Hi Stig,
Thanks for the reply. I think that the seller also saw the name and looked at Jasta pilots. Could well be the same guy. I'm not seeing the rank as a problem as promotion from Uffz to Vfw between when this photo taken with Pfalz E.I and his death in 1917 likely.
As you know Jasta 4 a western front unit,whereas the sellers other photos are from the eastern front. You've probably also seen
http://www.frontflieger.de/3_313844_t.html
It would still be very useful to know what Linus Patermann did before joining Jasta 4 as I suppose we can't rule out E.I 479/15 being with another eastern front unit.
Regards,
Clint