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 RFC Officer's silver cap and collar badge set.
Pair of cast silver RFC collar dogs by ' J.R.Gaunt, London ' accompanied by a silver plated die-struck RFC cap badge. Silver RFC Officer's insignia is very uncommon and all items are in excellent condition with minor rubbing to high points of the cap badge.
1960's 12/13 Parachute Battalion uniform grouping.
A particularly clean and impressive grouping of uniform items to a Capt Smith who served with the 12/13th Parachute Battalion. The group consists of ; a size 3 1963 dated ' Smocks Denison Airborne Troops ' with rank, jump wings and DZ patches to sleeves,a size 5, 1955 dated 1949 Patt battledress blouse with printed Airborne sleeve insignia, jump wings, embroidered Parachute Regiment shoulder titles and Parachute Regiment collar badges, unissued 1961 dated and manufacturer marked red beret, 1955 dated '49 Patt BD trousers, named 37 Patt belt, 1955 dated shirt and a 1955 dated pair of denim overall trousers. All the items are in excellent, clean condition particularly the denison, BD and trousers.
'49 Patt Parachute Engineer's BD.
1955 dated '49 Patt. BD blouse for a Sgt. Instructor of the Royal Engineers in the Airborne Division. Facing pair of embroidered Airborne formation signs with parachute qualification wing to right arm. Size 11, up to 5' 10" and chest 38" to 39". In excellent, clean condition with no moth damage. Good example of a post-war airborne tunic.
WW2 German Panzer officers' breast eagle.
A fine example of a Panzer officers' bullion breast eagle. Silver wire embroidered onto black fine wool backing with a tissue paper backing. Clear evidence of having been removed from a uniform but in excellent, unoxidised condition.
No.2 Commando Officer's beret badge.
Superb and very scarce bullion officer's badge for No.2 Commando. Silver bullion wire woven onto a black woollen backing showing two ' S ' letters ( symbolising their ' Special Service ' battalion provenance ) either side of a FS dagger. These badges were either worn as a beret badge or on the shoulder of the SD uniform. This example in excellent condition with the bullion having acquired an attractive darkened patina and a pencilled number to the reverse.
SOE code silk.
Highly uncommon, wartime enciphering key printed on silk as used by SOE and other clandestine forces. Using the one-time pad system of encription this key was used for encoding and decoding messages and was printed on silk for it's durability and ease of concealment, particularly in clothes. This particular example 40cms x 27cms approx is in good, used condition with some marking and staining.
WW1 MILITARY MEDAL GROUP OF 4. BEAUTIFUL. OUT THE
Directly from the relatives of this WW1 soldier, a super WW1 MILITARY MEDAL, 14-15 STAR, WAR MEDAL AND VICTORY MEDAL. All named to 15381 PRIVATE EJ KIMPTON ESSEX REGT. MM is marked KIMPTON 1/ ESSEX REGT. (Ist batallion). Private Kimpton lived in Leyton, London E11. His award was gazetted on 21st OCTOBER 1918. I have yet to do any further research, so do not know what the medal was awarded for. Medals are mounted as worn in two pairs and have never been in a collection or offered for sale before. In untouched, unpolished condion. With the centenery of WW1 coming in 2014. British militaria, especially WW1 gallantry medals will continue to be a good investment.
VICTORIAN BLUE CLOTH HELMET-1ST SUFFOLK RIFLES-NAM
Complete in the original carrying black tin, this is a lovely example of a Victorian period Home Service Officers helmet. Never been in a collection and recently acquired from the family. The helmet is in near perfect condition, with only one small hole to the black cloth. Chin scales, badge and spike are in a dark patina. Badge is to the SUFFOLK REGT with 1st Volunteer Batallion. Cream silk liner inside with leather sweatband. London maker in gold lettering to inside. Tin has brass nameplate to ' Lieut J Sherwood 1st Suffolk Rifles' so this exactly matches the helmet inside. A wonderful piece of history and a really nice piece of miltaria. Worthy of any collection.
RARE..LUFTWAFFE GENERAL SUMMER BREAST EAGLE.
This is only the third one of these I've had, and it's beautiful! Luftwaffe breast eagle in gilt-washed aluminium for the Gernerals Summer tunic or shirt. Fantastic detail, made by ASSMANN, with 'A' cast into reverse. Pin back.MINT CONDITION. This is actually not the same as a normal Assmann aluminium breast eagle, it has subtle differences. Gilt wash for starters, then the actually eagle has more and better detail, when comparing the two side by side. Also the eagle itself is slightly different, daintier, and the eagles leg which holds the swastika is cast free of the main body of the bird. So very delicate!! The standard eagle has the leg and swastika cast as part of the main body, all joined together. I have shown a photo of the two together to show the differences. A rare item and would look fantastic with any Luftwaffe display, especially if you have some Luftwaffe Gerneral's insignia etc.
INFANTRY OFFICERS 'saddle' shaped visor cap.
Good looking visor cap with interesting shape to the front peak etc. A cap that's been there and done it. Definately worn a lot. a few small moth holes in the cloth to the top of the cap. No other damage. Aluminium eagle and cockade in good condition, have oxidised a little. Celluloid peak is fine with no cracks. Lining all complete, orange linen cloth. Size marked 57 in ink. Celluloid diamond missing. Leather sweat band fine and intact.