Fabric from 425/17

Seeing a 1/3" piece of Richthofen's hair selling on eBay gave me an idea: someone could buy one of the pieces of documented fabric from 425/17 that are available on the web for around $5,000, cut it into approximately 1/8" x 1" strands and sell each at an affordable price. I know I can't justify $5,000, but I could justify spending $100.00, and I would be willing to pay it for even a small sliver of fabric from Richthofen's Fokker Dr.I. One piece of fabric I saw available was 5" x 1 3/4". From that swatch, you could cut about 70 strands at 1/8" x 1". Package each one in a nice little coin-size display holder with a C.O.A. and sell them for $100.00. You make more than your investment back, and make a lot of people happy at the same time. The only thing is, it wouldn't seem quite right to essentially destroy the original piece of fabric in the process. What do others think?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

This was suggested to me, but I declined the suggestion because it would diminish the value of the piece. I sold my for a whole lot more than $5000.00 and it was approximately 2' x 2". I had complete authentication for my former piece.
Dan-San Abbott

[Phil]

Jack,
Your idea sounds great but the only problem with it is the fact that the only example of fabric from von Richthofen's 425/17 being sold on the net (that I am aware of) is a FAKE. The reason I know this, is because I purchased a piece of the fabric last year. After receiving the fabric and researching it further I came to the conclusion that it was not real. It originated from Charles Donald. Fortunately, the seller gave me my money back but he is still trying to sell the fabric even after I proved to him the fabric was fake. My advise to you is do not spend your money on a piece of fabric until you have researched the subject. A good place to start is reading Allan Toelle's article "Good bye to all that Red." In it Allan discusses many of the different fake pieces of fabric that have popped up over the years and how to tell that they are fake. This article is what made me realize that the fabric I purchased was fake.

There are a lot of forumites out there who are quite abit more knowledgeable about this subject than I am. I'm sure they can enlighten you further about this controversy. One forumite in particular directed me to the Allan Toelle article and I owe him alot for assisting me with the fake fabric I purchased. That's what is great about this forum, everyone has a love for WWI aviation and they are willing to help teach others about this topic.

Good Luck,
Phil

[Phil]

Jack,
The reason I did not mention the website that is selling the fabric is because I don't want to advertise for someone that is only out to make a buck off of fake history. If you want to find out whether we are refering to the same website please e-mail me and I will tell you were I bought the fake fabric from. This topic came up a few months ago. It will be a shame if someone buys that piece of fabric.

Phil

I am just a little skeptical of the marketers of a piece of "Richthofen's hair". Considering that MvR died in enemy territory in an active battle area, and was buried two days after his death, are we to believe that: (1) a crafty Aussie, with an eye for making a buck eighty years later, gave the baron a quick trim before placing him in his not so final resting place, (2) that von Hindenberg and the new German government, dissatisfied with the Aussie haircut observed on the corpse, gave the baron a proper trim, or (3 )that Carisella, upon disturbing the ghost of MvR, came upon some well-preserved body hair of the former Rittmeister (his skull having only been removed by the Germans in the 1920's)? I'll bet the folks on e-bay can provide a legitimate certicate of authenticity on the 82 yr old hair - please.

I'm not even sure MvR's hair would have been 1/3" long..seen his pics? That was damn short hair.

Well maybe, but it is hilarious, I think the hair on his cajones would be longer, though i shudder to think what sick @#%^ from the land down under would dare barb it. Hope I never see that ad on Ebay.

[stevedrew]

Sir,
It shocks and saddens me to think that you believe the Australian soldiery and various hangers-on desecrated the lifeless body of the Rittmeister.
His plane was stripped to pieces by souveneir hunters, as were his boots and items from his pockets. This certainly was not a fitting end for a brave warrior. To suggest his hair (and even his pubic hair!) was cropped for sale or souveneir is totally unacceptable to me and my fellow Australians. Any Forumites who have seen pictures of MvR's original burial party at Bertangles Cemetery will fully realise that this man was afforded the FULL military honours due to him because of his rank, and because of their respect for this brave man. Please retract your statement publicly on this Forum, Kory.

Steve Drew

[stephen]

I don't think Kory was trying to say that Aussies were hideous monsters who mangled their victims... he was saying that souvenir collecting was reaching an all time low when they're pawning MvR's hair on the internet, and he hoped it didn't get any worse. Least that's what I got out of it.

BTW, what's this stuff about MvR's bones being swiped by Carrisella? You still hear about that every now and then.

Get off your high horse Drew. Everyone knows Kory created a fictional scenario.

If it matters, the auction claims that the crewcut lock of hair was obtained from a locket given by MvR to a cousin.