ROBERT ALBRO WWII COLLECTION: An unusual collector opportunity to own and learn the background of original G.I. acquired Third Reich military relics. (Please See LOTS 338 - 367 for entire Albro collection). All of the following items were sent home by Tec.5 Robert W. Albro, a member of Headquarters Battery 9th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Division, who took part in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, France and Germany. Being an orderly and a typist, many of his souvenirs were described in letters which he sent home. Fortunately, many of the original letters with envelopes are included with items that mention their acquisition.

S-37 GI souvenir display board. Includes: (1) Luftwaffe Salver for Distinguished Combat Service. Eagle clutching a swastika over two crossed Field Marshall batons. Engraved to: "HAUPTMANN HANS-WOLF STEINHAUSEN". Presented "ON 26.12.43". 2 1/8" wide raised rim with relief laurel and oak leaf branches. Except for the raised named banner, eagle and name of award, the remainder of the salver has a 65 year old black aged patina. Reverse is marked "FEINSILBER-ALPAKA-AUFLAGE" and name of maker "JOH. WAGNER & SOHN". Overall diameter is 11". Hauptmann Heinz-Wolf Steinhausen was a member of a flak regiment who received his promotion to Hauptmann on 1 November 1941. (Instituted by Hermann Goring in June 1942, the above Salver was intended for Luftwaffe ground personnel who already held the First Class Iron Cross and the Luftwaffe Ground Combat Badge. A very rare award.) (2) German Cross in Silver. Superb quality and condition. Slight purple patina on the silver oakleaf wreath. Age toned silvered backing with six small domed bead rivets. Unmarked wide silver pin is slightly bent upwards (from when being mounted on Albro's souvenir board). Silver stripe along lid of the black leatherette case. Perfect outline of the award on the black velour inner lining. White silk on the inside lid. Two small holes drilled in bottom of case where a wire was inserted and attached to the souvenir board. (3) War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. A slight "smoky" patina on the finish. Pin is marked "62" (Kerbach & Oesterhelt in Dresden). With domed presentation case. With a paper description. (4) Luftwaffe Transport Clasp with pendant. Entire badge has grayed (still attached to board with a wire). (5) Eastern Front Medal. (6) Eastern Peoples Medal. Some of the gold finish remains. All of the above were mounted with, and still have, the original ID cards. Accompanying this grouping is the original photo taken between 1946 and 1950, which shows Mr. Albro standing next to two of his souvenir display boards. The salver display clearly shows which items were mounted. Also with the original June 4th 1945 letter in which Albro states which items he is sending home, and this includes "...a silver plate presented to a Nazi Artillery officer for outstanding service...". Obviously in 1945 American GI's had a sketchy view of identifying their souvenirs. Also with a photo of Tec.5 Robert Albro. A rare offering. II

See description for I-III scale (III=poor)