Guilman. A very finest grade sword of the form as was made for the king to present to favoured nobles and friends. He presented a similar sword to John Paul Jones see painting in the gallery now in the US Naval Academy Museum. Three near identical swords to this now reside in the Metropolitan. This is a simply superb small-sword, with stunningly engraved chiselled steel hilt, overlaid with pure gold over a fish-roe background, decorated with hand chiselled patterns of scrolling arabesques throughout the hilt, knucklebow, shell guards and pommel in the rococo style. The multi wire spiral bound grip is finest silver, betwixt blued silver bands, with Turks head finials. The blade is in the typical trefoil form, ideal for the gentleman's art of duelling, and very finely engraved. The degree of craftsmanship of this spectacular sword is simply astounding, worthy of significant admiration, it reveals an incredible attention to detail and the skill of it's execution is second to none.

A four figure piece that could easily be five figures if it was only known to whom it was presented. A secret lost into the mists of time!

Other similar swords are in also in the British Royal Collection and in Les Invalides in Paris. Trefoil bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. For example of the workmanship in creating this sword, for such as the King and Marie Antoinette, the keys for the Louis XVI Secretary Desk (Circa 1783) made for Marie-Antoinette by Jean Henri Riesener, one of the worlds finest cabinetmakers, and whose works of furniture are the most valuable in the world. The steel and gold metalwork key for Marie Antoinette's desk, is attributed to Pierre Gouthire (1732-1813), the most famous Parisian bronzeworker of the late eighteenth century who became gilder to the king in 1767. This sword bears identical workmanship and style to that magnificent key.

This is the quality of sword one might have expected find inscribed upon the blade 'Ex Dono Regis' given by the King.
Very fine condition overall, with natural aged patination throughout.

Of course a masterpiece of this level could, and will, never be created again, however, if one could, only the gold and steel master gunsmiths such as the finest craftsman employed by such as Purdey of London, might even attempt to. And the cost?, without doubt, around £150,000 {plus}.

The painting in the gallery, is titled John Paul Jones and Louis XVI, by the American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin at the court of Louis XVIth and being presented a similar sword now in US Naval Academy Museum.

Overall length 35.5 inches  read more

Code: 23162

One Of The Finest Quality Museum Grade French Napoleonic Flintlock Pistols One Will Ever See Outside Of The World Renowned Musee De l’armee Les Invalides Paris. Exactly The Quality As Was Presented By Emperor Napoleon To His Royal Allies & Marshals

A singularly fabulous Napoleonic wars period French presentation pistol of the highest possible grade, made during the French Consular and First Empire period, a flintlock worthy of Napoleon himself.

Made by highly respected French master gunsmith, this is a museum piece pistol overflowing with solid silver gilt mounts, with further scrolls of silver inlaid within the stock, and to compliment the solid silver gilt all the steel is also stunningly chiselled with pure gold embellishments and highlights throughout all of the lock and the barrel. Chiselled with trophies of arms against a ring matted gold ground, a gold lined rainproof pan, and swamped barrel, with a beleen and silver tipped original ramrod. Every aspect and parts of this breathtaking museum piece are in near mint condition. It is without question the very best of its type, and within this elevated category they are made further exceptional by the lavish use of such technical artistry embellished with purest gold..

This flintlock is a remarkable object d’art, and truly thoroughly executed throughout to a superb standard, quite simply in every single aspect, a virtuoso work of a master of his craft, and the subtle differences in the chiselled silver and steel designs are very much an exhibition of his imagination and sublime skill.

Even by the standards of unrestrained luxury that is associated with the royal and Imperial court at Versailles & Paris, the use of solid silver gilt in the mounting of luxurious French firearms and swords was very rare. From the evidence of a small handful of surviving examples in museum collections.

Of course, a masterpiece of this level could, and will, never be created again, however, if one could, only the gold and steel master gunsmiths such as the finest craftsman employed by such as Purdey of London, might even attempt to. And the cost? without doubt, around £300,000 {plus}. Their standard bespoke sporting guns now start at around £150K

Leading world museums have examples of pistols of this grade and quality personally presented by Napoleon to his marshals, generals, and his brothers, Joseph (King of Naples and Spain), Lucien, Louis (King of Holland), and Jérôme (King of Westphalia), and it would be identical as presented to the great Ottoman ruler Ali Pasha, former firm ally of Napoleon { to aid his ambitions in Italy}. When Napoleon's fortunes waned, the ever pragmatic Ali Pasha, later switched allegiances to make an alliance with Britain.

