Roeland

thank you for the reply. I suspected as much. I also thought that the ribbons looked practically brand new.

Hello gents, I've seen this medal bar and, since I'm not an expert, would like to know if the medals are genuine and what it should be worth. It might be hard to judge from these photos but I do not have any better pictures. According to the seller the needle on the back is not original, the rest is. Thank you very much! kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, I need help with identification of a uniform and a medal on a painting: -what kind of uniform is this (regiment, rank etc. all information is welcome)? -what period/year date is this from? -which order and class or which kind of decoration/medal is the man wearing? Sadly I do not have a better picture. A relative made the picture for someone in Spain who wants it identified because it is his forefather. I have not been able to find much information on Spanish uniforms. I have seen many orders and medals shaped as a cross an with red ribbons, however I do not have enough experience with Spanish orders and medals to make an identification. Thank you all very much for your help! sorry the picture is on it's side, somehow imageshack keeps rotating it! kind regards, Roeland

hello gents, well that is a superb quality piece. I'm jealous! kind regards, Roeland

hello gents, I have one from a Belgian general (became general after the war) who served the entire war, he has 3 silver and 1 gilt. If the entire ribbon is made of red collored threads, and the middle has been collored yellow, that would be a very good explanation why it would ''bleed'' red when it is wet or moist instead of just fading collors. The example from speedytop is already better then others I see, for example look at the text on the front, like the 4 from 1914 is ''thinner'' and ''open'' in the middle). Wearing could be an explanation why some medals have lost some quality. I still like them though. kind regards, Roeland

hello gents, personally, I don't think war has anything to do with the material or quality in this case, as the medal was instituded after the war. It is clear there are multiple manufacturers, and they probably all made their own ribbons, but I would like to know which companies made them (names). I can't find it in books anywhere. the example on the picture is nice, but in my opinion ''flat'''. I'm not very good at English, but I mean that the details, in my opinion, aren't of superb quality. I have seen examples where the crowns are more ''3d''. The lines between face and ''flat'' part of the medal aren't very ''sharp'', or for the same matter you can hardly make anything of what is on Alberts shoulder, letters like ''de la'' and ''herr(innerings)'' are harder to see etc. I don't know how to explain in English. kind regards, Roeland

Hello Tim, I also noticed the difference in metals. I've seen them in dark bronze, a somewhat lighter bronze and one that is a little more ''shiny'' (don't know the word, but a collor more going towards a silver blend, but still obvious brown/bronze). The details on the later ones are often also of a higher quality. kind regards, Roeland

hello gents, it could indeed well be that they are poorer quality ribbon as found on most medals and that water (or moist) could have changed the collor. I haven't held one in my hand, only know it from pictures. Still, anyone any idea about differetn manufacturers of this medal? kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, I have a question regarding the well known commemorative medal of the war 1914-1918. I often see them with ribbons that have an dark, almost red or orange collored stripe in the middle, instead of the official yellow. I was wondering if there are different kinds of ribbons in use for this medal. Or perhaps they have just changed collor over time. (but I have noticed it often, and you would also expect a ribbon to fade, not turn darker). Perhaps different makers? I also noticed differences in the quality of the details on the medal and the collors of the medal. And are there different makers for this medal? (and if so, which ones?) There is one on Hendrik's site, it looks a lot like an example I'm talking about: commemorative medal of the war 1914-1918 and here is an example from another collector who gave me permission to use his pictures thank you for clearing this up for me. kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, the first 2 are indeed unofficial. The veteran would probably wear the beret as on the picture when being present at the comemorative event. The U.S.A. medals are the pruple hart and the bronze star. It's always nice to have multiple items from a veteran.They often tell a great story about the wearer, even unofficial medals. kind regards, Roeland

