How to Identify Military Insignia
Military insignia make for good collector's items because there are a variety of patches and badges, many with interesting, funny or bizarre imagery. If you happen to inherit some insignia, or a patch at a flea market or antique store catches your eye, identifying your treasure could take some work. Before you take your insignia for a professional appraisal, see if you can figure out what it is on your own.
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Instructions
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Ask the person who gave you the insignia what it is if it was a gift. If you inherited a relative's insignia, someone in your family may have information about where this person served or when. Even if your friends or relatives can't identify the patch, they could point you in the right direction on your search.
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Examine your military insignia and note every detail. Figure out what the imagery is, whether you are looking at a pirate or unicorn, and whether it is a fabric patch or metal badge. Take special notice of any text or numbers on your insignia, even if you can't understand them.
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Look at catalogues of military insignia at your local library. If you have any information about your insignia, for example, you know what country it came from, what branch of the military issued it or when it was in circulation, this will make your project much easier. Since there are many types of military insignia and many of them do not offer visual clues as to their origin, you could be browsing books for a long time.
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Look at other military insignia collector's websites (see Resources). Many people who collect military insignia are extremely enthusiastic about their stashes and have expansive websites with images of every patch or badge owned. Some even have extensive information about the badge's origins and when it was produced. Try to match your insignia to a picture you find on one of these sites.
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Take a good photograph of your military insignia and email it to the web masters of some collector's sites. One of them may be able and willing to identify your patch for you immediately, free of charge.
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Have your military insignia appraised by an expert in military antiquities. This is going to cost you money, but at least you'll find out exactly what you have and whether it is rare or valuable for more than sentimental reasons.
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References
Resources
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