New finds at the auction today

[tighe_n]

Hi, picked these up at an auction today. Looking for some help with ID, I know what most are, but looking of more details of years and values? Any help would be great. Also, pics of everything I picked up today The case is a full case of Japanese machine gun ammo..

 

[Millsman]

Love the Japanese flags. The ones with writing on are called Hinomaru Yosegaki. Hi = sun, no= is, maru = round. Yose=sideways gaki = write

The name means to ‘Write sideways around the sun’. They were farewell messages from friends and relatives.

Looks like a very good auction.

John

 

[tighe_n]

Thanks, yes it was a very good auction. Do you know what any of the flags say? I would like to find out what they say or if they are named? Do you have any idea of value? I have seen them online but prices seem to be all over the board. I have collected military items for years, but never got in to any of the Japanese items. So this is a new area for me.

 

[Millsman]

The flags normally have the name of the soldier and often his town or village. The flags were presented in a local ceremony and the writing on them can vary from messages such as "Good Luck" to "You won't come back". They are sometimes just names of friends. The wording that is larger or bolder are often the soldier's name and the name of the most senior signatory, perhaps the local mayor or even a school headmaster. Values vary greatly. In the last two years I've seen them on sale here from 40 for a small one through to 180 for a large framed example. Normally the more writing the more the value. You will often find traces of blood on them as they were mainly taken from dead Japanese soldiers. John

 

[pat]

hello
the mortars shell are japanese, one handgrenad german (egg grenade), italian handgrenad brescia, brixia shell italian, anti personnel mine type V italian, one lot of handgrenade US and one french handgrenade mle F1

 

[Millsman]

Re the flags. I should add that to interpret them you may need to find someone used to working with 70 year old Japanese writing. Modern Japanese is I'm told less complex and some of the old characters are no longer used.

John