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Rusty, The tarnishing/oxidisation really does make a mess of this example. Owain

Rusty, Always good to see such beautiful pieces. Keep up the good work! Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my opening post of May 2020 where I illustrated a jewel from the Province of Palestine I can now illustrate the successor to this jewel - the Province of Jordan. The same design but with the word Palestine replaced by Jordan. I would infer by the change that the former is pre-1948 and the latter post 1948. Obverse - Province of Palestine Reverse - D.C. Commins, Initiated 16/5/56 The manufacturer is - Fattorini & Sons Ltd., Bradford Works, Birmingham Kind regards, Owain

Michael, Great research - even a modest set of medals has a good story. Three different monarchs between the issue of her two medals. Owain

They look great - well done - enjoy the day. Owain

Gentlemen, A new addition to the series - this time an image from a manufacturer's (F.C.Parry) trade brochure of RAOB Regalia. (F.C. Parry were founded in 1937 and in 2013 the company was purchased by the RAOB.) The images is of the 'Pride of Libya' lodge - the lodge number is unclear but may be No. 8935. No reverse image. The ribbon is of the colours of the flag of the Kingdom of Libya - red, black and green. The bade of the jewel is an interesting mix of a cross bearing a crescent and star. Regards, Owain

Dear Guest Abbasi, Welcome and I hope you find these post of interest. Some years ago I had the good fortune to obtain the illustrated set of forty-one ribbons of British and Bahawalpur mounted in nine rows. Accompanying the ribbons was a letter which noted, “Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi ‘gifted’ me this item at an audience at the Darbar Mahal outside of Bahawalpur city, telling me that it belonged to his granddad, General Nawab Sadeq Muhamad Khan V” . The ribbons are detailed below. I believe that this is a representative set and I have no evidence of it being worn. There are some anomalies, for example no British orders (Victorian, Indian Empire & Star of India); the Nawab was too young to serve and qualify for the British Great War trio of medals; the Nawab was at Aitchison College and thus did not qualify for the India General Service Medal (I need sight of a medal roll to confirm this); ditto the General Service Medal; the WW2 Defence Medal and the WW2 India Service medal were mutually exclusive, i.e. you could not get both, and there are other anomalies. However the ribbons are an impressive compilation and may well have been put together by a military tailor as a representative selection. Owain · Row 1 – Bahawalpur – Orders of Sutlej, Abbasia & Haroonia · Row 2 – Bahawalpur – Order of Huzoori, War Efficiency Decoration, UK – 1914-15 Star & 1914-18 War Medal · Row 3 – UK – 1914-18 Victory Medal, 1908-35 India General Service Medal, 1918-62 General Service Medal, 1939-45 Star · Row 4 – UK – Africa Star, Pacific Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal · Row 5 – UK – 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 India Service Medal, 1911 Delhi Durbar Medal, 1935 Jubilee Medal & 1937 Coronation Medal · Row 6 – UK – 1953 Coronation Medal 1953, Pakistan – 1947 Independence Medal, 1956 Republic Medal, Bahawalpur – 1914-18 Great War Star, 1919 North West Frontier Medal · Row 7 – Bahawalpur – 1930-31 Kot Sabzal Campaign Medal, 1939-45 Second Great War Medal, 1939-45 Victory Star, 1924 Installation Medal, 1933 British-Bahawalpur Alliance Centenary Medal · Row 8 – Bahawalpur – 1931 Installation Silver Jubilee Medal, 1947 Independence Medal, 1947 Bahawalpur Pakistan Alliance Medal, 1956 Installation Golden Jubilee Medal & 1885 State Award (??) · Row 9 – Military General Service Medal, Military Long Service Medal, Good Service Medal, Military Good Conduct Medal & 1935 Pilgrimage Medal

Mike, The design is similar to some early pieces of the Order but it is missing a crown suspension - the granulations between the arms and at the end of the arms are only seen in very early hand made pieces. Also it appears to be a cast or die piece rather than a locally hand made piece. It is most attractive but I think it is of European manufacture - the 'small' size may indicate a French origin. Owain

