The Red Baron's trophies

[StephenLawson]

Hi Stephen, *How could they recently sell MvR 61st Victory Cup if only 47 actually were made...? Gunnar

Hi Gunnar, *I'm not sure how you misunderstood? *I said'...Recently one of the cups was sold in excess of 27,000 USD.' *I didn't say anything about 61 cups. I did say thay I believe from evidence that only 60 were made. *The cup that sold was one of the 10 I mentioned, that I knew about personally. *My apologies if I wasn't clear?

[Barrett]

* Thanks, Stephen. *That's a fascinating development! *No doubt potential collectors will be interested in the provenance of the other cups. *Any info in that realm? * *(I guess I won't be bidding on any of 'em... )

[leo]

It certainly makes sense that the Germans would have wanted to keep the Richtoffen legacy out of the hands of the Russians. Havae any of the souveniers, other than the cups, surfaced?

[StephenLawson]

Happily Yes! :-X

[leo]

Follow up. What else has surfaced?

It's all gone very quiet on this just as it was getting VERY interesting!

[StephenLawson]

I'm sooooo close to finally getting to actually put my hands on these items and view them for myself. No photos this time, actually get to hold these pieces and check the jewelers marks. I don't want to give up too much. There are others who would interfere and possibly destroy 27 years of effort.

So do any photos of these cups exist? Also did he keep them with him at the front or send them straight home to his Mother? Also, it has been suggested in some quaters that the cup that recently went to auction was quite obviously not the 'Real McCoy' so to speak , how do we know this, what was it about that piece that suggests this?

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far by the way

I found this interesting at the pour le merit site

Pour le Merit - I was one of the very few fortunate individuals to see in person the Lt Gen Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen Collection - I work for a real estate company that is selling the Richthofen Castle here in Denver. I am not an expert on the history of the "Red Baron" but I must say this. It contained 100's of original photos, medals(including several rare Prussian Crosses,plus the Pour le Merit), 15 or so complete uniforms that Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen himself had worn, Parts of his Abatrose(props and rear rudder) and extremely rare silver cups(one I remember most was an "RAF Major Hawkins Kill Cup?" it was numbered!!! - God only knows what that is worth) I believe the agent said that the collection is worth more than $3 million. It was truly an honor to such a complete collection of Richthofen's Life.

Check the site out www.pourlemerite.org/guestbook/guestbookplm.html

No doubt most of you will be aware of it, so apologies if so.

[StephenLawson]

I found this interesting at the pour le merit site

Pour le Merit - I was one of the very few fortunate individuals to see in person the Lt Gen. Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen Collection - I work for a real estate company that is selling the Richthofen Castle here in Denver. I am not an expert on the history of the "Red Baron" but I must say this. It contained 100's of original photos, medals(including several rare Prussian Crosses,plus the Pour le Merit), 15 or so complete uniforms that Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen himself had worn, Parts of his Abatrose(props and rear rudder) and extremely rare silver cups(one I remember most was an "RAF Major Hawkins Kill Cup?" it was numbered!!! - God only knows what that is worth) I believe the agent said that the collection is worth more than $3 million. It was truly an honor to such a complete collection of Richthofen's Life

The term is odren 'Pour le Merite'. Yes, the collection in Denver. supposely has the tunic of Major Albrecht von Richthofen. *The 15 uniforms are not all MvRs. Those pieces that are authenticated as his are the dress service cap & possibly the dress great coat. The victory cup ordered by MvR *represents the victory over, RFC- Major Lanoe Hawker. *The owner of that collection was a close friend of Dr.Parks the Founder of our organization - The Lafayette Foundation.

Also for the previous post the victory cup #46 sold at Butterfields was authenticated by the von Richthofen family members who held the original sets and it matches the other originals. The only difference is that the name 'Richthofen' had been added to the rear of the cup. *We know that 'MvR' used these initials rather than his name on much of his personal property. *Thats why enthusiasts took to using this monnicker.

The pieces of the aircraft are not from MvR's aircraft. *