Andy Griffith Screen Worn Sheriff’s Badge

#27
#27
Well done...
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#29
#29
Hi there DoctorLoomis!

I'm Greg from S.Carolina. Mad TAGS collector for over 30 years now. :) I knew Richard and his wife Bettina as I've participated with The Andy Griffith Rerun Watchers Club events since 1989. I spoke to Bettina before she listed the badge and I bid on it as well, but I had just purchased another Aston Martin (another hobby....Euro cars) lol, yet the bids went higher than I could justify at that moment. It's quite valuable and such a rare piece to locate. I'm the first person that ever replicated the badges too and I started selling them online around 2002 or so. I used photos of the one you have that came from Richard as he brought it to Mount Airy, North Carolina when they used to attend for our weekend celebration at Andys hometown. If I remember correctly, the ink is not black, but a dark blue on your original badge...YES?? I had my replicas inked in black, yet I know for certain after talking to George Lindsey, Betty Lynn and many others that appeared on the show.....that some badges would have a blue ink. There was a reason for the badges color and inking I suppose, but just like the squad car....they had to dull the outer finish or the glare would ruin outdoor shots due to the glare from the sun and other lighting.

OH.......I also just purchased a very nice 100% ORIGINAL wardrobe piece from a lady in L.A. California. It's a blue tunic/robe with velvet belt and special buckle. I'm 56 and a textile chemist by trade, and the patina of the fabric is definitely 1960's! She had to close down her shop after Covid hit but is now operating from her home/basement. I'm having her look for more of them as we speak. I bought a second piece from her too but one of these will go auction at Profiles in History or similar. I've sold with them and others over the years. I collect TAGS 1st, old James Bond 2nd and old Planet of the Apes 3rd. Yes....odd combination but so much fun! Oh.....Gomer Pyle as well!! If you've time......do let me know if the ink on yours is truly a blue color.....and if you can remind me of any markings or Hallmarks on the back side of the badge.

Thanks for your time and have a blessed weekend!!

Gregory M. Kelley
 

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#31
#31
DOCTORLOOMIS said:
As you guys know I collect game worn jerseys....especially from Vol players of all sports. I also collect screen worn items from movies and tv shows. My favorite show of all time is the Andy Griffith Show and I just located a collectible that I never thought I’d find....one of his screen worn badges. It comes with a handwritten notarized letter from Richard O. Linke who was Griffith’s manager of 37 years. He states he got the badge in 1968 and it’s been in his possession since then. I’ll do my very best to win this auction and if so, I’ll post more photos of this once in a lifetime piece of memorabilia.
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Hey Doc. Please reach out to me. Im really interested in taking this badge off your hands. Im willing to make a substantial offer if you are interested.
 
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#34
#34
I joined this site in 2022 to try and get in touch with you but gave up once I saw there was no feature to send a private message (as far as I can tell). My apologies for posting this in the thread if it’s inappropriate. I’ve tried to find every way possible to get in touch with you.
Absolutely not looking to waste your time.
 
#35
#35
If a mod here could please pass on my registered email to Doc that would be great. You have my permission. Or assist us in trading information.
 
#45
#45
pismonque said:
The star shield itself starts as a stamped/punched blank and would be largely identical to many other badges that came from the same die, and you can't depend on wear marks or flaws unless they were evident in the source photo. However, the words would have been engraved individually onto blanks and in the 60s would not have been computerized, so that is where the variation occurs that can be used to match. A badge made for a show today would be much harder to authenticate in that way.

I'm sure it's possible for a skilled person to craft a credible forgery from archival still photos or screen grabs but it would take a good bit of time and effort to play it off to a discerning eye and I can't imagine there's a reasonable margin or risk there at this price point. Still, that's where the strength of provenance comes in.

Looks like a solid match to me.
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Extremely well stated. The individually engraved letters are the dead giveaway. Add in the fact it came from Richard Linke himself and that seals the deal.
 
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