11-455 PRINZENGROßE COMMEMORATIVE PILOT BADGE. A tradition developed in Germany of producing decorations and badges in a reduced size known as prinzengroße. Prinzengroße badges and decorations typically measure anywhere from half up to two-third's of a full-sized badge or decoration. Today we are offering the Prussian Army Commemorative Pilot Badge in the prinzengroße size. The purpose of the Commemorative Pilot Badge was to recognize pilots who were no longer on active flying status. It was also referred to as the "Retired Pilot Badge." Photos from the mid 1940's show Hermann Göring wearing a Commemorative Pilot Badge. This example measures 1 3/4’ x 1 1/8." It has excellent detail to its obverse. Like all badges of this type, it has a cutout center. The reverse sports a flat pin and hallmarking for .900 silver. It is a fine badge in top condition. $650.00 

11-414 PRUSSIAN ARMY GUNNER’S BADGE - MINIATURE. This is a miniature of a Prussian Army Gunner’s Badge. The badge is vaulted, which is highly unusual. A large jump ring is attached to the smaller jump ring on the badge. This miniature is in excellent condition. $450.00 

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11-403 PRUSSIAN ARMY PILOT’S BADGE STICKPIN. This is the Prussian Army Pilot’s Badge in the form of a stickpin. It is beautifully detailed. You can even tell the difference between the oak and laurel leaves. $150.00

 

11-471 XBB PRUSSIAN ARMY OBSERVER BADGE - HALLMARKED .800 SILVER - C.E. JUNCKER. This is a consignment item. It is a Prussian Army Pilot Badge, measuring 3" x 2." It shows a superb finish. The obverse’s detail is quite absorbing. The obverse also displays an attractive patina. The reverse quickly shows it is a highly-desirable hollow two-piece example. Directly below the catch, a small weephole reveals where the gases escaped when the badge’s two halves were soldered together. The reverse displays hallmarking for the badge’s manufacturer AND its silver content. It was produced by Berlin’s well known firm, C. E. Juncker. It features the traditional half moon and crown markings, along with ".800," to indicate its silver content. It is an enchanting badge in magnificent condition. This is a rayback example. $995.00

11-479 XBB BAVARIAN ARMY GUNNER BADGE - HALLMARKED SILBER - CARL PÖLLATH. This is a consignment item. It is a Bavarian Army Gunner Badge. This badge was the last flight badge authorized for use during WW I. The air war had developed so that two-seater airplanes were being used as ground attack/troop support aircraft. Instead of an observer, a "gunner" was assigned to the rear cockpit to man its machine gun (s). The badge was first used in January 1918. What is particularly interesting is that it is a "cutout" design, rather than the "solid" design more commonly seen for this badge. [In some ways it mirrors the Bavarian Army Commemorative Pilot Badge, which also sports a "cutout" design]. It has an elegant finish. The obverse is quite striking. The badge’s obverse features a lustrous patina. The reverse quickly shows it is a highly-desirable hollow two-piece example. Directly below where the top of the badge’s pin swings down into place, a small weephole reveals where the gases escaped when the badge’s two halves were soldered together. The reverse displays hallmarking for the badge’s manufacturer AND its silver content. It was produced by the well-known firm, Carl Pöllath. It is also hallmarked "Silber" in the Bavarian manner. It is a gorgeous badge, in excellent condition. It is a plain-back example. I have one final piece of information to share with you. In my experience, badges as finely-made as this were manufactured at some point AFTER WW I had ended. The badge’s quality is extremely high. Silver was already scarce in January 1918. It remained so through the war’s end in November 1918, and for months afterwards. This is a fantastic badge. It just may not be a wartime-production badge. $1,250.00

11-440 XJB PRINZENGROßE NAVY LAND PLANE PILOT’S BADGE. This is a consignment item. It is a Navy Land Plane Pilot’s Badge in prinzengroße size. Prinzengroße flight badges are seen on a scattered basis, but were highly favored by Naval aviators. Our example measures 2" x 1/8." It has a fine gilt finish. The reverse sports a flat pin with hallmarking under it for Godet. The hallmarking style indicates it is a post WW I example. It most likely hails from the 1920's. I have seen very few Godet flight badges. The quality of this example is right up with any other Godet pieces I have ever seen. $895.00

 

