Warelics Militaria Collectibles

(448)  HAND-SIGNED STUDIO PORTRAIT OF CROWN PRINCE WILHELM, IN FANCY MOROCCAN LEATHER PRESENTATION FRAME.

This original photographic studio portrait of the Prussian Crown Prince, Wilhelm, depicts him in his parade-dress white "Kollar" and 2nd Cuirassier Regiment "Kurasse", with the attached gorget ( photo ). The sepia-toned photograph is embossed with the photographic studio's name, "E. Bieber", in the lower left-hand corner ( photo ), and hand-ink-signed, "Wilhelm", across the bottom ( photo ). The pen-and-ink signature of Crown Prince Wilhelm is somewhat "faded", and turned brown with age, but is nonetheless still clearly legible ( photo ). The ornate, Royal Hohenzollern, presentation-style picture frame measures 9.25 inches X 7.375 inches, and is covered in chocolate-brown colored, deluxe "Moroccan" leather, which is decorated, on all sides, with a gold-leaf border ( photo ), and has a gold-leaf-embossed Prussian crown at the top ( photo ). The original, period, plate glass is not cracked, or chipped. The verso of the easel style frame is covered in a burgundy-colored fabric ( photo ), and there is a small IVORY placque, beneath the easel, with the custom frame-maker's name, "E. HEIDKAMP", and Potsdam address ( photo ). The photographic studio portrait is in EXCELLENT condition, and the deluxe, leather presentation frame is in VERY GOOD PLUS condition.

SIGNED STUDIO PORTRAIT OF PRUSSIAN CROWN PRINCE, WILHELM, IN ITS ORIGINAL, DELUXE, PRESENTATION FRAME.

Photograph Front   Photograph Back   Signature Detail  

(429)  GENUINE TURKISH DAMASCUS, HIMMLER PRESENTATION LETTER OPENER.

This "H. Himmler"-signed, presentation letter opener is hand-forged, GENUINE TURKISH DAMASCUS steel, made by the renowned SS damascus-smithy, PAUL MUELLER. The BEAUTIFUL Turkish damascus blade is shaped like a spear point, and measures 8.25 inches long, and 1.3 inches at its widest point ( photo ). The obverse has a fire-gilded, raised-relief, facsimile signature: "H. Himmler." ( photo ). The verso has paired SS-sigrunen within a circle, which are also gilded ( photo ) and, below which, "ECHT DAMAST, P. MULLER", is present, also in fire-gilded, raised relief ( photo ). All of the raised gilt lettering is an integral part of the damascus steel, and NOT "epoxied" onto the surface of the damascus steel. The blade is of the highest quality workmanship, with a beautiful Turkish damascus pattern, and silky-smooth to the touch. There are no flaws, or rents, in the damascus. The fire-gilding is approximately 80% present on the SS-sigrunen and "ECHT DAMAST" / P. MULLER" ( photo ), but is fairly well worn on the "H. Himmler." facsimile signature, being about 20% intact ( photo ). The overall condition grades as VERY GOOD PLUS.

N.B. The periodicity of this piece is uncertain, and open to conjecture. Paul Mueller definitely made some damascus letter openers before May 8, 1945, for Himmler to present as gifts. However, it is widely accepted that Mueller also made several pieces AFTER May, 1945. Therfore, this particular example is offered for sale as a GENUINE example of fine damascus steel craftmanship, and as a piece of art, without regard to its historical significance, and without warranty as to the date of its manufacture. The piece is priced accordingly.

BEAUTIFUL, GENUINE TURKISH DAMASCUS, "HIMMLER PRESENTATION" LETTER OPENER BY PAUL MUELLER.

$2,995.00  ORDER

Letter Opener Obverse   Letter Opener Reverse  

(422)  ORIGINAL, SS-TOTENKOPF HONOR RING PRESENTATION BOX.

This AUTHENTIC, SS honor ring box consists of a silverfoil-paper-covered, round cardboard bottom portion, which is lined with black felt ( photo ), and a black-paper-covered lid, which is hot-foil embossed with dual SS-sigrunen, within a double concentric circle ( photo ). This is the style of ring box without the rope design on the lid. The condition is EXCELLENT PLUS, to NEAR MINT. This ORIGINAL, SS honor ring PRESENTATION BOX is MUCH RARER than the honor ring it was designed to store!!! Guaranteed to be a 100% PERIOD box, manufactured prior to May 8, 1945.

Note: The SS Honor ring is being sold seperately as item #407.

ULTRA-RARE, AUTHENTIC, SS TOTENKOPF HONOR RING PRESENTATION BOX.

