I like this one personally. As Garry says a non standard flag but it appears to be legit to me. It should be somewhat heavy in hand.
It is heavy. Definitely more material there than my Krieges Flagge.
I like this one personally. As Garry says a non standard flag but it appears to be legit to me. It should be somewhat heavy in hand.
It is heavy. Definitely more material there than my Krieges Flagge.
Yes, that is worrying. The label on the second flag isn't something you'll find on a period flag and the use of the word "Einheit" (unit) instead of Bann, Jungbann etc is atypical. Also, "Hitler Jugend" would have been "Hitler-Jugend" if this label/flag were from the period. The first flag doesn't have the label but now, by implication, it has to be viewed unfavourably. Looks like someone has just had a stab at making a quick buck.
alteregaliazone(dot)net said:"This flag may be on the internet somewhere but we have never seen this flag anywhere else, and it is definitely rare and unusual and a real find to any HJ Collector"
I would return it ... Did you get it from Wittman ?
Sorry to hear that..
This seems to be a case of "look, I described what I saw and flags aren't within my area of expertise* so this flag is authentic unless YOU can prove to MY satisfaction that it isn't". Kinda ridiculous but that's the way it often works isn't it.
The problem is obviously being caused by the appearance of that second flag with the stupid label. As you say, you would have to make a side-by-side, in-hand comparison to see whether they are likely to have been made at the same time and in the same way. That's unrealistic though so your only options are to keep a flag which actually nobody really had a problem with here until the second one was shown. Or... in light of the appearance of the second flag, Wittmann shows good will and decent customer service by taking the hit himself. However, I assume that he now knows about that second flag so there may not be much interest in taking a hit - especially as he raised his commission rate by 5% to 30% in January which could be seen as an indication that money is tight..
* "Mr. Wittmann is available to authenticate any dagger, sword, armband, cutlass, or other militaria artifact you wish to send to him; however, keep in mind that his main field of expertise is German and Imperial edged weapons"