Collecting militaria can be a minefield (pun intended), filled with misrepresented items and down right fakes. A good reference book can cost upwards of $60-100, but it will save you money in the long run. Many reference books are self-published or printed in small runs and become collectible in their own right. Having a reference library gives you an advantage over collectors who do not buy reference books.

2. Use Discussion Groups

Online forums and discussion groups are an excellent resource for collectors, but use caution because they are often homes for self-proclaimed “experts” that spread inaccurate information. Forum moderators are typically chosen because of their expertise, so follow what the moderators are saying until you get a read on the other members.

Two excellent militaria forums I frequent are US Militaria Forum and are Wehrmacht Awards.

3. Utilize an Inspection Period

If you are dealing with someone that does not offer an inspection period and you are not 100-percent confident about the item offered… walk away! For live or traditional auctions, the inspection period is before the bidding starts, so if you are not sure about an item, do not bid because all sales are final! Many eBay sellers offer an inspection period, but they are not obligated to. Make sure you read and understand the seller’s terms before placing your bid.

Make sure you utilize the inspection period. Items, such as this WW II face mask for a rocket launcher is very fragile and stiff from sitting in its original box for 60 plus years, and is being sold as-is. If you are not 100-percent confident about the item offered… walk away.

4. Buy the Item, Not the Story

You are going to hear a lot of stories as you build your collection. The only stories that are worth paying extra for are ones with verified provenance. Items with ironclad provenance sell for double or even triple what the item alone would bring. Provenance depends on the item, but may include: original bill of sale, photographs, affidavits, newspaper articles, oral histories, service records and other government documents.

5. Build your Network

Look for Militaria shows in your area and attend them. They are an opportunity to meet other collectors and build your network. Military Trader has an excellent event calendar. In online militaria groups and forums, follow posts by members that collect things you are interested in and email them, or send them a private message introducing yourself.

6. Collect the Best

Whether you are collecting military postcards or Damascus German daggers, strive to collect the best examples. If you are contemplating the purchase of an item you intend on upgrading later, don’t waste your money. The flaws you see in the item are the same flaws a future buyer will see when you try to sell it. Items with detracting features are seldom investments because their rate of appreciation is not significant. It’s best to hold off and wait for something you cannot upgrade.

This WWII Imperial Japanese Army helmet with a 2nd pattern cover is in very good condition, and 2nd pattern covers are actually harder to find than the 1st pattern. If you are contemplating the purchase of an item you intend on upgrading later, don’t waste your money, as the flaws you see in the item are the same flaws a future buyer will see when you try to sell it.

7. Be Patient

It takes time to learn that some “collectible” items are always available, while other collectible items appear on the market in intervals of: every few months, once a year, every couple of years, or practically never. New collectors understandably lack the experience to be able to make distinctions on scarcity. Being patient will save you money in the long run because it will lessen the odds of making purchases you will regret later.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

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Rick Stumbo is a Worthologist, one of the experts at WorthPoint, and he owns a store in Upperville, Virginia that specializes in militaria. In this video he discusses a colorful dress uniform worn by the Spanish Civil Guard.

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Whether it’s newspaper clippings saved from the day that will “live in infamy” or uniforms worn by the brave sailors stationed at the Hawaiian base, Pearl Harbor collectibles have a significance that is difficult to overstate.

“There’s just nothing that compares to that instance in history,” says WorthPoint Worthologist Chris Hughes.

Japan’s stunning strike on the U.S. Navy’s fleet at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, sank or damaged 21 ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, destroyed 188 aircraft and claimed more than 2,400 lives. The attack—the deadliest ever committed by a foreign power on U.S. soil—also plunged the nation headfirst into World War II. Before the attack, Americans had expressed little support for joining the war, but the devastation on Pearl Harbor quickly changed public opinion.

Because of Pearl Harbor’s historical importance, memorabilia can be difficult to find. Hughes says that war posters—many carrying the rallying cry, “Remember Pearl Harbor”—provide one of the easier points of entry for new collectors. Stressing sacrifice and strength, these colorful works can be had for anywhere from $75 to $250.

Reproductions are common, so Hughes warns beginners to be wary of posters priced for much less.

Clippings from magazines or newspapers chronicling the attack are also more common. WorthPoint’s sister site, GoAntiques, has Newsweek magazine issues from both the day of the attack and the week after, as well as an edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin printed on the day of the attack. The site, however, cautions that the copy of the newspaper may be a reproduction.

(left) Newsweek’s prescient cover story; (right) Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s Dec. 7 front page

For more seasoned collectors, personal items seem to hold the greatest appeal.

