COLLECTOR NEWS Updated May 16th 2008

 

Coming Soon......COLLECTORS CORNER with reference areas, news and galleries.

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Greetings, Its been a while since I updated this section, but finally there are some new happenings to report.

2008 Started off as a good year for collecting, all the shows I have thus attended are attracting good crowds and a lot of good collectibles are making their way out onto tables. I've noted a lot of these items are coming out of the remaining Veteran estates, which sadly are fewer and fewer as well as older collections. 

In recent months I have been noticing an increase in the offering of so called "Military Collectibles". These novelty items are for sale at shows, through advertising and mail order catalogues. One catalogue I receive is called "Military Issue" a lavishly illustrated, full color booklet of all types of newly made merchandise. Now I can understand buying books, CD's and even T-shirts but a "Gestapo Arrest Figures Set", an R.Lee Emery action figure and fantasy SNAFU & Gott Mit Uns metal signs. Many of these items are actually quite pricey and although not mentioned, I'd bet most of this junk is made in Communist China. The bottom line is that these type of items should be viewed as "Novelties" and something that will never have historic or investment value. Friends, there are still plenty of original US, German and Japanese items out there that are affordable and a much better investment of your hard earned money.

Waffenrock Headgear ? With the publishing of the fantastic Waffenrock book a few years back, These once ignored parade & dress tunics are becoming difficult to find lately. Also getting hard to find are the headgear and accessories worn with them. Simple enlisted pattern visor caps are usually the choice as the correct double decal, pea green parade helmets are scarce and unaffordable, at least for us that would prefer to put our money into uniforms. I would welcome any suggestions from my fellow collectors in what and how they display their Waffenrocks. as they remain one of my all time favorite uniforms.

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I've been asked by a few fellow collectors my opinions of books, a worthy investment in knowledge and resource. Many collectors often Email me asking what books I recommend, click on the bookworm below  to see my favored book list..

Regards,

John Casino