A pair of Second World War Naval ship’s deck binoculars by Carl Zeiss that sold for £8000 at Thomson Roddick of Edinburgh.
Topping the list was this pair of Second World War 10 x 80 Naval ship’s deck binoculars by Carl Zeiss.
They were marked with the 1935-45 variation of the Reichsadler, in which the German heraldic eagle clutches a swastika. However, the Kriegsmarine is not associated in people’s minds with Nazi atrocities. With crossover appeal to militaria collectors and scientific instrument collectors, the binoculars attracted international interest.
They were estimated at £1000-2000, partly because the auctioneers were unable to get a sight through the lenses, so could not guarantee whether they were clear.
Nevertheless, bidding took off on August 31 and they went to the specialist trade at £8000 against a collector underbidder.