During the 1940s, sailors at Pearl Harbor sported white, “Donald Duck” type hats adorned with ribbons listing the ship to which they were assigned. Collectors, says Hughes, will often collect those ribbons if they list a ship that was sunk at Pearl Harbor.
Purple Hearts awarded posthumously are also sought-after collectibles.

“To find a medal group that’s named to someone killed at Pearl Harbor, that’s a Holy Grail item to a medal collector,” says Hughes. “They’re out there. They exist, but they sell at a premium.”

Photos taken by military personnel and personal correspondence from those who served at Pearl Harbor are also highly valued.

Hughes says collecting Pearl Harbor memorabilia takes patience and perseverance. In addition to GoAntiques, he suggests attending militaria shows and digging around online for items.

“There are discussion groups on the Internet that are very welcoming to new collectors,” shares Hughes.

To find out what your Pearl Harbor items might be worth, check out worthopedia.com or Goantiques’ PriceMiner tool, which is available by subscription.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

Of all WWII US Airborne military collectibles, Original helmets are one of the hardest items to obtain for a collection. There were three main types used in WWII. A fiber (cardboard) liner was used early on. This was soon replaced by high pressure (fiberglass) liners made by Inland and Westinghouse.

Original fiber airborne liners are so rare, they are virtually nonexistent. Inland liners are also quite rare. According to www.toppots.com, of the 1,900,000 Inland liners produced from 1942 to 1943, approximately 75,000 were converted to airborne configuration. It’s safe to assume that many of these left in Europe and other theaters.

Westinghouse manufactured liners appeared later in the war and they are the most common, but finding original airborne Westinghouse liners is not easy because of the high demand for airborne militaria. It is unknown how many airborne configured liners Westinghouse made.

Due to the popularity of WWII airborne collectibles and the scarcity of original helmets, the market is minefield of forgeries. That is why I was elated when my friend agreed to sell me my first Inland para liner. It took several years of coaxing, but we eventually agreed on a price and I am delighted to own it.

The kicker is where my friend found this piece of rare headgear; it was rescued from his relative’s costume rental store! When my friend found the helmet, it had General stars hot glued to the front, which he carefully removed (with no loss of paint). The store had also hot glued a bevo weave store tag inside the crown of the helmet over the Inland stamp. I debated over removing this label, but eventually I carefully removed the tag and kept it with the helmet.

The liner has been repainted, but it looks wartime. Strangely, there are traces of 6th Army Div decals beneath the paint. Creases in the khaki web A-straps indicate they have been folded up inside the liner from use as an infantry helmet. It is very fortunate they were not cut off like many Airborne Inland liners I’ve encountered.

With my Inland sitting proudly in my collection, I will now search to find an original leather chin cup for it, and an original M2 or M1-C shell to mate this liner with. In the meantime, I’ll use a regular fixed-bale M1 shell, which was appropriately used by airborne personnel as well.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

Grading condition for military collectibles is not a simple process. Militaria is different from many other collectibles, where flawless examples are ideal and items with condition issues have less value.

The two most important variables that complicate grading militaria are scarcity and provenance. Scarcity is self-explanatory. Provenance is the historical link between object and owner. Items that are not rare and lack provenance can simply be graded using a scale that ranges from “relic” (meaning ground dug and rough) to “Unissued” (out of the crate and barely touched).

Provenance is interesting in collecting militaria because it often provides clemency to the rules of condition. I will explain why. Many military objects collected were intended for use in combat. These items include helmets and headgear, field uniforms, field gear, firearms, and edged weapons. If the item shows use but has provenance to support the claim that it was used in combat, desirability for that item increases greatly.

For example, in WWII prior to D-Day, most US 101st and 82nd Airborne personnel were issued two sets of reinforced jump jackets and pants. Typically one set was impregnated with a chemical called CC-2 to protect the wearer from exposure to gas. The impregnated set was worn on the Normandy jump while the untreated set remained in England. While non-impregnated jump uniforms are rare, finding an impregnated set that was worn in combat is extremely rare. Few documented examples survive today and most show wear and tear from combat. Documented combat used sets are worth many times more than the clean sets.

Another example is a Civil War “shell jacket” recently sold at auction. It had excellent provenance of being worn at Gettysburg. In fact, the jacket had a repaired hole where the wearer being shot in it! This jacket brought over $55,000 while one in comparable condition without provenance would bring less than $2,000.

