A DEBT of gratitude has been paid in a very personal way by a Dutch bidder who bought what has been dubbed ‘the most valuable Second World War battle flag ever sold’.
The battle-scarred 49-star US flag that led the first American troops to Utah Beach in France on D-Day sold on June 12 at Heritage Auctions (19.5% buyer’s premium) of Dallas for a premium-inclusive $514,000 (about £360,000).
That the price was close to five times the estimate – and close to the sums achieved by Revolutionary Wars standards – is an indication that the best of the militaria market continues to thrive at a moment when poignant anniversaries abound.