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England

Scotland

Plaid Badge of the Highland Light Infantry (Item BRITSCOT 4-1)

PRICE:   $580.00; very reasonable

RAF Chaplain’s Wings (Item BRITSCOT 4-2)

PRICE:   $125.00; money not well spent

Pilot Helmet and Goggles (Item BRITSCOT 4-4)

PRICE:  $185 the set.

Scottish Percussion Pistol with All Steel Frame (Item BRITSCOT 4-5)

DESCRIPTION: This is a quite unusual Scottish steel pistol by the famous firm of John Dixon and Son of Edinburgh. Dixon guns are some of the most sought after rifles and pistols today. Dixon was an inventive maker producing many variations on a theme. This pistol is only typically Scottish in that it has the all steel frame and the octagon Barrel. We believe it was a holster pistol made most likely for Scottish Police Constables or detectives. Unlike most Scottish pistols of the 17th and 18th centuries this weapon does not have the long belt hook that is usually found on fine Scottish pistols -- flintlock or percussion. It is generally smaller as well measuring about 9 inches from the end of the barrel to the back of the grip. It is nicely engraved with a floral pattern over the lock sides, hammer, butt, and trigger guard. The top of the barrel has the name John Dixon and Son Edinburgh. This prestigious firm was located in Princess Street, Edinburgh, Scotland and they turned out fine firearms from 1894 to 1929. The way this pistol fits into the hand is just different and great. It rather “cuddles” the hand and the fingers. Straddle the trigger guard. The ram-rod is quite innovative in that it pulls forward and stays literally attached to the gun with a hinge that is placed underneath the barrel. So here is a typical but non-typical Scottish pistol by one of the best known of the Scots arms maker. Extremely rare but priced very reasonably.
 
PRICE: SOLD

A Beautiful French Hunting Cutlass Captured in Battle
by Captain Sir Christopher Cole Royal Navy (Item FRAN 4-5 & BRITSCOT 4-6)

DESCRIPTION: This is a wonderful museum piece (personified!). It is a French hunting sword that is  ivory and silver mounted, possibly dating back to the 17th century but could be as late as 1750. This weapon was captured by Captain Sir Christopher Cole of the British Royal Navy. Captain Cole was the skipper of the famed HMS Caroline and the Rippon, a 36 gun frigate in service against the French and earlier against the Dutch. The internet is replete with the adventures of Captain Sir Christopher Cole so we will not explore his illustrious career here at this time. He served as a Member of Parliament after his life of high adventures on the sea had ended. He had also served in the rank of Colonel in the Royal Marines.  He was invested as a Knight Commander (Order of the Bath) (KCB) in 1814. The sword or hunting weapon that we offer was captured from a French Captain during Captain Cole's many daring sea engagements. The style of hunting sword is longer than the usual and quite fancy indeed. Why would a French Captain be armed with a hunting sword instead of a naval sword? This is a speculative question but it can be supposed that it was a family heirloom and probably from a family of aristocracy as this weapon was obviously made by a swordsmith of the ‘master craft.’ The beauty of it is obvious. And please pay attention to the standing Turk on the blade that  is commenserate with the memory of Prince Eugene of Savoy who defeated  the Turks at the Battle of Vienna.  Prince Eugene was born in Paris and was a hereditary Prince of the Royal House of Savoy. The French had a love/hate relationship with the Turks and Muslims, using them as allies from time to time but also fighting them in other eras. But many of the weapons of Austrians, Hungarians and the French often depict a fierce Turk in the blades of especially these styles of hunting weapons.  The shape and style of the sword is very Islamic looking and this was favored by the French noble classes. We earnestly believe the French Captain who surrendered to Captain  Cole was of French gentry at least, and Capt Cole treasured the sword enough that he had his name and R.N. (Royal Navy) engraved under the cross guard.  (Shown in our pictures). We also believe this to be more than likely a mid-17th century sword (maybe 1650 or so.)  It is of sword length -- 31" long in its scabbard. The beautiful silver decorative plaques that lie upon the gorgeous ivory grips stand out boldly. The silver fittings on the scabbard are at some places repaired with silver overlay -- the scars of battle? Probably! The blade is about 21 ½" long and except for some old antiqued rust spots, it is quite excellent for its age and past usage. It would be rated as (museum grade excellent) and for a weapon of this age to have its leather and wood scabbard still there and fine is the incredible Ivory grip, but it has the minute age cracks to be expected on a weapon as old as this one. Back to the blade... it has about 8 engraved pictographs including the Turk. Some of the engraved parts at the base of the blade where it meets the cross guard are quite worn indicating that it was drawn often and used possibly through the many years. This was not the weapon of any peasant or even a lower class noble; it was surely the property of a highly placed Royal personage or at least fabulously wealthy landed gentry. It’s a superlative weapon worthy of display in the finest museum or very advanced collection. We have handled many fine pieces at Germania but this one is worthy of bragging about. A sword of elegant beauty but also it has the distinction of having belonged to a French officer and an illustrious British sea-going Knight of the Bath and M.P. Fantastic!

