Once again, it's time for a new Advance Guard Militaria catalog. Around the office we have been calling this one the "Bayonets, Belts, & Bonnets" issue. About this time last year we were on our way to Salt Lake City to evaluate a collection of military flight helmets and related artifacts. A second trip was required to complete that deal, but by the end of summer, we were up to our eyes in flight helmets and goggles. On that second Utah trip, we stopped along the way to visit with a gentleman who had spent the past 50 years assembling a very impressive collection of 19th and early 20th century US military belts. Having just handled a nice collection of these, we were especially happy to find another.
Before the trip was over, Anna and I found ourselves right smack in the middle of the madness surrounding Mann's Chinese Theater, on our way to pick up artifacts from the estate of a Hollywood director and screenwriter who trained with the OSS and served as a US Army Counterintelligence Corps agent in Europe during WWII. So what does an enterprising young CIC agent bring home as his souvenir of the war? Read on, and find out!
That was just the first of several epic journeys that resulted in what you will see Monday: Catalog #102. This issue contains the aviation headgear collection, US military belt collection, a nice selection of pre-WWI Austro-Hungarian uniforms and headgear, French WWI headgear and uniforms, a number of nice WWI medal groups, the WWII Operation Tidal Wave DSC and Purple Heart group featured on the front cover, several nice WWI US aviator wings, and a small mountain of bayonets, trench knives, and other edged weapons.
Here are a few highlight photo collages for Catalog #102.
Click on any of them to enlarge. (These may run afoul of pop-up blockers, depending on your internet browser.)
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On September 16, 1944, the German Army recalled the elaborate silk and bullion embroidered unit flags and standards back to the relative safety of the Zeughaus in Berlin, with the standard wool bunting war flag taking their place for the remainder of the conflict. As it turned out, this created something of a 'one stop shop' for the Red Army, as the Soviets briefly paused their program of kinetic urban renewal to scoop up these trophies of war and send them safely back east. Consequently, the vast majority of these banners which remain today are still together, displayed in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces in Moscow. |
However, despite the common caricature of German officers as well-dressed automatons, apparently a few of these banners never quite made it back to Berlin. One is available here on catalog 102: An artillery standarte was retained by the 11th Panzer Division's Generalleutnant Wend von Wietersheim, who surrendered it in May 1945 to a young American Army Counterintelligence Corps agent attached to XII Corps.
Ib Melchior volunteered for service with the OSS, and his language skills were put to use in the CIC in Europe. After the war, he became a successful Hollywood director and screenwriter working primarily in the science fiction genre during the 1950's, 1960's and 70's. He specifically mentions obtaining this flag from von Wietersheim in his book "Case by Case." Mr. Melchior passed away in 2015, and the flag is in need of a new caretaker for the first time since he took possession of it in 1945. |
| Another historically significant artifact offered on Catalog 102 is this lash-up: one of two known sample loop cartridge belts submitted to the Army Equipment Board of 1879 by Sgt. John F. Unger of Co. F, 5th US Infantry. This built on the positive momentum of the 1876 'Prairie Belts' in use by the Cavalry, and became the basis for the Mills woven web M1880 cartridge belt, designed for use by Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery troops alike. |
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That's all the space we have for photo previews. Other Catalog 102 highlights include:
