SS Obersalzberg Cantine Beer Mat

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 03-19-2014, 01:05 AM

by Larry C

I will move this thread to the Third Reich Art and Exotica..the content of the topic has nothing to do with uniforms nor accessories. Regards Larry

Thank you, wise master, and please help keep our happy meadow clean and bright!

See what happened when the shop steward at Deschler drank too much....

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 03-19-2014 01:05 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**wizardman** · 03-19-2014, 01:19 AM

Something for the coasters!! just a joke people

**Wagriff** · 03-19-2014, 01:19 AM

by Friedrich-Berthold

Oh well. The item in question is absurd and no one seriously can think such an item to be original.

Hmm....I wonder if the pronouncement of one of the major SS collectors in the World qualifies as "One who Knows".... Probably not, I suppose. No doubt our disdainful question asker will still need to continue and have the paper tested for age because......Just Maybe......there Has to be Someone out there 'who Knows" this thing is real and worth a fortune...

**wizardman** · 03-19-2014, 01:22 AM

For the original post...the Obersalzburg doesn't align with the SS runes..

**big ned** · 03-19-2014, 01:33 AM

by BullandHaynes

Swords and rings, yes. Match boxes, yes. Beer mats, possible considering they made match boxes.

As I mentioned earlier I am not making a stance that this beer mat is genuine but it looks very aged (not overly visible in the pictures) and I would like to look into it some more before dismissing it as others do just on the assumption rather than the evidence.

After some discussion with someone who authenticates autographs it seems that putting an age on a paper item is quite easy as paper in those days was not completely acid free and had a tendency to eat itself. Unfortunately he does not do these tests himself but I will approach a University for some help on this along with contacting the Hofbrauhaus to see if they have any records of these being produced.

Swords and rings - easy to tell the fakes from the genuine however an item such as a beer mat takes some more looking into...unless you are happy to make an assumption that they were never made during the period of the war.

I'm not a fan of ping pong messaging in forums when it's not going anywhere so I will sign off and post a message here again when I have some results to conclude as to whether this was produced during the war or is just idiotic cheap post war garbage (which it could well be)

I for one look forward to the results of analysis that Mr.B&H is going to have undertaken and his results reproduced here for all to see. Further than that, I feel little more needs adding as i'm hoping he will behave in a gentlemanly manner and honour his proclamation above.

Regards, Ned.

**drmessimer** · 03-19-2014, 01:59 AM

Well, it has pretty much all been said about why that beer coaster is without doubt a fantasy item, but there is a point that no one mentioned. Beer coasters world wide have a life expectancy of about six beers, and even those that are carried away as souvenirs don't last much longer. To seriously expect a product designed to be an expendable item could survive 69+ years in any recognizable shape, borders on self-delusion. And to believe that any dealer could have several in varying degrees of preservation, is to find the story of the Tooth Fairy plausible. P.T. Barnum was right. Dwight

**BullandHaynes** · 03-19-2014, 02:04 AM

by drmessimer

Well, it has pretty much all been said about why that beer coaster is without doubt a fantasy item, but there is a point that no one mentioned. Beer coasters world wide have a life expectancy of about six beers, and even those that are carried away as souvenirs don't last much longer. To seriously expect a product designed to be an expendable item could survive 69+ years in any recognizable shape, borders on self-delusion. And to believe that any dealer could have several in varying degrees of preservation, is to find the story of the Tooth Fairy plausible. P.T. Barnum was right. Dwight

Oh dear...six beers, really? What I Collect

**Wagriff** · 03-19-2014, 03:14 AM

Okey...that about wraps this one up, I'd say. Very long time and knowledgeable collectors and experts have now pronounced openly and in plain language, that this ridiculous beer mat is not and never was anything but a total fantasy item. Enough time and debate has been wasted on this nonsense. There is no way the OP will accept anything but the beer mat being a genuine rare and super valuable treasure to be fought over by the British Museum, the Smithsonian and perhaps even the Louvre. So, there you have it. It IS an Absolutely genuine and Authentic item that is So Rare it is a Miracle that it survives at all! It is worth a King's Ransom and will, doubtless, double in value every 3 months! WoW! What a Find!!!

**BOB COLEMAN** · 03-19-2014, 04:06 AM

BullandHaynes-
As a new member on our site, please show some respect for the opinions of seasoned collectors. If you do not wish to have their opinion, don't post. I have been at this a very long time and must agree that this is a fantasy non period item made to decieve the gullible. It is amazing what odd items are made to decieve.

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 03-19-2014, 04:11 AM

by BOB COLEMAN

BullandHaynes-
As a new member on our site, please show some respect for the opinions of seasoned collectors. If you do not wish to have their opinion, don't post. I have been at this a very long time and must agree that this is a fantasy non period item made to decieve the gullible. It is amazing what odd items are made to decieve.

Well said. Mr. Coleman has collected for at least ten years longer than have I, and I respect his opinion with great energy.