PRICE: SOLD

“Covenants with Death” Edited by T.A. Innes & Ivor Castle
Book in English About the Horrors of War (WWI 11-8 & BRITSCOT 4-7)

DESCRIPTION: This book was published by the Daily Express Publication’s in London in 1934. It was a sensible compelling pictorial book that warns the public about entering another war (WW II). The first words in it are: “We have made a covenant with death, and with Hell are we in agreement. Isaiah XXV-15." The editors go on to say, “The purpose of this book is to reveal the horror, suffering and essential bestiality of modern war and with that revelation, to warn the nation against the peril of foreign entanglements that must lead Britain to a new Armageddon – all the pictures are taken from authentic photos.” The book contains hundreds of pictures of war and mayhem. Suffering of civilians, murderous battles and innocent victims the deaths in horrible circumstance of the young soldiers on all sides. Pictures galore of dead men strewn all over the so-called Fields of Glory, front line execution, torture inflicted in the most heinous manner. Destruction rampant against sacred places, over the top of the trenches to certain death, the terrible gas warfare and all for what? The book measures 9" x 11" and is in good shape except for some minor mildew on the cover; now no longer harmful. It is a nightmare book and I wish it could be required reading in every school classroom in the Western world. War is Hell. And fratricidal war is “hell personified”!  We at Germania International, LLC deal in military relics and the trappings of war, but I assure you we hate war and wish that there would never be another one. To the swine that promote war for their own greedy ends and political agenda, war is just another form of politics. For the young soldier in the field it is the "Dance with Death." Why not let the kings, presidents, congresses and senators go out there and duke it out with bowie knives! Look at these pictures and repeat after me “No more brother wars.”

PRICE: SOLD Very, very, rare and prodigiously important. 

DESCRIPTION: This is a children's book published in 1918. It is a colorful book and in large format, measuring 10" x 13" in size. The binding edge is rather distressed and obviously used considerably by the Boy Scouts that it was intended for. The pages and pictures are in very good shape. I would have to say it is quite rare, although typical of the primers of those turbulent times when white, Christian brothers fought and killed each other for no good reason.

PRICE: $165.00 Rare!

DESCRIPTION: This is a set of 17 figures representing the Coldstream Guards with band figures marching. Elastolin was a company making composition figures made of sawdust, casein glue and clay then hand painted at the factory. The technique was developed by the brothers Otto and Max Hausser in 1912. This set harkens back to the earliest toy soldiers made by the Haussers’. It is comprised of a officer mounted on a horse leading the group, five bandsmen who  immediately follow, a flag bearer with British flag and to each side of him are an officer with drawn sword and a guardsman with rifle. Drawing up behind them are soldiers who march along. All the figures are in good shape except some original paint has worn off in the 99 years or so since they probably were made. The only figure in need of a better repair job is the band leader who got mad at a recruit perhaps and ‘lost his head.’  The head however is there, but someone did a sloppy glue job (an easy repair for you). The marching figures are 4 ¼ inches high including the base. The bases are marked Elastolin, but also you can see numbers and letters on the bases that have been painted there. The reason for this is as follows: there are 3 planchets representing the parade ground included with this group. This was a very clever display fixture. When inserting the figures into their proper positions there are form fitting holes all numbered and lettered for acceptance of each piece. This makes for easy group assemblage as each number and letter matches the information on the bottom of each figure. This was brilliant thinking as the pieces when inserted are firmly in place and very stable while in this display (“Ingenious”), but the parade ground was probably not made by Elastolin. We would think this wonderful early 20th century toy soldier set would be quite rare and certainly highly desirable to the toy collector. German toys like this are the best! They are not as refined in feature and form like the new plastic ones from China but the modern ones just don’t have the charm and meaning as the antiques do.  

PRICE: $2,500.00 the set

DESCRIPTION: This is without a doubt one of the greatest Scottish relics we have ever found. It is a large silver plaid brooch with beauty that stokes the imagination and invokes historical curiosity. It was found in Scotland and it certainly seems to be custom made for a royal personage or an important individual. The brooch was purchased from a Scottish farmer who came to an antique show that we attended in London. He wished to remain anonymous. The brooch was handmade obviously by a very talented jeweler...it is unsigned unfortunately. In its very center is a perfect precious stone, probably white amethyst (Cairngorm). Emitting from this are silver cones that hold 8 genuine elk's teeth while around this is a metal  circle fashioned in silver with the Latin motto Nemo Me Impune Lacessit! Translated “No One Attacks Me with Impunity.” This is the motto of the Order of the Scottish Thistle and of three regiments of the British Army. This silver circular devise is laid over a setting of wood on which Scottish thistles are carved and all around the edges are tree branches fashioned in silver. NOW there is a distinct possibility that this was a gift to John Brown. And that was what we were told. At the time of the purchase, Brown was a Scottish personal servant and favorite of Britain’s Queen Victoria. For many years he was appreciated by many including the Queen for his competence and companionship and highly resented by others for his influence and informal manner. The exact nature of his relationship with the Queen was the subject of great speculation by contemporaries and continues to be controversial even today. After Prince Albert died in 1861, Brown became Victoria’s personal servant. She was so grateful for his service and his manner toward her, which was much less formal than that of her other servants, Brown was tough and extremely protective of her majesty and due to that fact she awarded him many medals and other wonderful gifts and she had portraits made of him. So, it is a distinct possibility that this indeed was one of the precious gifts that John Brown received from the gracious Queen. This is a very large and heavy brooch measuring about 4 inches in diameter and quite heavy, only a man of large stature like “Wee Jon” would wear. This is a true Scottish treasure! 

