Knight's Cross Document & Folder Set
RITTERKREUZ URKUNDE UND MAPPE

We are pleased to present our critically acclaimed, Museum Copy of the famous and much sought after “Knight’s Cross Document in Folder” set or “Ritterkreuz Urkunde Und Mappe”.

Over a period 6 months, we enlisted the advice and recommendations of 3 well respected experts in the field of Third Reich artifacts. The goal was simply to produce the finest reproduction of this famous presentation document set as possible. Our team has identified virtually every nuance relating to this important document set. This includes accurate measurements, material selection, printing fonts, ink aging characteristics, methods of construction, embossed gold leaf, material aging and so forth.

An expert documentation restoration firm that specializes in 16th century documents and ancient books, meticulously handcrafts each Ritterkreuz Presentation Set. Their client list includes a number of prestigious museums and wealthy private collectors.

The Knight’s Cross antiqued burgundy Moroccan goat skin leather folder and the aged vellum document completes this presentation set. Each presentation set is a handcrafted work of art, a totally unique item and as the saying goes “You can’t rush a good thing”. No two sets are alike. The folder and document set therefore has a 2 to 4 week lead time. They are available named either to: Erwin Rommel, Michael Wittmann, Sepp Dietrich, Adolf Galland, Hans Ulrich Rudel or Erich Topp. For more detailed information on the documents themselves, please see the document section at the end of this section.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS OF THE SET

• Like the originals, the folder is handcrafted from genuine burgundy Moroccan goat’s leather. We select only the finest hide’s money can buy.
• All of the gold leaf embossing on the Moroccan goats skin is hand tooled into the leather exactly as the originals were.
• The eagle on the cover was scanned from an original folder and burned onto a copper block so the eagle may be embossed in 24K gold leaf, remaining faithful to the original design.
• The original artist’s name, Frieda Thiersch, is embossed in small gold, block letters on the back inside cover, true to the original.
• The document itself is made of modern vellum material and is the same exact size as the originals. Real vellum is a product of the “flesh” side of an animal’s hide. Each real vellum page ages differently over time. We have “sampled” a number of original vellum pages and arrived at an accurate way to “age” or “antique” our vellum so it matches the originals in texture and appearance.
• We also “sampled” the color of the original printing to ensure our ink “aged” to the correct reddish brown tone that the originals have now assumed. As each vellum page will change color in a unique fashion, so will the color tone of the printing. The original documents have all aged to a variety of different color shades and tones over the years.
• The original Hitler signatures were in black fountain pen and did not show aging to the same extend as the printing. They remained black but slightly faded. Our Hitler signatures are in black ink and like all original signatures exhibit the “overlapping” or “layering” where the ink lines cross over each other. Facsimile signatures are mono toned.
• The inside covers of the folders are finished in the off-white moiré silk fabric like the originals.
• The inside features a burgundy leather loop in the spine designed to hold the double-paged vellum document in place.
• The burgundy Moroccan leather folder, vellum document and moiré is all gracefully aged by our skilled craftsman to perfection.
• The exact measurements of the originals have been respected and faithfully replicated.
• The fonts used for the rank title and date names have been “sampled” from originals to ensure total accuracy.
• The Knight’s Cross winners name is embossed in gold leaf exactly as the originals were. We have chosen an “antique” gold to remove any hint of newness from the embossing.
• Like the originals, this set comes wrapped in tissue, and packaged in a plain brown 'period' style cardboard box.

Each Knight’s Cross Folder & Document Set $995 US.

THE DOCUMENTS OF THE RITTERKREUZTRAGER

We have selected the most famous and deserving Third Reich Knight’s Cross winners from all branches of Die Wehrmacht.

The aged vellum document by itself is available separately. Please note that this is the full sized, double-paged document. Fully opened up it is large and impressive, measuring about 28” wide by about 17” high. When folder it is about 14” wide by 17” high. You may choose to keep it full sized or have it cut down to one page for framing.

You have your choice of these famous Ritterkreuzträgers:

• Generalmajor Erwin Rommel, 27. Mai 1940.
• Oberleutnant Hans Ulrich Rudel, 6 Januar 1942.
• SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann, 14 Januar 1944.
• Major Adolf Galland, 24 September 1940.
• Fregattenkapitän Erich Topp, 20 Juni 1941.
• SS-Obergruppenführer Josef Dietrich, 5 Juli 1940.

Each $95 US

CUSTOMIZED VELLUM DOCUMENTS

For those collectors who have a Knight’s Cross in their collection and know who the former owner was, we can customize the document to your particular needs.

These documents are made to the client’s particular specifications in the same fonts and style as the originals. This includes a custom rank title, custom Knight’s Cross winners name embossed in gold and customized date.

Doing a “one off” custom document is an exacting process and time consuming. Although we have the fonts in our library, a single document must be set up and printed. A custom name block must be burned in a copper plate and the name embossed. The last step is the aging or hand antiquing to give it that “period” feel and look.

If you presently own a Ritterkreuz, this is an excellent way to complete your display:

Each $250 US

WHAT THE EXPERTS' EXPERT HAS TO SAY

Don Boyle is widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the SS Totenkopf Honor Ring as well as Third Reich artifacts. Don has personally handled over 50 original "Knight's Cross Document and Folder" sets and this is what he had to say after seeing and handling our Presentation Set:

"TWO THUMBS UP TWICE OVER"

If you, like many others and myself included, are intrigued by the history and mythology of these awards and documents, please take the time to visit Mr. Don Boyle's web site at:

http://members.rogers.com/ssocr/honorring/

His web site and the book he has authored "SS Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Ring 1933 - 1945" are a "must see" and "must have" for all Third Reich enthusiasts and serious collectors alike.

He is a recognized historian and collector of original Honor Rings as well as other Third Reich artifacts. He also offers an authentication service and links to many other fascinating sites. Please take the time to visit Don's website, you will not be disappointed.