Looking through some stuff, I may have something valuable

[MelvinWalker]

Many years ago, I bought some 1930's/40's German propaganda books from a person in Germany just after the Berlin wall came down. Most of them are hardback, and some nice condition than others. All are written in German with the standard rah-rah pictures of all the Nazis and their armies and how great they thought they were.

I found these recently in a storage tote that I had almost forgotten about and I think one of them is personally signed by Herman Goering. The book is a 260 page hardback book published in 1941 called "Luftmacht Deutschland". It is mainly Luftwaffe fighters of the day and all written in German. However, the first few pages in there is an inscription which looks like an actual signature of Goering. I compared it on Google images and it is near identical. I was going to just send this stuff to auction, but I might get this one appraised.

In the front of the book, it looks like it came from a personal library of some German named "Hans Joachim Mann"...A simple google search reveals someone of that name that was in charge of Germany's post war Navy and was born in 1935? It may have been in the family or someone else with the same name?

I wonder if PSA/DNA who authenticates baseball cards and autographs would do this and how much?

 

[swsig]

It might be worth even more had it been signed by that noted Luftwaffe officer, Col. Wilhelm Klink.

 

[Rudi]

A real niche item. If real, could be worth a bit to a collector.

 

[DWalt]

Take it to the Gold and Silver pawnshop in Las Vegas.

 

[03hemi]

Condition matters on everything, especially books. Did it originally have a dust cover? What edition is it? Is it signed by the author? These things make a big difference. And the real biggie, how much in demand was the book originally and did it make any impact on cultural significance at all? I collect antique books too, my oldest is 1663.

 

[CalifEd]

In the front of the book, it looks like it came from a personal library of some German named "Hans Joachim Mann"...A simple google search reveals someone of that name that was in charge of Germany's post war Navy and was born in 1935? It may have been in the family or someone else with the same name?

Born in 1935?
That would make him 10 years old at the end of the War.

 

[glowe]

Sorry, but I would not own a book about Nazis!!

 

[arjay]

I’d google appraisers of nazi memorabilia to start with and see where that leads you. There’s a market for everything

 

[Tom S.]

Sorry, but I would not own a book about Nazis!!

I have several books about Nazis. Just none by Nazis.

 

[tlawler]

Sorry, but I would not own a book about Nazis!!

I’d google appraisers of nazi memorabilia to start with and see where that leads you. There’s a market for everything

The market must be really soft on Nazi memorabilia. When I go to the several gun shows in my local area, I see the same old guys with all of the same old Nazi merchandise they’ve probably had for years. Most people I see give them a wide berth, with maybe a curious glance or two. I never see anyone stop to look at it with any interest. It used to be all the rage back in the 80’s and 90’s, but in today’s world, they may as well be selling vials of Bubonic Plague. I mean, who in their right mind would display Nazi accoutrements in their home, or even man cave?

Just my observation and opinion though, there’s a market for everything if you find the right person.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I’ve owned a few Nazi marked guns like HPs and 98Ks. Usually got them on trade deals. Never kept any.
I have had the itch for a German Paratrooper Gravity Knife, but never had one.
My Buddy Milt once had one of those Nazi aircrew survival Drillings.
If I got my grubbies on one of those, I would keep it!

 

[Ματθιας]

I'm mainly a collector of insignia and I collect what I think is cool. My Nazi collection is mostly bring back stuff from local vets and estate sales - mostly bayonets. I even have a few post war fakes - I didn't know they were fakes when I bought them.

The problem with nazi stuff is that there are so many fakes and good ones at that! It's hard to tell what's legit. That, and the internet has changed the market.

There's a local guy who occasionally gets nazi stuff in his store and it doesn't last. There is a local market - but then he doesn't price his stuff with internet prices.

 

[desi2358]

The market for Nazi items used to be fairly active, to the point where the fakers got involved and counterfeit items became commonplace. Between that, the handful of neo nazis and the constant emphasis of the evil they did the market for their stuff has shrunk a bit. Fewer people buying and some of the old guys can't adjust their pricing to fit the current market demand. There are still some serious collectors buying memorabilia mainly for the historical connection to a troubled time in human history.

I used to have a small collection, most obtained from veterans when I was a kid. Still have a couple medals, wound badge, Panzer Assault badge, etc. but sold most of the stuff a few years ago. Never had a problem with owning the stuff, had the attitude I've heard from a couple of those vets "we beat their *** and took their stuff".

Used to get some stuff coming into the gun shop but had to be careful because of the counterfeit problem. Didn't want to get stuck spending money on a fake. Guns were less of an issue but even there fakes exist (usually ss marked items). Standard issue weapons were fairly common, many came out of the former Warsaw Pact countries and Russian sources after the collapse of the communist empire. Some people have a hangup about those but I always felt the gun wasn't at fault it was the ones who used it.

 

[Onomea]

I'm not into Nazi memorabilia per se, but a nice dagger or gun would attract me, Nazi marked or not.

I guess what I am saying is a weapon marked as a Nazi item would neither attract me or repel me.

Re the book, I would call up someone who advertises dealing in rare books and discuss with them. Probably you'd get some leads on where to discuss further.

 

[dockmurgw]

I have a Luftwaffe pistol marked with a swastika, I have a Japanese Arisaka rifle, I have a schoolbook that my mother used in South Carolina during the time of separate but equal...that's an interesting read. To me they are historical items...and history, including our own...was not always something to be proud of. I have no problem owning these items.

 

[djohns6]

I used to own a K98 Mauser with Nazi markings . I had a Japanese Type 99 rifle with the Mum on it . Both are symbols of extreme tyranny . They were also a part of history and that's how I viewed them .

 

[jscheck]

If you look up Legacy Collectables (online business) they may be able to point you in the direction of an authority to help you. They deal mostly in weapons but have some other items as well-surely they must need items authenticated that are out of their wheelhouse.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Born in 1935?
That would make him 10 years old at the end of the War.

Correct....That's why I followed the statement up with "It may have been in the family or someone else with the same name?.."

 

[oink]

I have a nazi marked Highpower with the tangent sight and a very fancy Luftwaffe dagger. I don't collect nazi stuff but they were both WWII bring backs by my FIL. I have authorization paper for bring back the pistol. Two pistols were included on the paper. The second was a Luger which I suspect he sold early on as it's not to be found. If I ever ran across it I'd pay extra for it. The SN is on the paper. The dagger and highpower will get handed down.

 

[kimporter]

Look very carefully at the signature with a magnifying glass to determine if it’s a printed signature or a written signature,if it’s not printed but an actual signature all the value is in that