Hello noir7, thank you for your reply. I think the seller is selling fake uniforms and calls them original and genuine. Here is a general kepie he is selling, doesn't look like it should be either: kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, I need a little help on this hussar uniform. It has been offered as a uniform from a French ''Hussard de la Garde'' from the second empire. However I can't find this in any book I have neither on the internet. I did found a similar uniform, with the difference that the ''ropes'' acros the uniform aren't black but white. Anyone any idea? Thanks. kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, I've made a visit to the museum last month. It was fantastic!!! Really worth visiting. They have a lot of uniforms, those of the imperial staff from the palaces, officers, imperial guards, but also uniforms worn by czars themselves. Also there are a lot of (huge) paintings from high ranking officers, the czars and family etc. The exibition is about the life at the Russian imperial court. You get to see many different subjects, such as the masked balls (costumes, vejers, money purses, bags etc.), paintings of the palaces and guards, children and their uniforms, jewelry, womens fashion (dresses, hats, earings etc.), music and numerous other items (vazes, piano, throne etc.). Although I did see the dress on the picture above, I believe it was taken in Russia, as the old style stairs are not present. However, the museum still is very beautiful and has a great modern look (no wonder as it has just been opened). I didn't see any orders and medals though except on painting, perhaps I missed a hall. They also have a gift shop, where you can buy all kind of books, postcards, but also faberge eggs and even candeliers. negative points: Loads of old people. Don't be bothered by the many anoying old people who think that the objects look less if you see an object before them and push you aside in their hurry to beat you (really happend to me several times). I also heard a lot of ''experts'' where present, for example: 1 lady was reading the text next tot a dress and said it was made in Paris, the other women said that she knew that of course, she had clearly seen that already by looking at it. And she really talked loud so that everyone the room heard it and with a fake-rich people accent(don't know how to describe it, but those show off people who want to join the club), quite anoying and those people where even often wrong in describing items. Also, I missed ''the story''. The objects had signs, often only describing the title/name of the object, sometimes what place and when it was made. I really wanted that there was more of a story to it. For example, it is nice to see all kind of dresses, masks, objects and uniforms for the masked balls, but it would have been nice if there was a description about masked balls itself (the tradition, political importance etc.). Or even more information on the development/history of an object itself. But still, for people who know a bit about 19th century history and/or Czarist Russian history, it is quite undertandable what you see, for the others it is a real festival of beautiful items from (mostly) the19th century. Tip: make sure you are there on time. I came there 15 minutes before it was open, and there already was a small queing line, in 10 minutes, the line behind me went around the corner of the building. When I came out of the museum 1,5 hours later, there was a waiting time of almost 1 hour before people could enter the museum. It is a huge museum, so if you are on time, you won't notice it is very busy as you are ahead of the most visitors. My exit was also my grand finally. I had shoes with leather soles (quite slippery on certain floors), as I was walking past the old people standing in line to enter, I fel of the stairs, of course the crowd was yelling/screaming, but I was fine (only my pride was hurt). overall, really worth visiting. I wasn't alloud to take pictures, but I'll see if I can make some scans from the book about the exibition. kind regards, Roeland

I have one as well. I have been searching for more information as well, but hardly found any. Only some remarks from other collectors. I do can tell you that they where given to French soldiers for their defence of the Southern Netherlands in 1940 ( especially city of Breda but also others in the povinces of Noord-Brabant and Zeeland). That's all I heard about it. I haven't found any book, nor papers in archives. I don't know who created it(French or Dutch initiative?) and who produced the medal.

Thank you for the reply, that is the exact emblem I'm looking for. The only difference is the collor of the background, the one here is white, the one on wikipedia is beige/brown. I read the collor has changed in 1975. The visit of the general was between 1973-1976 (still looking for exact dates in archives), so it could well be that he received the ''old collor'' insignia. I'll see if I can make scan of the other because my picture doesn't much look alike.

Dear gents, for my historical work at the Royal Military Academy in the Netherlands (Europe) I need some help. At the moment I am working through the legacy of a Dutch general. He used to be head of the equipment department of the Dutch army. For this function, he often visited foreign countries (like when a new rocket was introduced). In his legacy there is a box full of insignia, commemorative coins etc. from his visit to the U.S.A. which I'm currently registering into a digital system. However, there are 2 Distinctive Unit Insignia I can't identify. I've made a poor scetch of them, and can only hope I don't offend anyone with them. The left one is a white shield with a blue beam across it. In the upper right corner is a liberty bell, in the lower left corner an oil lamp(?). the other insignia is just a shield with 3 beams, black/red and turqoise. As I said, it is not a very good scetch I made, the lines from the right emblem are a little different as pictured, but I hope someone recognises it. I'm not sure if they are Distinctive Unit Insignia, but they are the exactly the same kind as other unit pins I have been able to find out, I just can't find these 2 in books nor on the internet. Thanks in advance for all the help. kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, in Amsterdam (The Netherlands, Europe) a new museum will be opened this evening. The museum is called ''De Hermitage'' and is located in the old renovated building Amstelhof (used to be a home for the elder people), located at the Amstel. site(in Dutch): http://www.hermitage.nl/nl/ It will be a dependance of the hermitage in St. Petersburg (Russia) http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/. From tomorrow until 31 January 2010 you can visit the first exibition called ''Aan het Russische hof'' (''at the Russian court'') and tells the tale of the wealthy life and many strict rules at the Russian court of the Tsars. More than 1800 objects will be shown. Including many army uniforms and orders. The pictures proof to be very promissing: http://www.hermitage.nl/nl/tentoonstelling...ldmateriaal.htm following pictures are from the site, copyright of Stichting Hermitage, at the Amstel: I'm sure I'm going to visit the museum. kind regards, Roeland

