We have received more than a few phone calls and emails in the past few months asking "Why did you drop me from the list?!? What did I miss in the last catalog?" Though sorry for causing anyone to think that we had forgotten you, I am honored that so many of our customers were very disturbed by the idea that they may have missed an issue. Actually, nobody has missed a catalog. #98 came out in January, and #99 is opening next Monday.
Why so long between catalogs? Several reasons, actually, but to make a long story short, it is hard to make a catalog when you are driving all around the USA instead. We put over 18,500 miles on the truck between Catalog 98 and the last trip just a few weeks ago. That doesn't even count the air travel. When you plot that out on a map, this is what it looks like:
Just for grins - AGM MAP.
The purpose of all this travel was not solely to discover all the best hidden BBQ restaurants in the USA, though I did find quite a few of them! We were out attending shows, chasing down leads, and picking up collections of antique arms and militaria in order to build Catalog #99. I think you will be pleased with the results.
As it is on all of our better catalogs, the theme during descriptions and photography this time was the siren song of temptation. We are all collectors at heart, and you all have no idea how much we struggle against the temptation to keep.. well pretty much ALL of the stuff that you see on the catalog! In the end, though, you can't be your own best customer, and we have bills to pay.. so it is all for sale. At least we get to enjoy it while it is here, and know that the artifacts are going to good homes.
Though we are still working on photography, and probably will not be done until sometime this weekend, here are a few highlights of the upcoming Catalog, #99 - (not to scale)
American Civil War artifacts are represented in #99 more heavily than they have been for many, many catalogs. This is a combination of several collections recently acquired that happened to have some nicer CW items as a part of them. #99 will have several good swords, a set of Mann's accoutrements, pistols, insignia, and more! While processing these items for the catalog, the alluring idea to just set them all aside and start my own Civil War collection was quite powerful. In the end, I settled for about $30 worth of fife and drum music on iTunes and the satisfaction of knowing that our customers will be able to start or expand their own Civil War collections.
On Catalog #99 you will also find quite a selection of Plains Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and early 1900-1910 era field equipment, including a number of premium 'Eagle Snap' accoutrements. #99 features all three of the key US Cavalry sabers for that time period; the M1906, M1905-06 Experimental, and M1913 'Patton'.
The front cover of Catalog 99 alludes to some nicer-than-average WWI US and Imperial German material, and I do not believe you will be disappointed! The catalog includes a piece of 49th Aero Squadron aircraft fabric with biographical provenance going back to the 103rd Aero Squadron Mechanic who brought it home from the war. sold in a lot with the Chasseur beret worn by a former Lafayette Flying Corps pilot who later earned his US Distinguished Service Cross flying with the 49th Aero Squadron in the AEF. Among the more 'mundane' items; numerous Imperial German state-specific WWI medals, an issue US poncho, an odd variant hardtack ration, and original Officer's trench coat. The latter is one of those things that we should find all the time given their popularity in the AEF.. but they were simply all used up and precious few exists in museum or private collections today.
In addition, several of the nicest WWI US AEF Aviator groupings that we have had to offer in many years are right here on Catalog #99. The one below is from Lt. Herbert Wardle, who was shot down while ferrying an airplane from England to Orly Field in France. He drifted off course, was knocked down by enemy aircraft and AAA, and became a guest of the Kaiser. Lt. Wardle attempted a daring escape from a moving train, which was witnessed by another captive aviator: James Norman Hall. Captain Hall wrote an article about this ill-fated escape attempt in
American Legion Magazine a few years later. (He later co-authored
Mutiny on the Bounty with Charles Nordhoff.)
Though known for our selection of WWI material, AGM is always on the lookout for premium quality WWII items as well. Catalog #99 contains several nice AAF A2 jackets and groupings, a selection of Third Reich visor caps, several especially sexy US M1 helmets, Japanese NCO swords, and much more. Speaking of sexy, we also happen have more of the rare blue / black enamel US canteen cups than some of our neighbors have teeth!
