Is this patch an original?

If so, what is approximate value?

Back of patch

Don, this particular variant is disputed. Some collectors doubt them, citing the white thread areas on the back as an indication of a copy, the lack of detail in the eagles head, and that the way the oval is cut, different than the oval of the wreath, is a bad sign. I personally think this badge is good, because I like the construction of the swas, and the different stitching directions of the thread in the wings and body. But having said that, I wouldn't own one. In other words, this is one that is controversial, about which FJ collectors are divided. This reduces the value. A non-controversial cloth PB (unpadded) now is in the $250 range -- this one I think maybe $150, because there will be those who will pooh-pooh it when walked around.

Chris, thanks for your reply. I understand just what you are saying. I think this is a good example of how we collectors sometimes make a set of our own rules that precludes us from owning original pieces. It is a little sad.

I am not looking to sell any of the material.I sometimes see things that I feel are original, and if the price is reasonable, I buy them just to keep.

This patch came from a box of US flying insignia and old family pictures that was owned by the daughter of a veteran I knew, who was a flyer in WWII. He later became a lawyer after the war. No one in the family had any interest in the materials and the daughter sold it to me for peanuts.

I'm glad I came across this thread. I have a cloth FJ badge exactly like the one pictured above that I just purchased glued to a piece of cardboard that a returning vet apparently used to display his war trophies. There were about 20 other items in the lot, including a cloth luft pilots badge that the moths really did a job on, and this too has some white thread showing on the reverse. The example shown for the cloth FJ badge on www.wermachtawards.com (http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/luftwaffe/para_badge.htm) also clearly shows white threads on the reverse.
Similarly, I just found some commentary in another part of this website that states that good Kreta cufftitles are supposed to have white thread showing on the back behind the yellow embroidered lettering. With all of this stuff around, why isn't there a consensus regarding the authenticity of these items? Any thoughts?
-Josh