Indeed, if the customer wanted it with swords or ankers, they could have it made. They weren't official, but I believe if one was allowed to wear the order and had one made with swords or ankers, nobody would really make a problem of it. I believe even the army museum in Brussels has some of those in the collection. I have also seen orders with 1-language core in Dutch (normally 1-language core is in French only), or the ''Ijzerkruis'' with flemish collors (I believe Hendrik has one on his site as well). Although they are not official, I do like the looks of them sometimes (if they look old, not the newer versions). Perhaps I like them because they are not as common as the normal ones. Furthermore, if you collect these orders you could have these unofficial types as well in your collection, you can't deny them as they excist and are/have been worn. kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, took a while, but here is a bigger picture of the cross. I've checked if the seller really is a german officer as he claimed. I found out he is a high ranking German naval officer. Furthermore I've received, after asking, more information from the seller about the RK. He says his superior, from whom he got this cross, received it for actions as a submarine captain in WW2. After the war he was still in the Bundesmarin. He bought the Iron cross in the early 60's (60 or 61). The seller however told me he promissed to keep the name secret and would not tell me more about the wearer. This is because the son of the RK wearer is a high ranking German diplomat in Hamburg and they don't want to sturr anything up with ''nazi'' stories. The seller gave me, in writing, a lifetime guarantee on the originality. I can always get my full money back. He will reveil the name in a few years, when the son is no longer on that top position. I had my doubts, because practically it sounded dubious to say the least and to good to be true that it was from a ww2 submarin officer. So I went by a list of RK wearers who: -Kriegsmarin RK wearers (http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/K...-Startseite.htm) -submarine captains -survived the war -after the war served in the bundesmarin -have a son with a political career in Hamburg In the end, only 1 name matched completely, the name of a General(rank after the war in the bundesmarin) with a son who is a high ranking UN nucleair arms diplomat in Hamburg. The RK wearer also had a bundesmarin career that had a match with the seller. Although I asked the seller if I was correct with the name, he said he could not verify anything, I had to wait untill the time was ripe. I have been thinking about writing the wearer, but I don't want to poke my nose in something. I also respect the fact that the wearer and family don't wan't to sturr anything up because of the son. Reading here what I found out may take 2 minutes and sounds simple, but I really spend a few days of archive research(and also checked other wearers that sounded less likely just to be certain). I'm pretty sure I got the name right. For me, it is ok knowing who it might have been from (and the person I found doesn't show up at RK wearer meetings, so he might not have a RK anymore indeed), I can get the name in a few years and I have got a lifetime guarantee for a full refund of my money. Sorry for my bad english, but I hope it is understandable. Here is the picture: If you think it is a clear fake, I can get my money back from the seller. I'm also thinking aboiut sending it to Detlev Niemann for an expertise. Does anybody knows if he is a 1957 expert?(in other words, would it be wise to get an expertise report from him?) kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, thank you for the responses. Sadly enough the attachment is to big, could you send it to my email please(I would really appreciate it, rrm-collection@hotmail.com). This is the only RK 1957 I ever had, so I was no expert on it nor on the price I paid myself. I'll make a close up as soon as possible and post it here. If it is a fake I've been had myself, but the original seller is a German officer and he claims he once got it from his superior, and the superior bought it in 1960. If it is any help, more information on the ribbon: the ribbon's white parts are 19 threaded and the ribbon does not light up under blacklight. Btw, I cancelled the sale already before I asked here, if there are even doubts I won't sell my name as collector for a few bucks. kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, can anybody give me more information on this knight's cross, I bought it as an original early version made by Deumer. Someone told me this is clearly a fake one from a later period. Anyone more info? it is a 3 piece construction and magnetic. kind regards, Roeland

Hello Ed Haynes, thank you for your answer. So you think it could be a model that was used from 1899 up to 1963? kind regards, Roeland

Hello gents, I've got a question regarding the French colonial order: Ordre de l??toile d'Anjouan. I look for them often on ebay, the text, according to many books, should display the word Royal in it (ORDRE ROYAL DE ?TOILE D?ANJOUAN COMORES). Most I see with this text are clearly original. However, I see a different type more and more often for sale. They always concern the commander grade (haven't seen it in a different grade yet) and they don't look very old. It looks the same but without the word ROYAL in the text (can't remember if there are other differences, but I don't think there are). They often go for up to +-300 euro. Does anyone know more about that type? kind regards, Roeland

thank you for the explanation, didn't know that, very interesting kind regards, Roeland

commander of the 81st brigade of infantry. Killed by a splinter from a bomb at col du Bonhomme, while he came to visit and give moral support to soldiers that had been under intensive bombardment. Am I correct about his death?