08-13-2008, 05:05 PM
If I’m buying then it’s not a complete group unless it has all awards and documents the recipient ever received, including (but of course not limited to!) grade reports going back to elementary school, family ration cards, transportation passes, etc.
If I ever sell then a photocopy of the cover of one of his unnumbered medal docs make a complete group. (Without any other proof that it was actually his medal of course!)
(I’m joking!)
Point is that “complete” is not, and never will be, an agreed upon term.
Personally I look for award books (a minefield in their own right) and at least one numbered award that’s listed there. That’s a group – though obviously not necessarily “complete.” That allows research to be done more easily. One can (usually) compare signatures with any research returned, making fraud less likely (or at least more easily spotted). It indicates that at least two distinct artifacts that were historically together are still together, i.e., “grouped.”
But that’s just personal preference, and IMO a minority preference. Most people who collect things collect just that – things. Any story associated with it is secondary if considered at all.
If I ever sell then a photocopy of the cover of one of his unnumbered medal docs make a complete group. (Without any other proof that it was actually his medal of course!)
(I’m joking!)Point is that “complete” is not, and never will be, an agreed upon term.
Personally I look for award books (a minefield in their own right) and at least one numbered award that’s listed there. That’s a group – though obviously not necessarily “complete.” That allows research to be done more easily. One can (usually) compare signatures with any research returned, making fraud less likely (or at least more easily spotted). It indicates that at least two distinct artifacts that were historically together are still together, i.e., “grouped.”
But that’s just personal preference, and IMO a minority preference. Most people who collect things collect just that – things. Any story associated with it is secondary if considered at all.
Steiner: "Why do you want it so badly? It's just a worthless piece of metal. Look."
