Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
WW1 British 'PH' Gas Hood.
Extremely scarce British WW1 'PH' gas hood. Originally designated the 'P' hood in 1915 and introduced as an improved version of the Hypo helmet to combat the effects of chlorine, the 'PH' hood was in turn a further improved version to counter the effects of Phosgene by dipping in hexamine thus the Pheneate-Hexamine helmet or 'PH'. This example in excellent condition and marked 'PRAC ONLY' to front,the outlet valve present and flexible with some rust staining around the eyepieces. Internally the mouthpiece present with some rusting and similar rusting to eyepiece surrounds. Double-skinned flannel hood reasonably clean and moth free. An excellent example of a very scarce item. More images on request.
WW2 SAS parachute wings.
Good example of the distinctive SAS parachute qualification wing. Originally designed by Jock Lewes drawing from Eygptian heiroglyphic symbols, in this case the sign for the solar deity, and his own and Lieutenant Langton's varsity history hence the dark blue of Oxford and the light blue of Cambridge. This WW2 embroidered onto a wool backing which in turn is backed with a coarse cotton and then with paper. In excellent condition with clear signs of removal from a uniform. MR11
THIRD REICH ALUMINIUM M35 RED CROSS HELMET
A really good example of the all aluminium Luftshutz type helmet as issued to the RED CROSS. Almost identical example pictures in LUDWIG BEER's helmet book page 335. This example is a DOUBLE DECAL type and has the addition of a period painted Red Cross to the front crown. Finished in dark blue paint, it is in excellent condition. Leather liner and chin strap are perfect.Has makers label in red on the inside. Named on the inside of the liner too. An excellent looking helmet, quite rare I think.
WW1 German trench knife.
WW1 German Nahkampfmesser or trench knife. Slab sided wooden handle with 15cm blade by Hugo Koller, Solingen. Blade is in unissued condition with all of it's cross graining and no sign of sharpening with manufacturer marking to one side and an Imperial proof to the other. Some minor dents to grip and some paint loss to scabbard, belt strap with some loss of leather surface but intact and supple. Good clean example.
Compo ration cigarette tin.
50 cStandard WW II British cigarette ration tin. Orignally containing 50 cigarettes, two of these tins were to be found in the standard 14 man composite ration. In good clean condition with various abrasions and wear to the reverse. Marked '8 MB' to one side, indicating manufacture by Metal Box.
WW1 29th Div Mk I Steel helmet.
Steel helmet Mk I or 'Brodie'. This particular example is marked to the front with the reversed light infantry bugle of the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry and to the side with the 'half a diamond' of the 29th Division. Additionally there is a service number impressed into the intact chinstrap making this emminently researchable. The helmet has approx. 25% of the original textured green paint finish with both the unit markings clearly visible. Corrosion has been cleaned from the shell and is maker marked to the rim. The liner is present, but tatty and as previously mentioned the chinstrap is present and flexible. Altogether an interesting and uncommon example of a unit marked helmet to a small unit.
'Cordon and Search' - 6th Airborne in Palestine.
Pub.1949 by Gale & Polden, 'Cordon and Search - With the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine' is the definitive history on the Division's difficult and costly involvement in the concluding years of the British mandate in Palestine. 275pgs with b/w illustrations, fold out maps and copious appendices including an extensive roll of honour. In good overall condition with clean contents, front board slightly dis-coloured to one corner and dust marks to one edge of fold-out map.
OSS Crossbow arrow.
Designed and in 1942 and built and tested from 1943 the OSS experimented with a series of crossbows in an effort to provide an effective silent weapon. This steel and aluminium, needle-pointed arrow was designed for use in the 'Little Joe Pedal Crossbow' and the 'William Tell' model. Although field trialled and exported to England it was not thought any of the crossbows were used in anger although their performance was impressive. A scarce example in excellent condition with very minor corrosion to the tip.
Marine HJ shoulder straps.
Mint, unissued pair of Marine Hitler Youth shoulder boards. 1938 Pattern dark blue, yellow piped shoulder boards with the number 663. 663 stands for 'Litmannstadt' from the Wartheland district created in May 1941. RZM label to the reverse of one strap.
WW2 German Heeres Beamte shoulder boards.
Pair of shoulder boards for the Beamte or officials of the German Army. The rank is equivalent to a Lt.Col but covers a multitude of different official titles within the service and the particualr service as denoted by the secondary colour, could be a number of different branches. In good clean condition with a dulling of the bullion and moth free. Unusual