Alan Schaefer

Yes, it's the older style Imperial German Eagle. Definitely pre-WW1, 1871-1892 style eagle. Congratulations on your purchase. I believe that you got a very good deal on it, in light that it's the older style eagle that is practically impossible to find on an Imperial German flag, and also U.S. Horstmann made. Best Wishes, Alan

Yes, indeed.

Here's an image that sold on eBay December 2nd, for $400. (I did not buy it.) It's dated on back side: 10th July, 1918. It's titled: "With The American Expeditionary Force In France, Three happy negroes of the American railroad construction...." 6" x 8" size. 1st Generation photo from original negative. Best Regards, Alan

This show is still on schedule to be held on October 31, 2020. Best Regards, Alan

What happened to the Imperial Navy Buckle that you showed in one of the first group of photos on page #1 when they were shown inside the box? It's not shown in the close up photos you took of the buckles, 12-postings above on page #2. I was curious if it was maker marked on the back side, as I have a large collection of Imperial buckles. What a great find, congratulations Bob. Best Wishes, Alan

Looking forward to this show! Driving down from Iowa with 2-friends. Will be there for dealer set up on Friday. Best Regards, Alan

Here's the updated flyer for the upcoming Saturday, October 31st, 2020 Iowa Military Collector Show, being held once again in Johnston, Iowa. Free Admission. Best Regards, Alan

Hello, What exactly is the first tunic that Dan has posted here in this thread? The skirt looks to be a WW1 style female long, ankle height skirt. I spent time looking through my Jill Halcomb Smith books on Female Uniforms, studying her American Red Cross section, and didn't see anything like this tunic in the WW1 area of the American Red Cross chapter in volume 1. I also looked at the Morphy Auctions past auctions archive they have which show a couple different WW1 American Red Cross female uniform groupings they sold this past year of 2019, and they look nothing like this fine tunic post

Hello, The spring Des Moines, Iowa show is fast approaching. To be held on Saturday, March 14th, 2020. Free Admission. Show Hours are from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Location: 6501 Merle Hay Road, in Johnston, Iowa. Nice venue, held in the "Lions Den", Johnston Lion's Club building. Easy access, just a few blocks north of Interstate 80/35, on Merle Hay Road. Hope to see you there! Thanks, Alan

Thank Kurt! I should have tried to calm down about it happening, and not sold the collection in 1992, about a year after it happened. Yes, it sucked, and still sucks to this very day to have been burglarized. It's an awful feeling of total violation, and not knowing if the person or persons were going to come back for more, or if they saw my parents address sitting on my desk in plain view, and if they would strike there next, where I still had part of my collection. The only way I saw to not worry any longer at that time was to get rid of it, unfortunately. Best Wishes, Alan

Thanks Simon! Here's a better view of the penciled name. I believe it is Schmid, or possibly Schmidt. I cannot tell if there is a "t" at the end of the name or not, because there is a small rust spot in that area. Combining that with the larger painted black letters: "G. Sch.", I would guess his name might be Georg or Gerhard Schmid or Georg or Gerhard Schmidt. Best Regards, Alan

Here's a Photo of Brig. Gen. H.A. Allen outside his tent. Best Regards, Alan

Many thanks for all your nice comments gentlemen, I appreciate it! Hi Kurt, I had another mail home label helmet that I sold unfortunately, after I was burglarized back in the early '90's in Mankato, as you might recall. It was a real beauty that came out of a motel room buy I did with Kim in the late '80's in Willmar, MN. I still remember doing a "house call" and driving over to the elderly woman's home to buy it, as she was the brother of the WW1 soldier who mailed it home. It had a very nice camo pattern, and a glued on paper address label, mailed to her parents in Wilmar, MN.

I have seen and photographed 3-other helmets that were mailed home by Brigadier General H.A. Allen, besides this one example that I own. 1-Helmet is a cool "splotch" pattern camo with mail home label to a different person in Iowa. 2nd Helmet is a plain M16 or M17 with ship home label to someone else in Iowa. 3rd Helmet is another camo pattern helmet with mail home label to another person in Iowa. These other 3-helmets reside in a museum with no chance of them being deaccessioned. Here's a photo of the splotch pattern camo he mailed home to another person in Iowa. Best R

Last photo of helmet. Alan