With the exception of Civil War collectibles, provenance for US militaria did not gain importance until recent years. Prior to this shift, a majority of collectors were “type collectors”, where their focus was on single facets of militaria like helmets, daggers, medals, or patches. When a veteran grouping was acquired from an estate, the items were broken up and scattered in the wind, making their provenance very difficult to verify or maintain afterward.

The hobby is changing and more collectors are expanded their interest in military objects to include the history of the individuals that used them. Many militaria collectors tolerate honest wear if it’s caused by normal use. Bad wear is often the result of improper storage and can seriously diminish the value of an item. Examples of bad wear include dry rot, mildew, mothing, mold, paint spots, pitting, rust, and corrosion. Once bad wear sets in, it is very difficult to reverse the process and it detracts from the presentation and desirability of a piece.

Bad wear is particularly frowned upon among items not used in the field like dress uniforms, presentation swords, medals, paperwork, photos, plaques, and awards.

There are instances when an item is rare enough that bad wear is tolerated. An example would be Civil War garments that have mothing. Today, many of these pieces look like Swiss cheese, yet their scarcity makes them a coveted item and a centerpiece in any collection.

In summary, if a militaria item is not considered scarce and does not have provenance, it can be graded on a condition scale much like a coin or a stamp. If the item is truly rare and/or has verified, significant provenance other factors apply when assessing value. The rule of thumb for militaria (and any collectible) is strive to buy the best. Time and money is wasted when you buy items you intend on upgrading in the future.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

Militaria-Filled WWII Bunker Discovered in Denmark

A German WWII bunker was found on Denmark’s North Sea coast by archeologists. The bunker has been untouched for 63 years, the Danish newspaper, Politiken, reported. According to Jens Andersen, director of the Hansholm Bunker Museum, wind blew away a layer of sand that had been covering the bunker and its booty of collectibles, exposing the military holding for the first time in more than six decades.

Archaeologists who inspected the site found the interior had not been touched since German troops abandoned it. An interior rife with military antiques includes chairs, bunks, cabinets, pieces of uniforms and bottles of ink.

According to Germany’s English-language newspaper The Local, this historic military bunker is one of more than 5,000 Nazi bunkers that line Denmark’s North Sea coast, part of what was known as the Third Reich’s “Atlantic Wall” line of defense.

At Both Christie’s and Sotheby’s, Bacon Brings It Home

In London, Christie’s and Sotheby’s held high-profile contemporary art sales, hoping to capitalize on recent escalating sales by well-known artists. At Christie’s, high estimates coupled with minimum guarantees made for a disappointing combination on July 1, despite exciting results for a Francis Bacon piece.

According to Bloomberg.com, healthy bidding accompanied a set of three self-portraits by Bacon titled, “Three Studies for Self-Portrait,” 1975. The artwork fetched $34.5 million, bought by an anonymous buyer by phone, and was the most expensive lot for the auction. The works of three other artists, considered pre-auction standouts, had mixed results. A Jeff Koons’ sculpture went for $25.6 million after being estimated at almost $24 million. Lucian Freud’s 1980 “Naked Portrait with Reflection” brought in more than $23.4 million after having a top estimate of $30 million. Lucio Fontana’s “La Fine di Dio,” on the other hand, estimated at close to $16million, did not sell.

At Sotheby’s auction the following day The New York Times reported brisk sales of contemporary paintings by Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Hirst and Marlene Dumas. Dumas’ 1995 “Visitor” sold for $6.3 million, two times Sotheby’s high estimate. Sotheby’s estimated the Bacon, a portrait of George Dyer, at $15.5 million: it sold for $27.4 million.

Mega Summer Antiques Show in Baltimore

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will take place August 28-31 and expects 30,000 in attendance and more than 550 international dealers, according to the official Web site promoting the 28th installment of the summer event. Following on the heels of the American Numismatic Association’s event in the same convention center, the antiques show will include an Antiquarian Book Fair, fine art, furniture, porcelain, silver, American folk art, home accoutrements, jewelry, furniture, glass and textiles. Among the highlights is a lecture series from renowned experts in the fields of silver, jewelry and antiquities.

My favorite antiques and collectibles tell a story. It’s been my experience that unearthing the story is more rewarding than the challenge of obtaining the item. My most recent “story” began at the Hastings, Nebraska military collectibles show in March 2008. I had just set up my dealer table and started walking the floor to see what other dealers brought to sell. A fellow Omaha dealer was loading a garment rack with several US WWII uniforms, so I walked over to take a look.

