Friday, January 9, 2015
I hope you have a few minutes to enjoy these big picks in the WWII category of eBay. Every week I spend a few hours looking for the best ones and I hope I scored some good ones with this.
Now that is what I call trench art. Those shells are over a foot tall. Can you imagine having that by the door when guests come over! It would surely be a conversation piece.
Reading articles about how military technology today allows commanders to have incredible eyes on the enemy makes me appreciate a time when that Carl Zeiss super binocular was one way you could know what you were shooting at.
In this block I usually have an item every week from Italy. there are a couple of listings included today including that nice officer tunic.
Ok so the tank battalion cap badge from Canada is not going for crazy money. However, I liked it because it so clearly shows that unique WWI era design as tanks were first brought onto the battlefield.
I spent all day Wednesday at my antique mall booth in Florence, SC getting things set up. I am going back down tomorrow to finish the job (I hope!). I didn't hear from any of you that went to the Raleigh NC military show but I hope if you did Richard Shields was a good host.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
I have some good picks for you in this Monday issue to start your week. Click through any of these text or picture links to find the items alive and kicking on eBay.
As happens often times in the biggest military category on eBay you will see non WWII era items get slipped into this block. The nice 25th Infantry Division patch below is a good example of that. However, with nearly twenty bids I figured go with it anyways.
One of the interesting pieces in this block is a stop watch that the seller may or may not know about. He gives the story that since it measures both meters and time that he believes it to be a German artillery watch. Click over and see if you agree. One of the intriguing items in this block
I never would have guessed that an Italian identification card would bring over $300. Click on the blue image below and you can see for yourself and this auction is still going.
There are several helmets in this WWI block that should have some crossover appeal for collectors.
I did get a start on my antique mall booth location in Florence, SC. I'll have to make a run (or two) down there this week to get it all stocked but I'm in at the Palmetto Peddlers. Now I need to update my graphic!
Friday, January 2, 2015
Happy New Year! With today's issue we will ring in 2015 with some fresh eBay auctions that are sure to please. There is a nice military show up in Raleigh, NC this weekend in case anyone can make it. Enjoy!
The named 10th Mountain Division officer listing pictured to the left is stealing the show in today's newsletter. Along with some great documentation everything is named and bidders have taken notice.
I know German collector and sellers are not always welcome on eBay but this might be a first for me. In an effort to keep his items from getting the boot the seller of the military badges below taped over the offending symbol. OK I guess that works.
At first glance you might have trouble identifying that item pictured first on the left. It is actually a control column grip for an RAF Spitfire. Since you know British aviation pieces have a loyal following this one has some strong bids.
Well you just don't see this everyday. An opened/sealed field ration of hard tack bread from the USQMC. I know inflation has changed the equivalent in value but what would a soldier from WW1 think about that selling for over $200 today?
I hope you have make some good New Year's resolutions to start off with. I really haven't but hey I did buy one of those desk calendars last night so I can get organized. I hope!
Friday, January 2, 2015
I guess a few of you noticed that I did not get an issue out last Thursday. It being Christmas there was just a little too much excitement at the house for me to slip away and handle my editor duties. I hoe you can get your ebay gixe with this issue.
There is some small print on that Medal of Honor listing that lets you know it is a museum copy. However, the seller is out of the UK so I don't know if he is as worried about the law over hear. I do think eBay would shut down the auction listing if it was an authentic copy but that is pretty unlikely considering how many have been awarded.
I guess I can't fault the seller of the nice German photo album for putting bright water marks on all this listing photos. You can still enjoy seeing the pictures including a photo of a black soldier which makes you think how did that scene unfold.
The title sounds kinda cool - motorcycle dispatch coat but the auction is a little disappointing. There is no unit insignia and the coat has only attracted a single bidder.
The bidding is going really well for that nice bolo knife pictured below. It's up to 22 bids and is over $200.
By the end of the week I should be opening a second antique mall location in Florence, SC. This one is at the Palmetto Peddlers which is a really nice mall right near the intersection of I-95 and I-20.