More Than 4,000 Objects Sold in Auction by Leading Militaria Auction House, Hermann Historica oHG --Largest Private Collection of Normandy Invasion Artifacts Fetches Nearly US$2 Million in Auction

NEW YORK, Nov 13, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Hermann Historica oHG of Munich, Germany, the world leader in handling sales of militaria antiquities, antique arms and armour, firearms, hunting collectibles, orders and decorations as well as objects of military history, today concluded its auction of one of the most extensive and well preserved private collections of World War II artifacts.

Following two days of bidding at the auction site in La Gua, France, as well as by telephone and Internet, the significant collection of more than 4,000 American, British, French and German military objects sold for a total of euro 1,300,000 (US$1,937,000), far exceeding the house's most recent sale of World War II militaria, for euro 830,000 (US$1,215,000).

The collection was amassed by 81 year-old Maurice Bazin over his lifetime in Normandy, beginning in 1959 when a business client of his gave him an old German rifle. Most of the 4,000+ artifacts relate to the D-Day Normandy landings of the Allied army infantry and armored divisions.

Notable items from the sale include: -- Lot 8076: A German paratrooper semi-automatic rifle FG 42-1, stamped 'fsz' on top of the receiver (Henrich Krieghoff in Suhl), Calibre 7,92 x 57, serial number 1517, with a repainted non-matching 20-shot magazine.

Cooking handle, sear and handle missing, minor frame damages. This rifle still has its original bipod and spike bayonet. With a scope milling over the receiver. Offered at euro 5,000 (US$7,460), it sold for euro 16,000 (US$23,872).

-- Lot 8278: A U.S. paratrooper officer jump dress uniform on mannequin, including a jacket made of olive cloth from a paratrooper unit, rare pattern with reinforcing patches on pockets and elbows (modifications for the units which jumped on Normandy on the 6th of June 1944), rank insignia, 101st Airborne Division insignia, complete with all press-studs, zip fasteners and belt, jump trousers of olive cloth with reinforced pockets and knees, complete with all adjustment straps, jump boots of brown leather, gas cuff title, ammunition bag, US M3 fighting knife in its leather sheath, EM belt, canteen with cover, TL 122 C flashlight. Offered at euro 8,500 (US$12,682), it sold for euro 20,500 (US$30,586).

-- Lot 8324: A U.S. 101st Airborne paratrooper helmet, identified by the ace of hearts from the 502nd PIR, retaining 50% of its paint and both insignia, period modified half-circle bale and M1 chinstrap. A second pattern liner added with leather padded chinstrap and small pattern bale. This famous unit was in the forefront of the U.S. parachute drops over Normandy on the 6th of June, 1944, especially in Sainte Mere l'Eglise where this helmet was found in the 1960s. Offered at euro 3,500 (US$5,222), it sold for euro 46,000 (US$68,621).

The full catalogue for the collection and final list of selling prices are available online at http://www.hermann-historica.de/gb/index_58_auktion_nov.htm.

About Hermann Historica Hermann Historica oHG (www.hermann-historica.com/), based in Munich, Germany, is a leading world auction house in the special areas of antique arms and armour, hunting, antiquities, medals and orders, as well as historical objects and military history.

Hermann Historica conducts at least two auction sales each year offering over 10,000 collectors' items with turnover in recent years of more than euro 10,000,000 (US$14,600,000).

It was founded nearly 50 years ago by Count Erich Klenau von Klenova, Baron von Janowitz in Nuremberg as an auction house for coins, orders, medals and other military objects. At the beginning of the seventies, the offerings were expanded to include antique weapons. On the basis of the comprehensive scope of the objects offered and the carefully researched and high quality production of the special catalogues, those offerings were an immediate and enthusiastic success with international collectors and museums. In 1982, the present owners changed the name of the auction house to Hermann Historica oHG.

Previous notable auctions have included numerous objects which were formerly possessions of great noble families, in particular those from the Austrian and German Imperial houses, that have attracted great international interest.

Collections including the famous hunting treasures from Castle Fuschl at Salzburg, the historical technical museum in Numbrecht and the antiquities collection of the world-renowned Berlin collector, Axel Guttmann, were offered at auction by Hermann Historica.

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Christine Peeler

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