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Value of Red Cross WW2 Trunk?

April 27, 2021

An old Red Cross trunk.This was my husband's mother's trunk as she was a nurse during the war and believed to have been in Europe with this. Everything is intact, including the key. We would like to sell it but would like to know what the value is, so we have something to go on. The trunk measures 32" w x 19" h x 19" D Nothing has been painted to destroy the original condition.

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Value of Red Cross WW2 Trunk?
 
An old Red Cross trunk.
 
The label on an old Red Cross trunk.
 
An old Red Cross trunk.
 

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April 29, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

Do you have any papers or pictures of your Mother-in-law with the case?

Perhaps you should talk to a museum about it and consider donating it if they would take it (which they may or may not). Sometimes the provenance of the piece (the history that your MIL has with the piece combined with the piece gives the piece historical value much more so than a monetary value.

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I am a personal history buff and teach a class on preservation and if this was mine, that would be my first pass at determining what to do with it. Personal history is being lost daily and if all is as you say, people could learn about your MIL, her role as a nurse, and about the piece itself.

There is a museum of health care:

mhc.andornot.com/.../artifact14433

But perhaps her hometown museum may have more interest or if your local Red Cross has contacts for their keepsakes, they may also be of interest.

Please post back what you decide and learn. To me the historical value with the history (story) is going to be worth much more than trying to sell this at an auction. Just me!

 

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April 29, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

This trunk is nothing like the WW ll 'trunks' normally posted for sale so it would be very difficult to try and place a value as it could be more or less valuable than information we could provide.

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I agree with PGHgirl about contacting museums as this could a valuable asset and wouldn't that be neat - a personal family item on displace for the world to see - a card with your name as the donator?
CDC established July 1, 1946 which means your trunk is close to 75 years old.
I believe if this belonged to me, I would contact branches of the CDC to see if I could find out who used the letters on the trunk. I'm sure they probably have records and may have information as to exactly where this trunk was used.
www.cdc.gov/.../roots.html
www.cdc.gov/.../index.html
www.cdc.gov/.../celebrating-7decades.html

This another avenue to try:
www.nationalww2museum.org/artifact-donation-faq

Information:
The Communicable Disease Center (CDC) was founded July 1, 1946, as the successor to the World War II Malaria Control in War areas program of the Office of National Defense Malaria Control Activities.

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History of CDC:
en.wikipedia.org/.../Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention
www.cdc.gov/.../our-history.htm

 

Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 440 Answers
April 30, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

It's hard to find a Red Cross WW2 trunk this size. But I think you just need to compare prices with military trunks of about the same size. I think that at that time the trunks were made the same for the military and nurses, only they added different identification marks.
For example this trunk is in good conditional and about the same size and is sold for $488: www.1stdibs.co.uk/.../ www.pinterest.com/.../
So, I think the price of your trunk is about $600-800, maybe even higher, I think it will be difficult to sell it at a very high price.

 
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Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 440 Answers
December 31, 20210 found this helpful
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I found a chest with looking the same latches as yours chest has, and about the same size:
Antique Wardrobe Steamer Trunk Multnomah Bagageman Proof Home Decor www.ebay.com/.../144048295990

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The chest I found is dated 1920's.
The chest in not in perfect condition, but a little better than your chest, the price is $375.

 
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