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Archive March, 2015
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
I don't know if you've paid attention but starting May 1 eBay is going to give sellers free listing fees on auctions that result in a sale. They are also pushing for longer auctions by making the 10 day duration available at no extra charge. We will see what these changes have in store for the category.
There are a couple of nice patches here that are hard for me to miss. The best one is the Marine VMR jacket patch. I don't know that I've ever had that one in the Hot Finds. The other unit patch is not quite as exciting - for a QM.
I am usually wary of putting a German ring in this block for fear of promoting a fake. However, the one that leads off this German group looks like it might be the real deal.
It is easy to spot a true bayonet versus a fighting knife. The English version below has a metal hole bored into it for the riffle muzzle to slip through. It also has a sliding piece for the butt of the knife to attach to the weapon. That will be a nice pick up for some collector.
I've teased about pointy helmets in this block many a day. However, the Italian helmet in the far right pictured below is putting up some impressive numbers at auction. Over $500 and still going - not bad at all!
I have this issue out extra early in the morning - I hope it gives you more time in your day to explore what I've turned up.
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Friday, March 27, 2015
I got stuck proctoring a test at my daughter's school this week but luckily they put me in the middle school social studies teachers classroom. She had a copy of the great TIME book series published in 1976 on WWII. I took to reading the prelude to war and was reminded of how inevitable WWII was.
Woodrow Wilson's vision of the League of Nations probably could have made a difference if it wasn't neutered from the beginning. Wilson lost so much support in Congress that of course the United States never ratified the League.
In Germany the punishing sanctions which required the Germans to accept guilt for the war created the climate that allowed for Fascism to rise. It was interesting to read that in Italy and Germany there were communist movements that eventually were crushed during the interwar period.
For the rumblings of WWII in Asia I don't know if I'd ever paid much attention to what happened in China. While the communists and nationalists were fighting each other the Japanese started an invasion. It was only by moving inland across the vast country that the Chinese leadership was able to stay one step ahead of capture and destruction by the Japanese.
My brother actually had this series of books growing up and it's probably where my interest in WWII rose from. I think they might still be in my parents attic - might be worth a look next time I visit.
I hope you have a great week and I'll be back Thursday with another batch of fresh auctions.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2015
I apologize for missing a regular publishing day last week. I hope nobody went into eBay withdrawal! If so you can get your fill with today's auction newsletter that features the best live listings on eBay.
I thought that was a pretty unusual piece of insignia at the top of this issue. Turns out it's an Italian made bullion that is pretty cool.
The interesting case pictured below was pulled out of St. Petersburg, Russia. The seller says it's a German grenade stick case. I can't quite picture an infantryman carrying this briefcase into battle.
You have to give some credit to the artist who drew the Canadian war poster featured below. That is really a cool take on the classic knight morphing to a modern soldier on his mount.
Check out the WWI block where you can always count on find a few pointy helmets that deserve to stay in the last century.
I hope you have a great week and I'll be back Thursday with a new issue for sure this time.
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Friday, March 20, 2015
I spent today visiting a charter school in Greensboro with the principal of my daughter's school to get some ideas. I've been helping out on some committees and my background is education so it was a natural fit. Now that I am home from traveling and being a do-gooder I can get out the newsletter!
Let's do this math. The field ration packet below has 600 calories packed into it. If its selling for $132 in a live auction how much will the buyer pay per calorie. See you can learn match on eBay!
The u-boat commander cap is a good pick from this block. The wording of the auction almost makes it sound like a replica but surely it's authentic....right?
You have to admire using a very authentic looking model to sell the British goggles below. I'm sure just that good photography increased his click-through rate a bunch.
I've always thought the ceremonial helmets with the pointy tips were comical but check out the auction on a cloth cover for one below. Sheesh!
Sorry for getting this issue out late in the day but hopefully you have a few minutes to check out these picks.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2015
I spent today visiting a charter school in Greensboro with the principal of my daughter's school to get some ideas. I've been helping out on some committees and my background is education so it was a natural fit. Now that I am home from traveling and being a do-gooder I can get out the newsletter!
Let's do this math. The field ration packet below has 600 calories packed into it. If its selling for $132 in a live auction how much will the buyer pay per calorie. See you can learn match on eBay!
The u-boat commander cap is a good pick from this block. The wording of the auction almost makes it sound like a replica but surely it's authentic....right?
You have to admire using a very authentic looking model to sell the British goggles below. I'm sure just that good photography increased his click-through rate a bunch.
I've always thought the ceremonial helmets with the pointy tips were comical but check out the auction on a cloth cover for one below. Sheesh!
Sorry for getting this issue out late in the day but hopefully you have a few minutes to check out these picks.
Read More »
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