Some items were actually reasonable and sold for less than I thought they would bring. An assortment of items actually sold at or below a retail value before commission in some instances in many of the auction item categories. So yes, there were some reasonable "bargains" to be had. But there were many items sold at mind blowing incredibly high prices. The advertising department of Hermann Historica did a fantastic job of promoting this auction to the entire collector world. Was there any collector who did not know about this auction or watch it, lol?
It was interesting for me to watch the 2-bayonets towards the end of the auction sell, that I traded to Karel a few years back. One sold for what we agreed to in trade, and the far rarer example sold for 100 Euros less than what we had agreed to in trade value. I was able to acquire a spectacular condition 100th Lieb Reg't private purchase enlisted helmet with a little cash added for Karel on top of the trade, as he had two examples of this type of helmet at the time. He graciously let me pick which ever of the two I wanted that he had. The one he kept sold on the auction.
Many of the stahlhelme did extremely well; several of the camo examples sold very high, as did many of the factory issue painted stahlhelme. Lot # 4269: a stone mint felt residue camo exterior M18 ear "cut-out" or "telephone talker" helmet sold for a staggering 8,200 Euros, or 10,250 Euros with commission. The new owner quite arguably has the finest M18 ear "cut out" example in the world for their collection. An unusual camo pattern M18, #4261, hammered in at 4,800 Euros.
Lot 4086 Brunswick Infantry Reg't 92 officer helmet of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg garnered 22,000 Euros. And the grand prize was Lot 4110: Garde du Corps Officer helmet with spike in stunning condition, along with the storage case, the pristine eagle, and the storage case for the eagle. That beautiful set brought 64,000 Euros before commission.
Some enlisted pickelhaubes that stunned me: 2,700 Euros for an M15 Line Uhlan enlisted tschapka? That makes for a 3,375 Euros tschapka with commission. And 2,300 Euros for a beautiful M15 Wurttemburg e.m.? (That was a similar price to the Baldwin collection black lacquered felt example that sold several years earlier.) The green painted Prussian kit helmet with 1914 date went for 3,200 Euros.
Three of Karel's four body armor examples brought very high prices and astonished me.
Some of the rare ersatz bayonets and trench knives went for very strong prices.
This was truly a world class collection of Imperial German items, never to be duplicated again in any of our lifetimes most likely. I think that all of us here lift a toast to Karel for having such an amazing collection and being such an incredible, truly fine gentleman in this world.