Rare WWI 1st Division "Circus" Commemorative Stein - Montabaur, Germany 1919 For Sale
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Selling a genuine piece of WWI history — a stoneware beer stein commemorating the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division's famous "First Division Circus," staged in Montabaur, Germany on July 11–12, 1919, during the post-Armistice occupation of the Rhineland. This was a massive homemade circus put on entirely by the division's own soldiers — parade, sideshow, and a 19-act three-ring show.
What it is:
0.5-liter stoneware mug, German-made
Front: circus ring emblem with a devil-figure riding a wild boar, "FIRST DIVISION CIRCUS" arched above, "MONTABAUR - GERMANY - JULY 11 & 12" below
Handle side: the 1st Division's iconic red "1" shoulder patch in a laurel wreath, dated "JULY 11 & 12, 1919"
Hand-applied handle, crisp glaze, no maker's mark on the base
Great overall condition for its age — no chips or cracks, original glaze intact
This is a rare, event-specific piece of AEF/WWI occupation militaria — not a generic stein. Great for a WWI collector, "Big Red One" (1st Infantry Division) enthusiast, or military history buff.
Message me with questions or for more photos!This was my grandmother's. She grew up in Wirges, Germany which is about 3 miles from Montabaur and would have been 13 in 1919.
The price of shipping also included insurance to the purchase price.
