My collection started in about 1959 so I have been a collector for 60 years! I have only once sold items from my collection and have regretted it ever since. This was back in the early 1990s when I needed to fund a daughter at university. I parted with my 500 plus cloth shoulder title collection including many printed and scarce titles. I sold them as one lot to another collector who resold most to a dealer. I probably received a little more than I paid for them but not enough to repay the time and effort taken to assemble the collection. I have since tried to rebuild it but have been unable to replace many of the scarcer items.
Without doubt I enjoy the 'thrill of the chase' at militaria fairs and on-line. Other than through eBay I have never bought at auction.
My collection covers most items of British Army insignia from 1908 to date and includes Cap badges, Collar badges, Shoulder Titles, Rank Badges, Trade and Qualification Badges, Formation Badges, Lanyards and Buttons. From the mid 1990s I have concentrated on collecting "current" items as can be seen in my 57 Albums on the Forum which show about 7,000 items but so far I have not shown everything in the collection. I also have a reasonable selection of Royal Marines items
I have been a Forum member for nearly 10 years and thoroughly enjoy the identification mysteries and enquiries. I try to provide relevant and accurate information with references and photo evidence where available.
I believe that I am a true collector.
Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm"
"Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!"
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."
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