It would likely be impossible to find a more glorious and fabulous quality pistol to improve upon this one, in any of the greatest gun collections of the world. A pistol that would be at home in the British Royal Collection, the Metropolitan Museum, or the Louvre in Paris

Napoleon was famed for presenting the finest and priceless French pistols and sporting guns to his favourite Marshals and Generals of the Grand Armee of France. And especially so for rulers, kings and Grand Sultans, to cement alliances in order to expand Napoleon’s Empire and influence even beyond its expansive borders. And especially so, in order to confound the influence of his greatest nemeses, the British. All his efforts were, in one way or another, to cement his power throughout the whole of Europe, by excluding and denying the powerhouse of English trade throughout Europe. Napoleon’s empire, like Alexander’s and The Great Khan’s before him, was concentrated on military might, and thus conquest, to submit every country taken to his will. The British was always a nation and empire based on trade, certainly not simply conquest, and was backed up by the most powerful navy the world had ever seen. The vital arteries to expand trade throughout the world, and thus, the intention was to improve the lot of all, not just the occupiers. Napoleon looted his way across his conquered lands, in fact even demanded it by necessity, by the simple method of limiting food supplies to his armies baggage trains, however, Wellington’s high morals demanded an early version of ‘hearts and minds’, where looting by his men was punishable by the severest penalties, and even execution. It was Napoleon’s strategy of supplying provisions to his invading armies by their looting from the occupied countries, as they progressed, was the premise that cost him the disaster that was the invasion of Russia, and the entire loss of his hundreds of thousands strong Grand Armee. The Czar of Russia realised Napoleon’s looting strategy was, potentially, his greatest weakness, across the vast unending lands of Russia, and he simply ordered the destruction of literally everything, before the French invader, both property, crops and food, so there was nothing for Napoleon to loot, and not a shelter to be had. The gripping and unrelenting Russian winter was a force no-one could ever conquer, not even Napoleon. That mistake, effectively, cost him his empire. Just as it did Hitler, 130 years later.

The House of Bonaparte (originally Buonaparte) is a former imperial and royal European dynasty of French and Italian origin. It was founded in 1804 by Napoleon I, the son of Corsican nobleman Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Buonaparte (née Ramolino).
Napoleon was a French military leader who rose to power during the French Revolution and who, in 1804, transformed the French First Republic into the First French Empire, five years after his coup d'état of November 1799 (18 Brumaire). Napoleon and the Grande Armée had to fight against every major European power (except for the ones he was allied with, including Denmark-Norway) and dominated continental Europe through a series of military victories during the Napoleonic Wars. He installed members of his family on the thrones of client states, expanding the power of the dynasty.

The House of Bonaparte formed the Imperial House of France during the French Empire, together with some non-Bonaparte family members. In addition to holding the title of Emperor of the French, the Bonaparte dynasty held various other titles and territories during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of the Spain and the Indies, the Kingdom of Westphalia, the Kingdom of Holland, and the Kingdom of Naples. The dynasty held power for around a decade until the Napoleonic Wars began to take their toll. Making very powerful enemies, such as Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia, as well as royalist (particularly Bourbon) restorational movements in France, Spain, the Two Sicilies, and Sardinia, the dynasty eventually collapsed due to the final defeat of Napoleon I at the Battle of Waterloo and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty by the Congress of Vienna.

During the reign of Napoleon I, the Imperial Family consisted of the Emperor's immediate relations – his wife, son, siblings, and some other close relatives, namely his brother-in-law Joachim Murat, his uncle Joseph Fesch, and his stepson Eugène de Beauharnais.

We show in the gallery a cased, but far plainer pair, presented personally by Napoleon to the Grand Chamberlain of the King of Rome  read more

Code: 26034

A Magnificent Antique, Original, French Cuirassiers Helmet 1872. French Cuirassiers Still In Combat Service in World War I, 1914. They Were the Last Troops Combat In Full Dress Armour in History. Possibly The Best Example You May Ever See

With liner, black horsehair tail and red white and blue feather plume, original chinscales with strap and buckle, virtually dent free throughout, and in fabulous overall condition. The plated metal skull with brass trim, laurel and grenade embossed headband with a stippled ground, acanthus embossed raised comb with Medusa head, acanthus and laurel embossed cushion-shaped plume holder marmousel with red horse hair plume, black horse hair mane, square section hackle holder with red white and blue feather hackle, foliate decorated bosses.

