Manion’s December Auction Highlights

Each month, Manion's International Auction House, Inc. features several select items that are currently open for bidding at their Web site (www.manions.com). In an effort to show current sales and pricing trends, MT is happy to be able to report on the sales of those featured pieces.

The items in this month's "Frontline Auction News" were first presented to MT?readers in the December 2007 issue (page 60). Prices realized do not include buyer's premiums.

Be sure to look at Manion's full-page ad in this month's issue to see what interesting items are currently offered for sale. For more information on buying or selling through Manion's International, call Manion's at 866.626.4661 or 913.299.6692 or e-mail:?collecting@Manions.com.

HITLER SILVER PRESENTATION FRAME
1"x9.5"x13.5" .925 sterling sheet frame with hammered finish and separate solder attached eagle and "AH." Well-marked, "sterling .925 FHW-Wellner" (Hitler's jeweler). No damage to silver frame which a photo and written 40th birthday dedication to Alexander Freiherr von Dornberg, SS chief of Protocol on SS Reichsfuhrer Himmler staff from 1938-41. Photo is all hand written with Berlin dated 17/May 1941. and signed.

This item was obtained from an abandoned German field HQ in the spring of 1945. It was acquired by a "temporary" translator for the 128th FA Battalion, 6th Armored Division, and 3rd Army. Scotty Watson was an RAF pilot liberated from a POW camp by the 128th and was attached to the Battalion due to his German language skills learned during 3 years of captivity after being shot down in North Africa. The photo was given to the commander of the 128th FA Battalion, Lt Col Thomas R Bruce Jr, of Mexico Missouri. Col. Bruce retained the item since returning from Europe in the fall of 1945.
SOLD $23,692

PRUSSIAN CUIRASSIER M1843 LINE REGIMENT RESERVE OFFICER HELMET
14" tall polished bright steel body, visor and lobster tail with brass trim and rivets. Stamped brass eagle front plate with nickel 1813 Reserve cross. Front visor trim is stamped "W.Jaeger," Black painted interior has 14-finger black leather liner. Brass chin scales with buckle strap and one black leather kokarde with nickel ring.
SOLD $7,995

PRUSSIAN CUIRASSIER M1809 LINE REGIMENT EM HELMET
16" tall black leather multi-part body with black hair spine. Stamped brass crowned eagle front plate. Front visor trim and chin scales with buckle strap may be past restoration replacements. Lacks liner fittings. Unique early leather helmet seldom seen up for sale. Ready for restoration or display as is.
SOLD $2,460

HESSE KASSEL GUARD M1857 INFANTRY OFFICER SPIKE HELMET
11" tall black leather and visors with crazed finish. Nickel spike with pearl band, cruciform base with brass star studs; flat chin scales with buckle but no strap. Red leather cockade has nickel trim ring.
SOLD $5,023

WWI CASED NAVAL ADMIRAL'S FORE/AFT HAT
Nice address label to dry black leather storage case marked, "Marine Obergeneralarst Dr.Erdmann, Inspekteur der 9 Kriegs Sanitats Inspektion Coblens Park Hotel." Clean black hat, gold brocade, silver bullion ends, gold bullion side with clean tri-color ribbon and crowned anchor brass button. Light soiling from use to leather sweatband and white silk lining with maker "L.H. Berger Collani and Co Hoflieferanten."
SOLD $2,500

GARDES DU CORPS PARADE SWORD WITH SCABBARD and KNOT
36-1/4" double fuller blade. Acid etched GdC star, horse head, mounted cuirassier, parade helmet and cuirasses. Blue highlighted "Regt. der Gardes du Corps" and charging cuirassiers scene. W. K. and C. king and knight trademark on ricasso. Brass guard. Wrapped grip with wire binding. Nickel plated steel scabbard. Throat of scabbard marked "Otto Nitschke 4. Es."
SOLD $2,341

U.S. 1902 ARMY OFFICER`S FULL DRESS FROCK COAT
1902 U.S. Army officer's full dress frock coat, named to Colonel Weirick. Obtained and used by Warner Brother's film studios. The WB label at neck is dated July 15, 1942. Coat is made of very fine dark blue-black wool, double-breasted with 9 rimless eagle-style buttons to each side, and stand-up two hook collar with gold-wire tress and black facing indicative of either General Staff or Chaplain. Each sleeve has gold-wire trifoils to each sleeve for the rank of Colonel; each shoulder has two loops applied for the removable shoulder boards. Split tail has 4 buttons to back. The black lining has two tail pockets. Outfit comes with one removable dress Officer's shoulder board, having gold-plaited braided tops sewn to white wool base with tongue.
SOLD $150

