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WWI Balloon Observer Grouping to Rupert C. Robertson - value?


usaf70
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I am looking at possible purchase of the shown items and am curious as to a fair value of this WWI Balloon Observer Grouping.

Any assistance is appreciated.

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post-388-0-22417700-1528689996.jpg

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Well the first thing that screams at me is the WW2 victory medal in the grouping! That right off the bat makes me think this is at least partially a put together grouping, so right off the bat anything not specifically named to him or related to is suspicious! I wouldnt touch the set, that being said maybe he some how acquired it in place of one he lost or maybe it was another relative of his who earned that one! Still suspicious!

 

PS I appears on second look to be a medical collar disc that also dosent fit the set! I am going to say insignia as a whole are most likely added after the fact or at least a portion are to spice up a mostly paper grouping!

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Death certificate says he was married, but can't find anyhting on wife. Perhaps he had a son who was in WW2 and those ww2 items were his. Would not be too quick to dismiss the grouping without researching the family. Would not mind having it in my collection.

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CNY Militaria

Well the first thing that screams at me is the WW2 victory medal in the grouping! That right off the bat makes me think this is at least partially a put together grouping, so right off the bat anything not specifically named to him or related to is suspicious! I wouldnt touch the set, that being said maybe he some how acquired it in place of one he lost or maybe it was another relative of his who earned that one! Still suspicious!

 

PS I appears on second look to be a medical collar disc that also dosent fit the set! I am going to say insignia as a whole are most likely added after the fact or at least a portion are to spice up a mostly paper grouping!

Or he served as a retread in WWII, or had a relatives items in his group. Quite common and hardly grounds to discount the entire group...

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"Rupert C. Robertson was born on March 31, 1895. As a student at the University of Texas from 1914 to 1917, Robertson was a track letterman and member of Sigma Delta Psi. He was also a member Kappa Alpha (Omicron chapter), where his fraternity brothers included notable UT athletes such as Clyde Littlefield and Gus “Pig” Ditmar. He left the university in 1917 to join the Army Air Corp. He was stationed in Omaha, Nebraska as 2nd Lieutenant with an observation balloon unit. He lived in Marlin, Texas from 1942 to 1952. Robertson died on January 10, 1968."

 

https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/03301/cah-03301.html

 

His papers at Univ of Tex, Austin

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Rupert Robertson's son, Dr. Jack Clark Robertson, discovered this essay and many other letters, documents, and photos in a box of his father's memorabilia. Dr. Robertson has written a biography of his father– a Marlin high school track star and UT track letterman– and donated artifacts to the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports at The University of Texas. Dr. Robertson retired as the C.T. Zlatkovich Centennial Professor of Accounting Emeritus from The University of Texas at Austin. A native of Marlin, Robertson and his wife live in Austin.

 

https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/texas-story-project/saturday-night-avenue-robertson

robertson_tsp.jpg?1453143383

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I went ahead and acquired the items from Dr. Robertson. The balloon license is in great shape and the wing is in very good condition with some tarnishing of the front.

He did not know where the Medical collar device came from or when the Victory Medal was acquired. It was in the contents when he found them.

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No value. I am curious as to what sort of value

this WWI balloon grouping would be valued.

Can never have too much insurance?

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Front of wing. Material appears to be a faded brownish color with the tarnished bullion.

Reverse is still black color with drop-in catch.

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  • 1 month later...

Was able to pick up a few more Hubert Robertson items from Dr. Robertson that he found while cleaning out his home before moving. Mainly collar insignia and a nice sterling Observer Wing that will go nicely with the bullion one shown above.

I'll get some photos on soon.

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Howdy USAF70,

 

I'd like to ask you to post these items over in the Wings forum.

 

Especially the silver half wing. This is a very rare and seldom seen variation of the observer's badge--you have done very well!

 

Chris

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