$3,500.00  ORDER  SOLD

Ring and Box   Ring in Box  

(352)  "ONE-OF-A-KIND", VET P/U (1995), AUTHENTIC CONCENTRATION CAMP "KaPo" ARMBAND.

I personally purchased this UNIQUE, EXTREMELY RARE armband DIRECTLY from the USA 6th Armored Division veteran's widow in 1995, at my "buying show" or "hotel sweep", at the Crystal Lake, IL Holiday Inn, along with many other assorted armbands, SS cloth insignia, several K98 bayonets, a K98 rifle, two SA daggers, one HJ Fahrtenmesser, et al, and also a MINT, ORIGINAL, Afrikakorps OFFICER'S M41 hat, which was sold by my "buying show" partner, at the "MAX" show several years ago. A few days after purchasing it in the above "veteran's lot", my "buying show" partner ( and good friend ) and I ( relunctately ) sold the armband to the late William B. Turner III, for his very generous cash offer; thereby precluding any disagreement between my good friend and I about who should be allowed to "keep" the piece for his collection. Since my long-time friend and I purchased the armband DIRECTLY from the Patton's Third Army veteran's widow in 1995, the piece has "changed hands" several times, but has always fortunately remained in the Chicagoland area, and I personally know every collector who has owned, or actually physically possessed the armband since I owned ( actually "one-half" ) the piece in 1995! And, of course, I can attest to the fact that the armband has not been abused, damaged, or altered, in any way, over the course of the previous ten years! It is, ABSOLUTELY, POSSITIVELY, the VERY SAME "KaPo" armband that I originally shared co-ownership of a decade ago! The ORIGIN, and PROVENANCE, of this UNIQUE, VET-ACQUIRED, KZ-"blockleader's" armband is UNASSAILABLE!

The armband itself is very cheaply, and somewhat "crudely", constructed of a 9.5 in. X 3.75 in. piece of a coarse, faintly ribbed, black, linen-like material ( photo ), The Gothic style "Kapo" is hand-painted ( or perhaps "stenciled-on" ) using what appears to be off-white "TEMPRA" paint ( photo ). There is a 1.67 in. diameter circle, also in "TEMPRA" paint, which has an ( illegible ) SS "authentication" ink stamp applied to it, on the lower right side of the band ( photo ). Below the Gothic "Kapo", is painted the following: "L.O. 3/I", the meaning of which is not known to me. Some knowledgable collectors and historians have offered various opinions as to the possible meaning of these letters/numbers. Some observers have opined that the "L" could stand for "Lager", and the "O" could stand for "Oranienburg", or "Ohrdruf" ( the names of two fairly well known concentration camps ); while the "3/I" could indicate a camp "work section", or perhaps an inmates' "barracks" number.

All of the painted surfaces have "cracked" over the last sixty years, producing the noticible "mosaic" appearance seen in the pics ( photo ). It is interesting to note that the piece is actually NOT an "armband" per se, in that it was obviously not made to be "slipped-on", but rather to be pinned on, or "tacked-on" with thread, to the sleeve of a concentration camp "blockleader". It is also rather obvious that unfortunate poor devils who were "KaPo's" in a KZ, were not even afforded the "convenience", or the "luxury", if you will, of a completely circumferential "armband", which could be more easily put-on or taken off! Also, it is known fact that the SS concentration camp administration worked within a very strict Draconian, and inhumane "budget" when it came to the cost of incarcerating, "feeding" ( about 400-500 calories/day per each "regular" inmate ), and clothing their victims. And, of course, since all raw materials, including the textiles allotted for KZ prisoners, were carefully rationed and accounted for in each camp's annual budget, it is obvious that this type of "incomplete armband" construction would conserve their allottment of cloth. Even though the number of "KaPo's", even in a large concentration camp, would probably only number in the hundreds, this "economical" way of producing the arm insignia needed to identify a "KaPo", would still result in saving hundreds of yards of material per year, within the entire concentration camp system. So, despite the fact that "KaPo's" colluded with their SS captors in administering every "KZ", and enjoyed better food rations and quarters than their charges, they still weren't deemed by the SS to be worth the extra cost of providing them with a traditional type of "armband".

N.B. Since many, if not most, "KaPo's", were either killed immediately by other prisoners upon a concentration camp's "liberation", or fled well before "liberation", any vestiges of their "insignia", or camp garb are, consequently, almost non-existant! This is THE ONLY authentic example of a KZ-"KaPo" sleeve band that I know to exist in the world today, although I suspect that The National Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Washington, DC, may own one; it will probably never be displayed to museum visitors, for many reasons, which should be readily apparent to any student of The Holocaust.