My eyes were drawn to a green wool USMC blouse and trousers with a 6th Marine Division patch, corporal chevrons, an honorable discharge patch, and matching EGA (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) collar devices. I looked inside the blouse to discover an unusual name penned inside the shoulder (where size and date are marked on WWII USMC uniforms). The dealer had no information about the veteran, nor did he recall how he acquired the uniform, but he was sure it was a local find.

We agreed on a price, and I walked away with the uniform and a gut feeling that I was going to find information about this soldier. When I returned from the show, I began my research and quickly discovered the veteran was born in Grinnell, Iowa and had attended college at Grinnell University. After college, he entered the Marines and later became an editorial writer for the Omaha World Herald newspaper.

I was on a roll! Further research revealed that he and his wife were living in a retirement community a few miles from my home and his children published a book in 2000 containing a large selection of their father’s World Herald editorials. The book was available at Amazon.com and the first chapter exclusively detailed his experiences as a Scout with H Company, 29th Marines, 6th Division during WWII. Before attempting to contact the veteran, I ordered a copy of his book and read every passage about his experiences being a Marine.

One story that is difficult to forget addresses the randomness of death and injury in combat. It explains how the veteran earned his Purple Heart Medal for a gunshot wound, while simultaneously losing a fellow Marine who had been lying beside him. The two Marines were ahead of their platoon scouting enemy movement on Sugar Loaf Hill (located on the island of Okinawa), when a Japanese machine gun crew flanked them and opened fire on their position. Had the Japanese flanked from the opposite direction fate may have reversed the outcome of these men.

After reading the book, I decided to call the veteran and our conversation went well. He was intrigued that I took the time to find him. After explaining my methodologies in locating him he proclaimed that, “I knew his whole life story.” With a laugh I replied, “That’s what happens when you publish a book about yourself!”

I asked about this uniform and apparently it was sold when he and his wife liquidated their house to move into a smaller apartment. After a nice talk over the phone, we agreed to meet in person. He was kind enough to offer me a copy of his discharge papers, military photos, as well as other ephemera from his days as a Marine to put with the uniform. I listened as he talked about Marine life, his career as a writer, and his family. Being the first generation in my family to finish college, I was amazed to hear the veteran’s father and grandfather had also graduated from college.

As I prepared to leave, I pulled my copy of his book from my bag and asked if he wouldn’t mind signing it. He smiled and wrote inside the cover, “To Chris: Best Wishes & Semper Fi!!” I thanked him for the sacrifices he made for our country and for taking the time to share his experiences with me. I am deeply honored to be the caretaker of his uniform and his stories.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

I’ve attended the KC Military Show for over a decade and I cannot think of a time where I left the venue empty handed. Admittedly, this time I tried my best not to purchase anything because I just bought a WWII 2nd Bn. Ranger uniform group and I did not want to test my wife’s generosity with more purchases this month. I got sidetracked from my plan when I peeked at Allan Henderson’s table and saw a beautiful Eisenhower D-Day letter with a price I could not pass up. I had to snatch that as well as a few small dollar items. The rest of my time was spent visiting with friends and watching them spend money.

The show had approximately 280 tables (50 less than last year). This should not have been a surprise considering gas prices and the economy in general. Despite the smaller turnout, there was plenty of very nice militaria for sale. My interest is primarily in WWII and Vietnam, so my observations have that bias. I noticed more high-end German headgear this year, as well as some nice US and Japanese headgear (see images). There were a lot of US medals and medal groups, but most were higher than market price in my opinion. I did not see many breathtaking uniform groups for sale, but my friend picked up a very nice 511th PIR group on Friday with Ike jacket, two shirts, two OS (Overseas) caps, and trousers. Later that night we ID’d the Airborne vet in NARA as well as other sources.

The show had other staple attractions including military vehicle displays and static impressions. I noticed an impressive table of German Lugers as well as several WWII USMC and Army uniform and equipment displays. There was also a table of veteran buffalo soldiers to hear stories from.

One unrelated highlight that I need to mention is that on Friday night I had the best barbecue in my life at Hillsdale Bank Barbecue (Street: 201 Frisco Hillsdale, KS 66036 Phone: (913) 783-4333). It’s outside Kansas City, but so worth the drive. I had a half rack of spare ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, and sweet potato fries. Their sauce is award winning KC style and the meat was smoked to perfection.

I am definitely planning on attending the KC Military Show and Hillsdale Barbecue next year!

KC Military Show Hours:
Friday 5pm – 9pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

While staying in Beijing, I made time to take a subway and visit the Chinese Military Museum. This spectacular building spans 60,000 square meters (196,850.39 square feet) and exhibits 5,000 years of Chinese military history on two four-story wings.