Rusty, Paul, Thanks for your input. Good to know the mark is of German origin and the crescent and crown indicates it is of silver. I note a crown in a circle (sun) is the gold mark. Silver purity marks are as follows: 800, 830, 835, 900, 925 & 935. I had thought that the complete lack, or indeed absence of tarnish on the piece was because it is of 925 gold rather than silver-gilt, but almost certainly it is of silver gilt. Regards., Owain

Gentlemen, The illustrated miniature, originally sold as a miniature of the Egyptian Order of Ismail, is a bit of a mystery. The crown with its cross is definitely Ethiopian but the star does not have conjoined lower limbs. Ismail miniatures are always seen enamelled and do not have a cabochon, whereas there are issues of the Star of Ethiopia with a cabochon. The revers mark appears to be a C and a crown and the figures 925. Is the crown a European mark? The obverse sees to indicate different (possibly) engraving on the two pieces but the reverse appear to indicate the same manufacturer. Any ideas? Owain

Nice to see an Iraq 1954 Flood Rescue Medal as part of a group. With the award of the Nuclear Veterans medal the recipient of the group with his Canal Zone clasp has two retrospective awards. Owain

Gentlemen, Out of the scope of my collecting but I am across this image. The inscription reads: Top - "We will win" The rest - "Let the Ethiopian Marxist Leninist organisation get stronger" Sadly this small badge represents a grim period of the history of Ethiopia. Owain

Drugo, Many thanks - I now know what the display was for. It is a well presented souvenir of a past era. Owain

Gentlemen, Whilst looking for something else I came across this display sheet of Yugoslav ribbons and devices. Other than what you can see there is no other script or attribution. It appears official and I wonder if it was some manner of government or military display / promotional piece. There is a slight fold which, if I recall correctly was how it came to me. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Recently sold on E-Bay a group of five unnamed Egypt & Cyprus RAOB medals - none named. Obverse - 'Bitter Lake Lodge Egypt Cyprus 8414' with clasp 'Bitter Lake LGE 8414'. Reverse - Plain Obverse - 'Overseas Buffalo Association Per Orbem Golo' with suspension inscription, 'Egypt and Cyprus'. Reverse - Maker's marks 'FCP' & 'Parry Birmingham'. Obverse - 'Justice Truthy Philanthropy G.L.E.' with suspension inscription 'Egypt' - see earlier posts. Reverse - 'Member of the Province of Egypt Bro.' Obverse - 'Donor G.A. of Egypt Benevolent Orphans Fund' with clasp 'Egypt & Cyprus Branch No. 6 O.B.A.'. Reverse - Plain Obverse - 'Overseas Buffalo Association RAOB' with clasps 'Egypt & Cyprus Branch No. 6 O.B.A.' and 'O.B.A. Egypt No. 1 Branch'. Reverse - Maker's mark - unclear but possibly/probably 'Birmingham'. Kind regards, Owain

Thanks. I suspect the chance of finding a Jordanian medal roll is near to zero. Some 300 approx UK nationals were presented with the medal - no case or certificate - they were allowed to accept but not to ware. From what limited research I have been able to make the total issue was less than 1,000. Perhaps I should use Google translate and search the Finnish language internet. Owain

Gentlemen, From a dealer sale of some years ago - not mine I hasten to add. My specific interest is in the Jordanian Gratitude Medal of 1970. Awarded by Jordan to those who took part in the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mission after the black September civil war. I believe the Nordic countries sent NGO's not military medical units. The UK military medical team went in civilian clothes as member of the British Red Cross. “By 28 September the National Societies of the following countries had sent or promised relief in the form of medical supplies, foodstuffs, vehicles, blood plasma, dressing material, surgical instruments, blankets, clothing and cash: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Several governments and charitable organizations also announced contributions. ----- At the ICRC’s request a number of national societies sent or promised medical teams to Jordan to work under the flag of the International Committee. ----- The ICRC accepted British and American government’s offers to send surgical and medical teams to Jordan to work under the sign of the Red Cross in combination with the assistance programme already started by the ICRC.” ICRC Report October 1970. I have identified the awards, I think, as follows: Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class with Oak Leaves; Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class; Cross of Liberty, 4th Class; Order of the Lion of Finland, Knight 1st Class, 1939-40 Winter War, clasp ‘Karjalan-Kannas’ (Karelian-Isthmus) with Swords; 1941-45 War Medal; 1939-40 Central Karelian Isthmus Cross; 1941-44 Eastern Isthmus Cross; Germany Third Reich - Iron Cross, 2nd Class; Jordan - Gratitude Medal 1970. Is the group original ? I have no idea. Perhaps the recipient was initially a soldier then after 1945 became an administrator or a doctor. Any ideas? Thanks, Owain

