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WWI AVIATOR PHOTOS with painted biplanes

A few shots form an album in the collection, some great shots of pilots and their wagons...and a German plane getting the salute it may have deserved from a US pilot.  Finally, an unpublished original image of Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, DFC, MC , a South African ace with 54 kills...not bad for a country boy from South Africa!   

An very happy American in Paris 1918-1919

Wesley Strait was one of twins to serve in the AEF in WWI, and his camera skill was put to the test as a signal corps photographer.  His album, in the permanent collection, is huge.  Somehow, Strait managed to get into most of the images, as in the ambulance shot...he is on the stretcher!  He had lots of girlfriends, some of which are shown here...he witnessed the wonders that most Americans then (and perhaps now) had only read about...the Moulin Rouge for instance.  He colored many of the shots, an example here has him with North African French troops...and that's him with the movie camera.  The image with his mom (family resemblence...!!) and either a sister or girlfriend and the family cat is a lovely shot taken before he left for Europe.  As of 1939, Strait was a NY Worlds Fair photographer, and sadly died in 1942 at 49 years of age.  I suppose no one really remembers him, but his photos, and his sense of humor in some of them, survives him in this album.  The shot of Pershing and Beatty et al was taken at the dedication of the tomb of the unknown soldier--inscribed on the strip of photo paper at the bottom are real autographs, not photos.  Enjoy!   

A reader comments on the militaria business...good insights!

Hi,

 

As I mentioned, we may have had some of the same experiences with people along the collection road.

When I started, this was supposed to be a "hobby". I retired early and needed something to do, I love history so this was a natural. Soon I found a niche and settled in. I eventually found the forum, and that has been good news, (and bad news).

 

The people are the good news/bad news of the whole thing. They take themselves too seriously, or believe that they know more then anyone else. Now to defend those remarks.

When it comes to medals, I believe my goal is to learn about the man behind the medals, as well as the medals themselves. In order for the medals to come to life, they have to have the history of the man who was the recipient of those medals. therefore, I must know about both, but especially about the man.

 

For the most part, I find collectors learn about the medals in such depth, that this is all they seem to be able to recite. To the point that they beat up on others who don't know as much, or don't stress certain areas of knowledge that the "wise ones" think necessary.

 

 

Next, is be honest........you may not always be correct, but be honest. That means with money matters too. If you make a mistake, you make a mistake. I do it often enough, I'm not perfect. BUT, I don't try to cheat anybody. Point it out to me, educate me, and I'll apologize and learn to be better in the future. People in the hobby try to take advantage of others. I believe you pointed this out when you mentioned people offering far less then what an item is worth. An experienced collector should know the value of an item, and treat another collector with an honest appraisal of an items value.

If a person is not an experienced collector, and makes a mistake in value, that will soon be apparent to all concerned.

 

I do not sell things on the forum, I don't sell things at all if I can help it. I'm a collector, not a seller. I try and learn and have fun on the forum, occasionally I meet someone like yourself. That's always fun!

 

I've gone on too long. Thank you for reading this far (if you still are reading??).

 

Thanks, (anonymous)
         

D Day 327th Glider uniform from estate in NH, via daughter of vet

This guy was parachuted in, even though he was 327th Glider, I was told there were too few gliders, but he was there in any case.  I bought it from his daughter, a newspaper writer, and in the end she did a story about me...very flattering, and a great story with some very BAD photos of me.  I have found less than 10 lots in 25 years from Normandy D Day guys, sometimes overseas this is spoken of as though they can be had at will here in the states.  I even had one British buyer tell me he would like a 101st lot (NOT 82nd, which he saw as second rate) when I went home to the US, and it needed to have dogtags, and his helmet.  Evidently he had never gone on housecalls.  I almost laughed.  Its rare stuff, and there is much more of it out there now than there ever was then...IE, FAKES.  When the public creates demand, the suppliers get to work and fill the need.  And collectors and investors with more desire than savvy end up with it.  Large named lots, with little or no age and too much great stuff but light on ORIGINAL paper or photos, should be avoided.     

Interesting items from WWII German and Nazi lots over the years

Some more random items from various lots, owned over the course of 25 years, they were of enough notice for me to save images.  The SS eagle came with a 45th Division engineer lot, and the felt patch was not ever to be idnetified...any ideas anyone?  It has to be some unofficial locally worn unit patch. 

Some interesting insignia from years of collecting...WWI items

This is a little random...just some interesting items culled from various collections, all original and many of which I WISH I still owned.  But you know how it is, if you keep it all there is no money to buy the next great thing that comes along.  The wings came from an old NH collection I was honored to purchase, and the rest are from various other sources.