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11-495 XJB ARMY COMMEMORATIVE AIRSHIP BADGE IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION CASE. This is a consignment item. Today we are offering you something VERY special. It is an Army Commemorative Airship Badge, (more commonly known as the Army Zeppelin Badge). Two versions of Zeppelin Badges existed, one for the Army and the other for the Navy. The badges were identical except for one important detail. The naval version sported the Hohenzollern Crown at its top, while the Army’s version did not. Both badges were silver-toned. This is unusual for the Navy badge, as all other Navy qualification badges were gilt-toned. [Please note: it is a "Commemorative" badge. The badge was first authorized in 1920. In spite of what some "experts" may claim, it was NEVER worn during WW I by either the Navy or the Army. Some unofficial sleeve patches were worn during the war, but a badge was never authorized]. All other flight qualification badges (Prussian, Bavarian, and Navy) were designed as vertical badges. The Army and Navy airship versions required a horizontal design due to the zeppelin’s shape.
Our offering today displays a beautifully-toned exterior. The badge measures 1 1/2" x 2 1/2." A wreath of oak and laurel leaves is tied at the top by a ribbon. While most of the zeppelin’s body lies within the wreath, small portions extend beyond the airship’s bow and stern. The reverse features a fine swollen pin. A "CEJ" hallmark is incised underneath the pin. This is for the noted firm and flight badge producer C. E. Juncker. Juncker produced badges before WW I, and continued to produce them up through WW II. This hallmark style is typical of the 1933-through-1936 period, following the Third Reich’s ascension to power. It has no silver content hallmark. If you look at the pin, you will see that part of the silver wash has disappeared. A brass finish appears underneath. The badge’s patina shows some use and honest age. Now the presentation’s "VERY special" part arrives, its case. Flight qualification badge presentation cases are very rare. That said, neither the seller (a very advanced aviation collector who has pieces in his collection that museums do not) nor I have EVER seen another Zeppelin Badge case. The case measures 3" x 3 3/4" x 1," and is covered in black leatherette. Substantial scuffing shows on both its top and bottom. It is complete and structurally solid, however. Inside the case the upper liner is blue silk. (The case shows NO indication it was produced for Juncker. It is possible it came from a Juncker Badge distributor and not directly from them). The case’s lower half is lined with black velvet. A slot is cut into the base wherein the badge’s pin fits comfortably. The badge’s overall fit into the case is as snug as a bug in a rug. The case was clearly made for this badge. That, my dear readers, is why the badge and case are so special. In recent months, I have seen cased Bavarian Pilot Badges in Europe that are selling for nearly $3,000. Our badge is a marvelous value considering its rarity. $3,495.00

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11-415 COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE - MINIATURE. This is a miniature of the Commemorative Navy Airship Badge. The badge has amazing detail for its size. It is in excellent condition. $450.00 

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21-109 SILVER COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE STICKPIN. This is a very high-quality miniature was mounted onto a pin. This was then used by a veteran. This is a silver badge that is hallmarked .800 silver on the badge’s reverse. Its superiority and detail are quite striking for such a small item. As is correct for a full-sized Commemorative Navy Airship Badge, it displays a Hohenzollern Crown. The stickpin is in excellent condition. $295.00  

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21-110  GILT COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE STICKPIN. This is a very high-quality miniature was mounted onto a pin. This was then used by a veteran. This is gilt on silver. Its superiority and attention to detail are quite striking for such a small item. As is correct for a full-sized Commemorative Navy Airship Badge, it sports a Hohenzollern Crown. This example is quite unusual due to its gilt finish. While all other naval flight badges were gilt-toned, the Navy Commemorative Airship Badge was silver like its Army counterpart. A half moon and crown, along with the silver content (.800) are marked on the reverse. It is a lovely miniature. $325.00

11-420 AUSTRIAN NAVY PILOT’S BADGE 1st MODEL.  This is a fine example of a 1st Model Navy Pilot’s Badge. What is unusual about this badge is that it is prinzengroße-sized. The obverse features an eagle or albatros in flight over a crowned anchor. It also displays a two-color band of enamel. On the reverse we find that the badge is a pinback. It has no manufacturer’s hallmarking. It is a fine badge. $795.00

11-457 XJB BAVARIAN ARMY PILOT BADGE. This is a consignment item. Today we are offering you a very fine example of the Bavarian Army Pilot Badge. The Kingdom of Bavaria opted to offer its own series of flight badges rather than use the one that was issued by Prussia. [The Prussian Badge was used by all German states, except Bavaria]. The primary visual difference is that Bavarian Flight Badges display Bavaria’s Wittelsbach Crown, rather than Prussia’s Hohenzollern Diadem. The various flight badges’ other details all are identical. This badge measures 3" x 1 3/4." Its obverse is in spectacular condition. The detail is exquisitely-struck. The badge has a wonderful patina that clearly has not been cleaned in some time. Its reverse features a classic rayback design. The center displays hallmarking for silver and the manufacturer. Below the catch is a small weephole, where the gasses escaped during the soldering process. Yes, this is a two-piece badge. It is THE most desirable design of all of badge types. This badge is impossible to upgrade. $1,095.00BB