Canadian WWII BD's prices

http://m.ebay.com/itm/191351266278?nav=LOST

http://m.ebay.com/itm/191351618751?nav=LOST

  Wow, certain Canadian WWII BD's are really going up in value. Almost heading up there with German tunics. 
  I do understand that some regiments are more desirable and the rareity of the shoulder flash also plays a factor but over all good ones seem to be edging up.

48th,

Seems like $1000 is a lot of money for a BD... maybe this was one of those situations where two bidders submitted "Buy" bids and one of them is having buyers remorse ....

I know where I can pick up an original,authentic to the original owner armoured regiment BD, beret(with badge) shirt,tie and trousers for $300. I should probably grab it...

The values of uniforms, especially un-named examples, should only reflect the values of the component parts. Tunic, rank, regimental/corps titles, formation patches and trade or service badges. How does putting them all together on one tunic make them worth so much more? For example, parsing the GGFG offering, an unbadged SWW dated tunic may realize $100, the canvas titles $70 each, the 4 CAD patches, maybe $50 each and the canvas CANADA's $25 each? And the service chevrons, $5. The beret and badge, about $100? Total about $500. (And my valuations may be optomistic.) With no name to verify the tunic, one is taking a big chance.
It is interesting that the tunics in this vendor's auctions received so much attention, while other tunics on sale at the same time saw little action and even went unsold. How much of a cachet is there to having been in an important collection? (Read a certain millionaire collected these, so they must be exceptional.) I wonder if another collection, (and there are some excellent Canadina SWW uniform collections out there), came on the market, would there be as much interest?

Does having a name in a uniform really add that much to the value of a uniform? Names, like insignia, can be added to any garment.

Agreed Ed. By itself, a name really doesn't mean anything. It is the cachet that buyers attach to naming. Unscrupulous vendors can certainly research nominal rolls and add a number/name. We have seen names added by felt marker or sharpies, or by ball point pen which should ring alarm bells but don't. The thinking on the naming is that if it can be verified as original (period), in the correct material, and correctly attributed (the soldier was in the unit at the time that the insignia represents) it does add to the provenance. It is only an additional piece of the puzzle.

Bill and Ed

I completely agree with both of you. I wonder if new collectors will pay a premium to get an item from a certain collection assuming the item "Must be Good". I think the advice Ed has given numerous times on the forum for collectors to do some research before purchasing anything is even more important in the light of these events. These prices will only make the desire to "Create" and sell a BD even stronger. The comparatively small investment in components in light of a potentially high return may create a flood of "Original" items over the next few months.

Ypres

ypres wrote:48th,

Seems like $1000 is a lot of money for a BD... maybe this was one of those situations where two bidders submitted "Buy" bids and one of them is having buyers remorse ....

You could be right Ypres about the buyers having remorse but I do from time to time see Canadian WWII BD's sell for close to $1000 or more and I am not talking 1st Can Para items. Buyers seem very happy to shell out big dollars for "popular" or rare regiments. P.E.I. L.I. VIII RECCE, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, QOR, Chaudriere and FGH are just to name a few that sell for in my opinion huge dollars.

Bill wrote:The values of uniforms, especially un-named examples, should only reflect the values of the component parts. Tunic, rank, regimental/corps titles, formation patches and trade or service badges. How does putting them all together on one tunic make them worth so much more? For example, parsing the GGFG offering, an unbadged SWW dated tunic may realize $100, the canvas titles $70 each, the 4 CAD patches, maybe $50 each and the canvas CANADA's $25 each? And the service chevrons, $5. The beret and badge, about $100? Total about $500. (And my valuations may be optomistic.) With no name to verify the tunic, one is taking a big chance.
It is interesting that the tunics in this vendor's auctions received so much attention, while other tunics on sale at the same time saw little action and even went unsold. How much of a cachet is there to having been in an important collection? (Read a certain millionaire collected these, so they must be exceptional.) I wonder if another collection, (and there are some excellent Canadina SWW uniform collections out there), came on the market, would there be as much interest?

Bill I also agree with you to a certain extent as well if you are talking rebadged BD's or very plain Jane ones, keeping prices in line with what the whole of the parts are worth makes sense. But to you also have to take into account collectability and demand. What makes a printed badge worth $70 dollars to you is you collect them and that is what the going rate is on said badge. Collectors of BD always seem to be willing to pay more than just the parts value for a good one because they want a certain BD and it could be rare so it drives up the value. Again i am not talking one that was just put together last month but one that just has that feel, look or you can just tell it saw honest use and has been like that for 70 years. I think you know they type I am talking about. Very hard to fake (not saying impossible) or if you obtain the BD directly from the Vet him self.
I have been guilty of it my self in the past.