The first floor is devoted to the Second Revolutionary Civil War (1927-1937), the second floor to the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-1945) and the third floor to the Third Revolutionary Civil War (1945-1949). All types of militaria are displayed from tanks and jet planes to swords, firearms, uniforms, flags, and photographs.

This museum is a place where a person interested in military history could easily spend days studying exhibits. However, I only had a few hours before having to leave and had to make good use of my time. My wife attended the museum with me. Afterward, I asked for her perspective as a person not very interested in military history. She was impressed by the enormity of everything. Its colossal scale displayed reverence for China’s military culture in a way that is uniquely different from our museums.

As a Westerner, the museum was not difficult to navigate. All the signs were in Chinese and English and it was far from crowded.

Several observations were made while working my way through the exhibits:

1. There were a lot of captured Japanese militaria including weapons, shin-gunto swords, uniform pieces, and equipment. The pieces ranged in rarity and condition. Most had the look of being captured in the field. Overall, these were some of my favorite things to look at.

2. There were very little US militaria (other than weapons) considering China fought against the US in the Korean War. I saw one ground dug M1 helmet and had been told that there were captured Sherman tanks. However, they must have been in the outdoor hanger that was closed off for winter.

3. Items were exhibited differently from US museums I’ve visited. In US museums, the ratio of items displayed is typically 10 percent exhibited and 90 percent in storage. US museums typically select unique representations of items to display then store duplicates. In the Chinese Military Museum, there were countless multiples of unattributed, identical items on display. This may have been done because there was no shortage of square footage and it contributes to the magnitude of the exhibit. Many common items were in relic, or ground dug condition, which was interesting to see because only rare or old items are displayed in that condition in US museums.

4. Lighting was nonexistent in places, which is unusual for a museum.

5. The souvenir shop actually sold militaria as well as books, posters, and other military related items. Most of these items can be had in the United States for the same price or less. Many of the militaria items were post Vietnam War era Chi-Com uniform pieces and field gear. Many of the reference books were interesting, but I could not find any in English.

The Chinese Military Museum is an economical way to spend an afternoon with admission being only 20 yuan (US$4.80).

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

As I loaded my car early Friday morning, I was relieved to see that it had only snowed an inch or so the night before. While I was in college, there were four consecutive years the Hastings Nebraska Militaria Show was canceled due to blizzard conditions. Show co-promoter Mike Bockman was beginning to think the Lord was trying to send him a message. Fortunately, we’ve been “blessed” with drivable conditions the last few years.

This year, I invited a friend and fellow history buff to travel with me and see what a militaria show entails. I typically make this drive alone. However, it was nice to share my tradition of seeing the flocks of sandhill cranes that fill the sky and bare fields every year when these protected birds stop their migratory path to rest in central Nebraska.

As I followed the highway, my mind raced with fantasies of new acquisitions for my collection. You never know what will turn up and I have never left Hastings without great items.

The show was well attended with approximately 120 tables, including several new dealers. There were also several nice uniform, weapon, and vehicle displays. I was so engrossed with militaria that I had to remind myself to eat and sit down periodically, so I could rest my legs from the hard slab concrete floors.

I am primarily a uniform collector and one of my favorite things I purchased this year is a WWII 6th Marine Division uniform. It did not have documentation or paperwork, but the name printed inside the blouse was unique. The dealer who sold it was local and I suspected the veteran was local too. So, I took a chance and bought it.

When I got home I began my research and immediately struck gold. I discovered the Marine was born in Grinnell, IA and had been an editorial writer for the Omaha World Herald. I also learned that he recently wrote a book based off his personal experiences (including being a Marine in WWII)! Lastly, I discovered he lives in a retirement community with his wife not far from my home. I’ve ordered a copy of his book and plan on contacting him after I read it.

Other items I purchased include a Vietnam era smoke grenade, several WWII patches and ribbon bars, a US WWII M1 helmet (front seam fixed bale with very early St Clair liner), a WWII silk-screened poster, and some books. A fellow collector showed me a camouflage M40 SS single decal helmet he purchased before I arrived on Friday. A dealer friend showed me a great WWII US M1 fixed bale helmet that walked into the show on Saturday. Even my friend who rode with me could not resist coming home with books, a WWII GI footlocker, and several US WWII patches. It seems like everyone came away with something.

Chris Hughes is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in 20th century militaria and the owner of Rally Point Militaria and Vietnam Uniform – Military Collectibles sites.

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