There is no doubt, that despite losing to the invading Germans in the Franco Prussian War, there were no braver horse mounted combatants in the world, renown for their loyalty, dedication and tenacity in combat for La Belle France. Which continued still into WW1 40 years later.

Photos and price will be added today

A magnificent French Cuirassiers helmet of the M1872 pattern. Designed immediately after the defeat of France at the Franco Prussian War. These were still in combat wear in August 1914 by the troops of the French Cuirassiers who were in that early period engaged in reconnaissance, guarding the flanks & covering the infantry as well as liaison & escort.

The skull, peak & neckguard are made from cast sheet steel which from a lobster tail to the rear with Medusas head to the front of the crest & thirteen palmettes separated by water lillies. All of the fittings & the badge are of brass this including the chin scales which are adjusted by use of a partially concealed strap inner buckle system. The plume socket is set into the side of the helmet with its red plume. The front plate has a grenade set into two laurel branches this integrating with the bottom edge of the crest as the top grenade flame reaches upwards. To the crest is mounted black horsehair with a pleat which allowed it to be tied up so it did not flutter in the face of the cavalryman. Interior of the helmet has survived in very good order. The leather liner tongues are all good with no damage to holes.

Looking back at the pre-war 1870 landscape, there are parallels that can be drawn today, including notably the role of populist disruptors in triggering international conflict. Emperor Napoleon III of France and Prussia's Otto von Bismarck were both products of the 1848 revolutions and master media manipulators who exploited the power of nationalism. Napoleon did so first, sweeping to power in the December 1848 presidential elections on the promise of ‘making France great again’, as it had been under his uncle, the first Napoleon. Four years later, just before his original term should have expired, he made himself emperor, and quickly reasserted French prestige by launching a succession of wars, including against Russia in the Crimea (1853-56).

Napoleon III's wars had unintended outcomes. One of these was that they turned Russia from being a bastion of the international order into a revisionist power. This in turn gave space to Bismarck to wreck what remained of the European system in a way that was definitely not to France's advantage. Austria was the main victim initially in the shake-up that followed, losing its position in Italy following military defeat at the hands of France in 1859, and more spectacularly forfeiting its prime role in Germany to Prussia after defeat in 1866.

This set the scene for the 1870 Franco-Prussian war. France, determined to thwart Prussia’s further rise, sought to block the candidacy of a Prussian prince to the Spanish throne in what looked like a good, old-fashioned, dynastic succession crisis. What made things different from earlier centuries was the weight of public opinion, in an age of universal male suffrage. Policy makers in Berlin and Paris sought to exploit the rising tide of nationalism on both sides of the Rhine, and this increased the risk of an explosion. That explosion came on 19 July.

A rapid French rout

Experts at the time expected the French to win. They overlooked serious weaknesses on the French side, which Sir Michael Howard's analysis shows extended far beyond the narrow military field, to wider political and societal disadvantages. These were reflected above all in the French conscription system, inherited in its essentials from the first Napoleon. This imposed upon the male population an obligation to serve, but in practice, only a small fraction was ever called up, who then served for seven years and often more. In consequence, the French army lacked the ability to 'scale-up' by calling on a mass of reservists.



The Prussian army, in contrast, drew upon the entire male population, producing a substantial body of trained reservists upon mobilisation. Prussian military planning, conducted by the famed General Staff headed by Helmuth von Moltke, made best use of the resulting numerical advantage, not least through the clever exploitation of railways.

Many military observers nonetheless preferred the French system, which produced an essentially professional force that was far better-suited to the near-continuous overseas deployments that Napoleon III's global ambitions demanded. Most damaging of all, despite its elitist pretensions, the French army was socially rather low-status. This was because the rich were allowed to pay for replacements to serve instead of their sons, should they be unlucky enough to be called up. No such facility existed in Prussia, with the result that its army more fairly approximated the nation-in-arms.

The consequence in 1870 was a French rout. General Philip Sheridan, American Civil War veteran, observed the Franco-German conflict at first hand, and his summary of the reasons for the outcome can hardly be bettered:

"The earlier advantages gained by the Germans may be ascribed to the strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most noticeable features of their perfect military system, devised by almost autocratic power; their later successes were greatly aided by the blunders of the French, whose stupendous errors materially shortened the war, though even if prolonged it could, in my opinion, have had ultimately no other termination."  read more

Code: 26018