Tripalitakis examines a selection of original wartime photographs from his collection —some costing him around 300 euros. Underneath are displayed personal items such as buttons and belt buckles found in the islands’ battlefields. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou
It should come as no surprise, then, that these photographs can fetch lofty sums.
“I’ve bought a single photograph on eBay for €300. Especially the ones showing paratroopers with full gear in the midst of battle are extremely expensive,” Tripalitakis shares. “A paratrooper’s full photo album, can go for as much as €5,000 and may contain 150–200 photographs.”
Under Greek law, items from 1453 and earlier are considered antiquities and are automatically state property. Anything found that dates after 1453—the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans and the end of the Byzantine Empire—is not considered ancient and can be legally owned as collectibles.
Weaponry and ammunition that are still functional must be officially registered with the Greek police. Small arms require a permit and must be deactivated. “I handle that myself,” Tripalitakis says. “I’m a reserve officer in the special forces, in the paratroopers, but I knew how to handle explosives like these long before the army.”
In total, Tripalitakis owns around 200 weapons, though not all of them are complete. Other items include uniforms, gas masks, field telephones, mess tins, motorcycle goggles, ID tags, cutlery sets, first aid kits, cooking pots, buttons, pocket watches, and unit insignia.