The 'Other Nations' section of Catalog 98 is well-stocked this time, with a number of British and Commonwealth medals, valor medal groups, a Polish Legion in Austria uniform and cap, Austrian WWI militaria, a set of Commonwealth P-08 Equipment, and much more. Note: Several of the valor groups have unfortunately been 'plated' for a permanent shine by a previous owner, but in spite of our desire that this had not been done, he made that decision decades ago. This is factored into the price and may allow a collector to venture into the realm of nice valor groups that could not afford to do so otherwise. One of the premier sets (not plated, by the way) includes a wonderful notebook, diary, and material kept by a Highland Light Infantry Officer while a Prisoner of War in Germany. He was captured during the action for which he earned his MC, and was repatriated in December.
Other highlights include:
- WWI 49th Aero Squadron Aircraft Panel & French Beret of 49th Aero DSC Recipient
- WWII 12th Air Force B-25 Co-Pilot's Uniform & Medals: Caterpillar Club POW
- Polish WWI Legion In Austria Enlisted Tunic & Cap
- British WWI Issue Ankle Boots
- M1912 Army Issue Marching Shoes
- US Army Officer's Private Purchase French Dérué (Experimental) Cavalry Saber
- Indian Wars M1880 Hunting Knife & Scabbard: First Pattern Steel Guard
- M1905/06 Experimental Cavalry Saber
- WWII US Army Major's M1 Helmet with Hood Rubber Liner
- WWI Army Emergency Ration: Powell's
- A number of camouflaged German Model 1916 helmets
- WWII US Army Captain's M1 Helmet with St. Clair Liner
- Imperial German Navy China & Japan Voyage Memorial Silk Trapunto: SMS Ilits
- Bavarian Technical Troops Private Purchase M1910 Field Gray Wool Tunic: Named
- WWI Aviator Herbert Wardle's Uniform Group: Shot Down and Attempted Escape
- French WWI Adrian Abdominal Plate Trench Armor
- Saxon Damascus Blade Gilt Inscribed Sword
- WWI Siberian Expeditionary Force Soldier's Coat
- WWII Army Camouflage HBT Jacket and Trousers
- Canadian WWI 13th (Highland) Battalion Captain's Cuff Rank Tunic
- Bolshevik Modified Imperial Russian Infantry Saber: WK&C German Made
- Reichswehr Bavarian Infantry Officer's M1927 Visor Cap
- British / Commonwealth WWI P08 Web Equipment Complete Set
- Spanish American War Issue Model 1889 Campaign Hat
- WWII Navy Combat Demolition Unit Ensign's Painted M1 Helmet
- Civil War Colt M.1860 Army .44 Revolver
- Civil War Confederate Linen and Leather Rifle Sling
- Civil War Artillery Gunner's Haversack
- Civil War Medical Staff Sword: Horstmann Import
- WWI Woman's Motor Corps Uniform from New York
- Model 1909 Rifle & Revolver Cartridge Belt: Modified for Dismounted Use
- WWI Italian Front US Aviator's Uniform, Flight Gear, & Archive: Lt. Allen Bevin
- British WWI Military Cross and Prisoner of War Medal Group: Lt. Cyril Jennings
- WWII AAF 535th Bomb Squadron Painted A2: Me & My Gal
- Civil War U.S. Mann's Accoutrement Set: Box, Belt, & Braces
- British WWI Medal Group: H.V. Bradford, MC, DCM, Royal Garrison Artillery
- British WWI Medal Group: David Duncan, MC, MM, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders
- British WWI Medal Group: Brian Winwood Robinson, MC, 5th Royal Irish Lancers
- MG08/15 Light Water Cooled Machine Gun (Deactivated)
- British WWI Medal Group: Reverend John Patrick Moloney, OBE, MC
- WWI USMC 6th Machine Gun Battalion Soldier's Painted Helmet & Medals Group
- Civil War Artillery Enlisted Saber: P.D. Lüneschloss
- WWII AAF 532nd Bomb Squadron A2
- Wehrmacht Mountain Artillery Officer's Piped Field Service Uniform
- M36 Enlisted Combat Tunic Worn by a Panzer Grenadier Officer
- WWI Mark I 1918 Trench Knife & Scabbard: L.F.&C 1918
- WWII US Army Message Center Wind Up Clock