LUFTWAFFE M40 SINGLE DECAL TROPICAL/CAMO HELMET
Q64 shell has original blue/gray paint inside with brush stroked tan inner rim and outside showing age-wear in all the right places. Camo finish, 85%. Eagle decal nicely painted around in triangle design, faded details to eagle, 80%. Owner painted name to back rim. Steel liner band is 43 dated with original rivets/washers and size 56 leather shows moisture stiff spots, with cracked front rim. Old leather lace to liner looks original to helmet.
SOLD $3,677

PRUSSIAN GARDE STAR NCO SPIKE HELMET
Larger size black leather body is little misshaped; some crazing and dings to black finish with both visors intact. Brass trim, star with 4-prongs thru original holes, cruciform base with removable spike having threaded post. Chin scales appear to be nickel with a dark patina or finish, original to helmet with leather buckle strap intact. Light age to both Reich's and Prussian cockades. 16-finger black leather liner has remains of broken black lace.
SOLD $700

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN UHLAN TUNIC
Imperial-era Austro-Hungarian Uhlan tunic made of a very fine dark sea-green wool, with grass green wool stand-up single hook collar and cuffs, silver-wire Russia braid adorning cuffs, front, collar and rear, 5 gold toggle buttons, silver wire rosette over trim to front with pale green center, and 4-hook closure to front. Interior has a waist belt, striped white sleeve lining, red ribbed cloth lining for inside collar, white satin upper lining and red satin lower lining. Makers label [from Budapest] sewn to outside of pocket.
SOLD $467

AAF COMMAND PILOT WING
Massive, 3" sterling Command pilot wing, hallmarked "Josten Sterling." Has been finished in dull gilt and diagonal band added across shield with "DSI" engraved on it.
SOLD $150

COCKTAIL PURSE ONCE BELONGING TO EVA BRAUN
Silver-plated chain mesh monogrammed cocktail purse that once belonged to Eva Braun. The purse has gilt-finished bronze ball opener to top of ornately engraved floral design, the front of which has her monogrammed "EB" to it and linked chain strap attached to either side. The body of the purse is of a fine chain mesh with 4 [of 5] gilt-finished ball decor pieces hanging from the bottom. Displays some use and wear, but very nice overall. This item was featured on page 48 of the The Collector's Guide to Liberated Adolf Hitler Memorabilia, volume 2.
SOLD $2,891

MONOGRAMMED WALLET ONCE BELONGING TO WIFE OF ADOLF HITLER
Dark brown leather and silver monogrammed wallet, once belonging to the former mistress, later wife, of Adolf Hitler. The hinged wallet measures 3.5" x 4". The front corner silver marked floral-like pieces are engraved monogram "EB". Push release to front edge reveals double inner compartments made of padded medium brown leather and having black grained pockets that open to accommodate money, change, cards, etc.
SOLD $2,563

JAPANESE UNIFORM SET USED IN "THE LAST SAMURAI"
Japanese military costume provided to, and used by, Warner Brother's Studios in the making of their 2003 classic, "The Last Samurai," starring Tom Cruise. The grouping consists of: 1) dark blue wool tunic; 2) matching strapped trousers; 3) matching visor cap; 4) pair of white canvas leggings; and 5) pair of black patent leather shows. Comes with photo from Back Lot Props, granted the right to possess and sell this outfit by Warner Brothers, signed by Cory Lee and dated October 16, 2007.
SOLD $115

ADOLF HITLER WATERCOLOR
13-1/2"x10-3/4" image area visible. Modern matted and framed. Signed and dated 1911 view of one of Hitler's favorite subjects, the Vienna church built in thanksgiving to God for saving the Emperor Franz Joseph from an assassin. The painting is authenticated in a 1980 document from Peter Jahn, art consultant to the German embassy.
SOLD $40,000

JAPANESE TYPE 94 PISTOLS, 8MM NAMBU With ORIGINAL HOLSTER
Nagoya Arsenal. 18.9 (Sept 1943) date. Serial #399xx. Matching numbered magazine. 85% original blue. Black plastic grips. Good bore. Mechanically OK. With its external sear and large cocking knob it is a rather bizarre looking pistol, but the grip does fit smaller hands quite well. Made at a time when production quality standards were still maintained. Comes with original brown leather holster with D rings and belt loop on reverse, the male snap fastener is pulled loose from the body but part is still there and repairable. These pistols represent an interesting step in the development of automatics. Straight out of the veteran's dresser drawer - never in collector hands. Bargain price with holster that usually runs well over $100 by itself!
SOLD $658.00

REMINGTON US MODEL 1917 RIFLE, .30-06
90% original blue. Excellent bore. 8-18 dated barrel. Serial number 495xxx. October 1918 manufacture. Comes with a Boyt 42 dated leather sling, indicating reissue for WWII. Fine wood. Eagle head and "301" stamped just behind the trigger guard. Rear sight ears milled away, perhaps an earlier sporterization attempt.
SOLD $567.00