$731k Field Marshall Baton! - 12/12/2010 05:57 PM
Dateline: Towson, Maryland- No Distribution without Permission
Hi All:
Here’s a late breaking story for you. What is believed to be the formal Generalfeldmarschal baton for Germany’s World War II Luftwaffe General “Smiling Albert” Kettering sold at a suburban Baltimore auction house on Saturday, Dec. 11. Consigned by the family of a deceased Jewish war veteran, the family said that their father, a soldier in the 2nd Armored Division, was in the first American jeep to enter Berlin. He was given the assignment to search chateau’s around Berlin for booby traps when he found the baton. The baton was brought home as a souvenir and had been in a closet since the war until the son decided to put it up for auction. Several reproductions of the baton have been made over the years, and controversy swirled since the auction preview opened on Wednesday over whether this was the original whose location since the war had been apparently unknown. The auction house gave it a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Despite the estimate and the controversy, bidding was fast as it opened at $10,000, finally coming down to a battle between a phone bidder (reportedly in Germany) and noted German militaria dealer Jason Burmeister, accompanied by militaria dealer Brian Maederer, who finally prevailed with his bid of $620,000 ($731,600 with the 18% buyers premium). Perhaps it will be on display at the Show of Shows. Here is a link to see the auction house photos:
http://catalogs.alexcooper.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=1012++++++93+&refno=+++23112
For those who say that there is nothing great left to be found, this shows that important relics from this conflict will be coming out beyond your lifetime as the last of the WW II veteran’s pass away and relatives eventually decide to part with their once prized souvenirs.
Enjoy!
Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com
www.HistoricGraphics.com
Hi All:
Here’s a late breaking story for you. What is believed to be the formal Generalfeldmarschal baton for Germany’s World War II Luftwaffe General “Smiling Albert” Kettering sold at a suburban Baltimore auction house on Saturday, Dec. 11. Consigned by the family of a deceased Jewish war veteran, the family said that their father, a soldier in the 2nd Armored Division, was in the first American jeep to enter Berlin. He was given the assignment to search chateau’s around Berlin for booby traps when he found the baton. The baton was brought home as a souvenir and had been in a closet since the war until the son decided to put it up for auction. Several reproductions of the baton have been made over the years, and controversy swirled since the auction preview opened on Wednesday over whether this was the original whose location since the war had been apparently unknown. The auction house gave it a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Despite the estimate and the controversy, bidding was fast as it opened at $10,000, finally coming down to a battle between a phone bidder (reportedly in Germany) and noted German militaria dealer Jason Burmeister, accompanied by militaria dealer Brian Maederer, who finally prevailed with his bid of $620,000 ($731,600 with the 18% buyers premium). Perhaps it will be on display at the Show of Shows. Here is a link to see the auction house photos:
http://catalogs.alexcooper.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=1012++++++93+&refno=+++23112
For those who say that there is nothing great left to be found, this shows that important relics from this conflict will be coming out beyond your lifetime as the last of the WW II veteran’s pass away and relatives eventually decide to part with their once prized souvenirs.
Enjoy!
Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com
www.HistoricGraphics.com