- WWII Ploesti Raid DSC & Purple Heart Medal Group to 2nd Lt. Sidney A. Pear
- American Field Service WWI Uniform of Vivian F. Crawford
- WWI American Volunteer in the Royal Flying Corps KIA Memorial Plaque & RFC Wings
- WWI Siberian Expeditionary Force Uniform Group With Trench Art Bowie Knife
- Indian Wars Model 1885 Cavalry Saddle Blanket
- M1885 Cavalry Cartridge Belt: Rock Island Conversion of Branch Colored M1880 Belt
- Sample Loop Cartridge Belt Submitted to the 1879 Equipment Board By Sgt. J.F. Unger
- 11th Panzer Division Artillery Standarte Surrendered to XII Corps CIC Agent Ib Melchior
- Civil War Federal Issue Contract Blanket
- Civil War Union Army Issue Blanket
- War of 1812 US M.1795 Springfield Musket
- Civil War Model 1855 Rifle-Musket: Springfield 1860
- 1870 Equipment Trials Dyer 'E' Ammunition Pouch with Sling
- WWI British Royal Naval Air Service Wounded Officer's Khaki Tunic and Visor Cap
- WWI Air Service Bomber Pilot's Trunk Group w/ Recorded Interview
- Imperial Russian Aviator's WWI Flight Helmet
- Early .50 Caliber Fair-weather Christian Belt: Attributed to 22nd Infantry Regiment NCO
- Imperial Austrian 12th Hussars Officer's Uniform Group Complete with Shako
- M1876 .50 Caliber 46 Loop Short Cartridge Belt
- M1876 First Pattern .45-70 Prairie Belt
- M1910 First Pattern 'Eagle Snap' Cavalry Bandolier
- Cavalry Model 1909 Mounted Cartridge Belt
- WWI Army Reserve Military Aviator Wing: Jeweler Made Pinback
- M1876 Rock Island Arsenal Experimental .45-70 Prairie Belt
- M1876 San Antonio Arsenal Experimental .45-70 Prairie Belt
- British / Commonwealth WWI P08 Web Equipment Complete Set
- WWI USMC 5th Marines 1st Battalion PFC's Tunic & Painted Helmet
- USMC Officer's Khaki Cotton Coat: Capt. Walter Sitz - AEF 6th Marines Adjutant
- WWI 332nd Infantry Soldier's Uniform
- WWI 3rd Division Silver Star & Purple Heart Medal Group: MG Co. 7th Infantry
- French WWI General Officer's Kepi
- British WWI Officer's Private Purchase Helmet with Camouflage Cover
- British WWI Issue Service Dress Trousers
- British WWII RAF Irvin Fleece Flight Jacket & Trousers
- M1878 Holster for the Schofield Revolver
- Indian Wars M1881 Forsyth Modified Schofield Revolver Holster
- Indian Wars Model 1873 Bedding Blanket with Contractor's Stamp
- Spanish American War Navy Web and Leather Lee Cartridge Belt
- WWI 1st Division Silver Star Multiple Award Recipient Medal Group: 28th Infantry
- Imperial Austrian Uhlan Officer's Czapska with Case
- Imperial German WWI Vehicle Driver Gas Mask & French Tampon-T Goggles
- Mills Remington-Lee 45-70 Magazine Rifle Double Belt with Suspenders
- Japanese Imperial Navy One-Piece Summer Flight Suit & Helmet: w/ Capture Document
- WWI Army Aviator's Bullion Wing & Insignia of Lt. Sidney B. Grant, 88th Aero Squadron
- War of 1898 Officer's Web Revolver Cartridge & Sword Belt with Eagle Plate
- Model 1872 Dyer Carbine Cartridge Pouch
- Spanish-American War 212th New York Uniform & Souvenir Group
- Civil War M1851 Enlisted Saber Belt
- French WWI M1915 Issue Enlisted Infantry Horizon Blue Greatcoat
- Italian WWII RSI Decima MAS Sleeve Shield
- USN M450 Flight Helmet with Volcano Cups & Wilson MK I Pilot Goggles
- British Pre-WWI Royal Fusiliers Enlisted Issue Tunic and Raccoon Fur Cap
- Mills No 170 Horizontal Eagle Snap Pistol Belt for the M1911 .45 Automatic Pistol
- First Contract Mills M1880 45-70 Cartridge Belt with Rare Early 1881 'H' Plate
- M1904 Army Campaign Hat
- French WWII 'Blitzkrieg' Era Armée de L'Air Model 11 Pilot's Flight Helmet
And much.. much.... MUCH more. I could go on and on, but the longer these emails are, the more likely they are to get zapped by the 'spam' filters. There should be plenty on catalog #102 to keep everybody at the edge of their seats!
Want to browse the print version of the catalog before the website opens? Now you can! Click here for more details.
We look forward to hearing from you on Monday!
Best regards,
Jeff Shrader
AGM
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