PRICE: $9,550.00

DESCRIPTION: Never have we seen so complete a uniform as this -- from head to foot this is ‘Wee Jock’ in all his finery. The regiment is the famous Cape Town Highlanders who have a long history of military renown. Today, they are a mechanized infantry regiment of the South African Army.  It was descendants of Scottish immigrants to South Africa that raised the Cape Town Highlanders in 1885. On April 24 of that year their services were accepted and since then this date has always been celebrated as the regiment's official birthday. The regiment's first active duty was in the Bechuanland Campaign that was fought in the Northern Cape in 1896. This was an action against rebellious Negroes who had murdered white settlers. One of the Cape Town Highlanders (who unfortunately was dismissed) decapitated the head from the corpse of “Toto” one of the leading rebel leaders and had the head boiled by other cooperative Negroes. He then kept the grisly souvenir of the campaign.  (The good war!) Later the regiment took part in Britain’s fratricidal war against the Boer farmers (not a good war!). The regiment's history in WWI and WWII was covered with individual martial glory I suppose, but you will have to excuse us for not treading further historically into that British exercise in slaughtering fellow Germanics...these German lads who were their first cousins.  Most will not agree with me on that point but my favorite films are Mel Gibson’s ‘Patriot’ and ‘Braveheart.’  I believe these films showed ‘Tommy Atkins’ as he really was. You might have to excuse my revisionist view point but Scot/Irish blood runs through my veins and I am appalled at the thought of Scotsmen fighting and dying for England (shame).

The Capetown Highlanders wear the Gordon Tartan that was adopted when the Gordons were raised in 1792. It was the only regiment other than the Gordon’s to wear the particular Tartan, which by the way is regimental and not a Clan Tartan. After a long period of peace time service, the CTH was mobilized for operations on 1 January 1976 for Operation Savannah, the first incursion into Angola near the start of the 23 year long ‘Border War’ in South West Africa (later called Namibia) in subsequent years.The CTH was mobilized several times for operational and training service. The last was in Oct 1988 near the end of hostilities, when a battle group under Llieutenant-Colonel A.M. Marriner was deployed. This was and is an elite regiment but then all Scottish regiments are elite and great. And except for serving the Brits, they are beloved to us. The real Scottish male is a fighting man. My own family when the English moved far away from the border for fear of the Scots asked "Now what are we going to do for a lark now that we have no Brits to kill?" It was then decided that many of the alpha males of the clan would go to Germany (Prussia) and offer their fighting skills to the Prussian king “Fredrick the Great’ and again this was a good war!

OK, so much for history.  Now we will center our attention on the uniform. As you can see in our pictures it is a great looking outfit; absolutely resplendent.  At this point we must state that the Claymore Sword, flag, Skien du stocking dagger, or any other weapons are not part of the offered uniform.  The mannequin is also not for sale. The outfit consists of:

No. 1 Tunic
No. 2 Glengarry cap
No. 3 Kilt (Gordon’s)
No. 4 Sporan
No 5 White dress belt
No. 6 Stockings
No. 7 Puttees
No. 8 Shoes
No. 9 Lanyard
No.10 Battle ribbons
No. 11 Band shoulder boards  

All other pieces other than on this listing are shown to complement the outfit for pictorial purposes. The Guard House is also not for sale. But, the items that are included in this offering are all in practically mint condition. This is the most beautiful, complete and impressive military uniform that we have ever been privileged to offer. Scotland the Brave!! 

PRICE: $2,650.00

WWII British Army “Jerry Can”(Item BRITSCOT 4-12)

DESCRIPTION: A jerry can is a robust fuel container made from pressed steel. It was originally designed in Germany in the 1930’s for military use and it holds 20 liters of fuel. The development of the jerry can was a huge improvement on earlier designs which tools and funnels to use. This one is the British WW II version of the German developed model. It has the broad arrow British ordnance mark. The history of the jerry can is notable because it was reversely engineered during WWII. The name of the jerry can reveals its German origins --‘Jerry’ being a disparaging wartime name for Germany and Germans. The Germans had thousands of jerry cans stockpiled by 1939 in anticipation of war being necessary due to the aggression of its neighbors.  This canister was unique in its time. It can be carried by one person when filled with fuel. By grasping it on the center rung of the two handles this takes a strong man when the can is filled with petrel.  Two soldiers can carry it by grabbing the handles or rings on each side of the middle ones (see illustration). This example that we offer is in the color employed by the German army and the Waffen SS as well as the Brits. It is in good usable condition with all the correct marking.  This is 100% original -- not one of the reproductions currently on the market.

PRICE: $450.00

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