A First War Imperial Prussian Automobile Corps Dagger - Measuring 460 mm, with the scabbard on, this dagger features a 315 mm etched steel blade, with a sharpened edge, remaining bright and crisp, with a semi-sharp tip, the reverse ricasso unmarked. The blade itself exhibits a beautifully engraved ornate fillagree pattern on both sides and on the blade spine, the obverse inscribed "MIT GOTT FÜR KAISER u. REICH" (With God For Kaiser and Reich) in a ribbon banner, the reverse illustrating a helmeted tire with a cross-bearing flag in the background. It exhibits faint scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, with a natural shine, nicks on the blade, better than very fine. The thin red felt blade washer is soiled but remains intact. The fittings are silvered bronze, the obverse crossguard bearing a horn motif in the centre horizontal block. The bone grip is smooth but has yellowed with age, exhibiting light crazing, complemented by six rows of tightly wrapped twisted silver wire. The pommel exhibits a nice-detailed Imperial Prussian crown, with open variant finials in the naval style, the dagger measuring 443 mm in length overall, with a loose crossguard and extensive silvering loss overall on the fittings. The body of the scabbard is wrapped in brown leather, well-stitched together along the rear seam. The locket and chape in silvered bronze, the snub-nose finial having been dented inward. The throat has a slightly soiled red felt washer, with a frog stud on the locket. The scabbard measures 328 mm in length, exhibiting extensive silvering loss on the locket and chape, while the leather has the expected age wear. Very fine. Footnote: The Prussian Automobile Corps (Kraftfahr Korps) was established in 1905, as an adjunct to the Imperial Automobile Club and was organized along paramilitary lines. Its goal was to improve the state of motor transport in Prussia and to train drivers for the army.
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A First War German “From the Great Age” Matchbox Cover with Matchbox A First War (Imperial) German Iron Cross 1914 matchbox cover; constructed of olive-drab painted pressed sheet metal (magnetic); crimped on one side; featuring a small frame attached to the case via four hooks with a picture reading “From the Great Age - In the year of freedom we are given the cross of iron, and now it shall prove that our Emperor honours his sons, who courageously deny the country the enemy”; two of the sides partially cut out to allow the fingers to slide the matchbox out of the cover once empty and to strike the match on the igniter strip; with a cut-out on the bottom to push out the matchbox drawer; measuring 61 mm x 40 mm x 20 mm; extremely fine condition. Accompanied by a wooden matchbox; with two igniter strips and a label on the obverse, reading “The Sociable - Impregnated Safety Match - Made in Sweden”; the floor of the matchbox drawer partially separated. Footnote: Prior to the invention of the safety match, the production of matches was extremely dangerous due to use of white phosphorous in the production process. The modern safety match utilized red phosphorus, but not in the head of the match, but rather on a specially designed striking surface. These matches were deemed true “safety matches” due to the separation of the reactive ingredients between the match head and the striking surface. The head of the match was specially paraffin-impregnated, and would only ignite if struck against the igniting strip on the matchbox. Matches were invaluable to the war, as smoking was a past time amongst soldiers and worked to calm the nerves. As matches were a rare, and valuable commodity, soldiers would plunder the uniforms of fallen enemies for matches. Often, allied soldiers found German matchbox covers that protected the matchboxes from being crushed, broken, and partially from moisture, explaining why the matchboxes found in some of these bringbacks contain matchboxes with english labels. |
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Item G29046 |
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A German Imperial Bosun's Whistle (Boatswain's Pipe) Multi-piece construction, brass leaf (keel) illustrating a fouled anchor on its obverse, ball (buoy) with a hole on top and illustrating a crowned fouled anchor on both sides of the ball, the brass leaf supporting a copper tube (gun) with a brass mouthpiece, the tube held in place via three brass couplings soldered to the wide brass plate, one end of the leaf with a ring (shackle) attached, with a full-length navy blue braided neck cord fed through the ring, 24 mm x 124 mm x 14.5 mm, surface wear evident on the crowned fouled anchors on the ball, age discolouration present on the brass leaf and copper tube, better than very fine. (C:102)
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Item G25514 |
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A German First War "Reims" Matchbox Cover Three-piece construction, bronze German pickelhaube above a bronze ribbon banner inscribed "REIMS" affixed to the front panel of the brass base, 41.5 mm x 60.8 mm x 20 mm, spotting, green oxidation and surface wear evident throughout, better than very fine.
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Item G30090 |
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A First War German “Strength and Defensiveness for Righteousness and Honour” Matchbox Cover A First War (Imperial) German matchbox cover; in nickel silver; with an Iron Cross 1914 First Class on the obverse with “Kraft Und Wehr Für Recht Und Ehr”; with the three rivets holding the cover together lost through time; with two of the sides partially cut out to allow the fingers to slide the matchbox out of the cover once empty, and to strike the match on the igniter strip; with a cut-out on the bottom to push out the matchbox drawer; measuring 61 mm x 40 mm; very fine condition. Footnote: Prior to the invention of the safety match, the production of matches was extremely dangerous due to use of white phosphorous in the production process. The modern safety match utilized red phosphorus, but not in the head of the match, but rather on a specially designed striking surface. These matches were deemed true “safety matches” due to the separation of the reactive ingredients between the match head and the striking surface. The head of the match was specially paraffin-impregnated, and would only ignite if struck against the igniting strip on the matchbox. Matches were invaluable to the war, as smoking was a past time amongst soldiers and worked to calm the nerves. As matches were a rare, and valuable commodity, soldiers would plunder the uniforms of fallen enemies for matches. Often, allied soldiers found German matchbox covers that protected the matchboxes from being crushed, broken, and partially from moisture, explaining why the matchboxes found in some of these bringbacks contain matchboxes with English labels. |
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Item G29480 |