Internationale Orden & militärhistorische Sammlungsstücke - A83

| 323 the silver trumpet, dated 1784, from the same regiment, the officer's fur caps of the Life Guard Hussars, the 1st Life Hussar Regiment and the Brunswick Hussars, the czapka for officers of the 1st Uhlans Guard Regiment and, last but not least, two non-Prussian guard helmets worn by the Bavarian Hartschiere and the Saxon horse guard. Bringing up the rear, yet notable in their own right, are the standard of the Uhlan Regiment "Grand Duke Frederick of Baden" (Rhenish) no. 7, the Jingling Johnny banner with an eagle carried by the Infantry Regiment Markgraf Karl (7th Brandenburg) no. 60, the Jingling Johnny banner of the East Prussian Fusilier Regiment no. 33, the drum banner of the Cuirassier Regiment von Driesen no. 4 and various Prussian orders, including two Pour le Mérite. It should be emphasised that all objects are in excellent condition. We sincerely hope that every last piece of this outstanding collection finds a worthy home where it is fully appreciated. Wolfgang Hermann PREFACE The Prussian Collection of Gerhard Drewko, Berlin A biography of Gerhard Drewko (18 January 1914 – 3 August 2016) Gerhard Drewko was born in Berlin on 18 January 1914, the anni- versary of the Proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in 1871. His grandfather supplied leather goods to the Prussian army and his father was a textile wholesaler. Gerhard followed in his father's foot- steps, taking over the business after completing his education at the Siemens-Oberrealschule in Berlin Charlottenburg. The school was just a stone's throw from Charlottenburg Palace, the largest and most pre- stigious palace complex in Berlin, the residence of the former Brandenburg electors, Prussian kings and German emperors. His father also had a penchant for the history of the Prussian army, using tin soldiers to re-enact its famous battles in meticulous detail, together with his son Gerhard. It goes without saying that Frederick the Great and his celebrated grenadiers invariably played a leading role in these skirmishes. Thus, his upbringing in a family with a keen interest in Prussia awakened in Gerhard Drewko a passion for Prussian mili- tary history. The Drewko family lived in Berlin during World War II, suffering the loss of all their keepsakes. Immediately after the war, however, Gerhard Drewko started collecting again. His first purchase was the two grenadier's caps worn by officers of the the 1st Foot Guard Regiment, followed by the officers' grenadier caps of the Emperor Alexander Guards Grenadiers. Gerhard Drewko soon made a name for himself as a serious collector. With the help of prominent Berlin art dealers, such as Leo Spik or Seidel & Sohn, in addition to a great many collectors in Germany and abroad, among them Jacques Preis, his acquisitions emerged over the years as one of the most distinguished Prussian coll- ections. Highlights include such outstanding pieces as the two officer's helmets of the Gardes du Corps, particularly the rare oldM 1843 model,