Armband obverse   Armband Reverse  

(331)  RARE, NAZI LUFTWAFFE "DROOP TAIL, EAR CUTOUT", DOUBLE-DECAL, CHILD'S PAPER MACHE HELMET; IN AMAZING, NEAR MINT CONDITION!

This amazingly well preserved example of a Third Reich LUFTWAFFE child's toy helmet is constructed of molded, dark gray, paper mache, in the design of a Model 1918, "ear cutout", or "telephone talker" helmet ( photo ), complete with bilateral external air vent "lugs" ( photo ). There is an early, "droop-tail" style, Luftwaffe eagle & swastika decal, or paper sticker, applied to the helmet's left side ( photo ), and a tri-color ( red, white, and black ) shield on the right side ( photo ). Both insignia are virtually 100% intact. The attention-to-detail of this approximately 1/3 scale child's "play helmet" is remarkable, as the Model 1931 style, black oilcloth liner has the usual eight perforated tongues and drawstring ( photo ), and is even complete with a functional chinstrap! ( photo ). The ORIGINAL, faux 1931 liner is somewhat "dusty", but is otherwise essentially in UNUSED, NEAR MINT condition ( photo ). Although the piece definitely shows 70+ years of natural "age", the OVERALL condition of this extremely rare version of a child's "play" helmet is EXCELLENT PLUS, and was probably "played-with" very little, if at all. .

Helmet front   Helmet 3/4 right   Helmet 3/4 left   Helmet back   Helmet top   Helmet Chinstrap   Helmet Rim Detail

(253)  EXTREMELY FANCY, SS KETTLEDRUM "SKIRT", FOR AN ALLGEMEINE SS-REITER REGIMENT, OR A WAFFEN-SS CAVALRY REGIMENT.

This very fancy, original SS drum "skirt", or facade, was tied around an SS kettledrum ( usually one of a pair ) which was attached to one side of the saddle of a mounted SS bandsman, or drummer ( see original period photo postcard ). This ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, and nearly "MINT" example, measures 13.5 inches wide, by 78 inches long, and is constructed of PLUSH, BLACK VELVET, with a sturdy black cloth backing ( photo ). There are six separate, "panels", each with a "scalloped" lower border, trimmed with a 7/8 in. wide strip of FANCY SILVER "TRESSE", which is periodically "folded", and carefully hand-stitched, to allow the arcuate "tresse" to remain perfectly flat ( photo ). The entire bottom margin is decorated with a two inch, coiled SILVER-BULLION FRINGE ( photo ). The ( two ) left "end" panels, and the single, right "end" panel, are undecorated, or "plain" BLACK VELVET ( photo ); while the three "center" panels are decorated with an early-style SS eagle & swastika, which is flanked by ( two ) SS "Totenkopfen" ( "death's heads", or "GRINNING" SKULLS ) ( photo ). The early-SS-style eagle & swastika is meticulously hand-embroidered onto the plush, black velvet center panel, using FIVE DIFFERENT styles of SILVER BULLION thread!!! ( photo ). The BLACK-SILK SWASTIKA is hand-embroidered on a WHITE, MOIRE-SILK background, and surrounded by a high-relief, SILVER-BULLION oakleaf wreath ( photo ). The two flanking death's heads, or "grinning skulls", are constructed of two different types of "padded" SILVER LAME, and are exquisitely accented with "shaded" cotton thread ( photo ). The gruesome, and macabre, "grin" of each death's head is produced by using an off-white SILK thread to carefully hand-embroider each, and every individual tooth! ( photo ). The upper border is also decorated with a 7/8 inch wide strip of the same, patterned, SILVER "TRESSE", employed around the "scalloped" lower margin. The verso has a "built-in", 3/4 inch wide, black-leather strap, and black-painted metal buckle ( photo ), and five sets of black, cloth ties, for attachment to a kettledrum ( photo ). This FABULOUS SS-mounted units' drum skirt has obviously been very expertly and consciensously "stored" over the last 60+ years, because, although showing some minimal signs of its "age", it is in essentially PERFECT, FLAWLESS, condition!!! A truly beautiful, authentic, and ULTRA RARE, SS relic!

ORNATE, SS MOUNTED UNITS' KETTLEDRUM FACADE, IN "PERFECT", NR.-MINT CONDITION!

SOLD.  ORDER

Left skull panel   Center eagle panel   Right skull panel   Eagle detail   End Blank panels   Original postcard

(258)   MINT, IMP. GERMAN ( BADEN & OLDENBURG ) OFFICER'S DRESS SASH ( "SCHARPE" ) IN ITS ORIGINAL, BERLIN-MAKER'S STORAGE BOX.

This BADEN and OLDENBURG, Imperial German officer's dress sash ( circa 1900 ) is made of 45 mm. wide, flat-wire, SILVER BULLION tresse, with two 5 mm. wide BLACK stripes, with an interposed, 2 mm. wide, RED stripe, and measures approximately 95 inches in total length! ( photo ). Each end of the sash terminates with a very large SILVER BULLION knot, and 10 inch long, black, and silver, TASSELS ( photo ). The sash is backed with an off-white linen ( photo ). The entire sash is carefully folded in its ORIGINAL storage box, which measures 17.5 in. X 3.5 in., and is 3.25 in. deep. The interior of the lid of the green, heavy cardboard, box has the original ( BERLIN ) military effects' dealer's label present ( photo ). The sash itself, both "knots", and the fringed tassels, are essentially MINT, and display almost no signs of "age", or even tarnishing! There is some very minimal "yellowing" of the white linen backing. The ORIGINAL, "point-of-sale"/storage box is in amazingly EXCELLENT condition also!.

AMAZING, UNUSED & "STONE-MINT", BADEN- OLDENBURG OFFICER'S DRESS SASH; IN ITS RARE, ORIGINAL, SALES / "STORAGE" BOX.

$550.00  ORDER

Sash front   Sash tassle detail   Sash clip

(260)   PERIOD-PERSONALIZED, SS OFFICER'S, "835" SILVER, CIGARETTE CASE W/ SKULL & RUNES.

This rectangular, "835" SILVER, cigarette case measures 85 X 75 X 10 mm., and is slightly convex, or "domed". The lid is PROFESSIONALLY, and EXPERTLY, jeweler, PERIOD-ENGRAVED with the SS officer-owner's name and rank, "H. Schwarz, Obersturmfuhrer" ( Waffen SS First Lieutenant ), and an SS "totenkopf", or "death's head", over double "sigrunen" ( photo ). The interior is designed to hold 8-10 cigarettes, vertically, on each side, which are held in place by elastic bands. The two, 5mm. wide, elastic bands have become detached, but are still present, loose inside the cigarette case ( photo ). One interior rim, and the catch, are both die-stamped, "835 S" ( 835/1000th's "SILBER" ) ( photo[s] ). The catch is in perfect, working, order, and the hinge is solid, and still tight ( photo ). Both the lid, and the bottom compartment, show usage, including some very shallow "dells", and a moderate amount of wear, but the engraving on the lid is still strong. The OVERALL condition is "used, very good PLUS". ( NOTE: This COMPLETELY ORIGINAL, and PERIOD-ENGRAVED, SS officer's cigarette case was recently acquired from the USA veteran's family, in south Florida. Furthermore, no research concerning SS OBERSTURMFUHRER Schwarz's Waffen-SS, or WW II military career, has been done to date ).

RARE, SS OBERSTURMFUHRER'S, PERIOD- ENGRAVED, "835 SILVER" CIGARETTE CASE.

$2,500.00.  ORDER

Case front   Case reverse   Catch detail   Silver content detail 

(271)  GERMAN LABOR CORPS STEIN!

 photo1 photo2 photo3

(272)  GERMAN LABOR CORPS STEIN!

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(275)  WOOD SOUVENIR WALL PLACQUE W/ADOLF
HITLER. THE ULTIMATE IN NAZI "KITSCH"!!!!!

This EARLY (c.1933-1934), colorful, oval-shaped, birchwood, souvenir wall placque has got to be the ultimate article of surviving Third Reich "kitsch"! It is handmade from a 1/2 in. thick, sawed piece of a birch tree branch, measures approximately 8 in. X 20 in.,and has a color photograph of ADOLF HITLER in the center, flanked by raised relief, hand-painted, birch trees, and scenes of an Alpine mountain retreat (Photo). There is a white, hand-painted, caption, which reads: "Der Lieblingsaufenthalt Adolf Hitler's.....Kurort Berneck" ("Adolf Hitler's beloved, or 'favorite', spa.....'District Berneck' "). The overall condition is very good plus, although there is some slight damage to the raised relief birch trees, at the bottom, and some "age grazing" to the varnish coat (Photo). This type of Nazi souvenir "kitsch" is very RARE, as its' sale, in Germany, was banned shortly after Hitler's rise to power, in 1933. This particular surviving piece is a truly classic, archtypical example of Third Reich, "buergerlsche", KITSCH in it's purest form!

 $350.00  ORDER

 photo1 photo2 photo3 photo4 photo5 photo6 photo7