Graf, The Cornuau miniature is stunning. Igor, Lovely group - I wonder what the missing piece was - sadly no idea of knowing. Owain Gentlemen, I attach two bars purchased some years ago from South America - there is a LdH but a poor quality one. From my notes: For a collector one of the joys of the internet is to travel the world from a desk in search of acquisitions for a collection. The two bars of miniatures illustrated here came from an auction house in Uruguay. My delight in being able to obtain the pair was somewhat tempered by the complexity of payment and cost of shipping and indeed by the time the pair arrived the cost of shipping had exceeded the cost of purchase. Notwithstanding the saga of purchase, the pair, totalling fourteen awards, consists of at least ten Grand Cordon or First Class orders. The grade of award is indicated by the small rosette and gilt wings or ‘galon’ upon the ribbon and it is possible that at least three of the remaining four are of a similar high grade of which two appear to be miniature breast stars rather than miniature badges. From the seniority of the awards within the set it may be reasonable to assume that the recipient was possibly a Minister or Ambassador. Sadly there is no award from Uruguay where the miniatures were purchased, nor is more than one award from the lead order on either bar to suggest a source from Chile or Peru. Group 1 - Peru, China, Sacro Militare Ordine Constantiniano di San Giorgio (Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George – 1st Class, France, Ecuador, Brazil & Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) - Pro Merito Melitensi (For Merit) – 1st Class Civil. Group 2 - Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) – Supremus Ordo Militaris Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodius et Melitensis (The Sovereign Military Hospitaler Order Of Saint John Of Jersualem, Of Rhodes And Of Malta) – 1st Class, Egypt & Italy. Enjoy, Owain

Graf, This time a modest group of three - LdH, Medjide (Egypt or Ottoman) & Star of Ethiopia, dating late 19th / early 20th century. Owain

Graf, In complete contrasts to your beautiful miniatures I detail another LdH and Order of Merit group. I attach images of General Diallo's miniatures - a very large group! I detail below my notes on the group. Errors/ommissions mea culpa. Owain General Jean Alfred Diallo (16 September 1911 - 22 Mai 2006). The group is an excellent representative set of the French award manufacturer Arthus Bertrand and of the medallic heritage of post-independence French West Africa. Diallo initially saw military service with French Colonial troops during the Second World War. Subsequent to the independence of Senegal in 1960 his military career flourished and he was appointed Commander in Chief and Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Army for 10 years. During his career he also commanded the National Gendarmerie from August 1968 to June 1972 and was also Director of Military Justice and Inspector of the Republican Guard. In later life he was appointed Ambassador of Senegal to the Federal Republic of Germany. In old age he retired to France and died at the age of 95 at Versailles outside Paris. The Republic of Senegal is the westernmost country of the African continent and became a French colony in the 19th century. The country became independent on 20 August 1960 and the first President Leopold Sedar Senghor ruled from 1960 to 1981. Unlike many other African nations the military in Senegal has not intervened in political matters and it receives much of its equipment, support and training from France. The miniatures are all, it is believed to be, of French manufacture – silver-gilt, silver or bronze and are mounted in three rows of twelve, twelve and eleven miniatures respectively. All of the rosettes are riveted to the ribbons and are not sewn on. Top Row 1. Senegal - Grand Cross (1st Class) of the National Order of the Lion. 2. France - Commander (3rd Class) of the Legion of Honour 3. Senegal – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Merit 4. France - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of Merit. 5. France - Croix de Guerre 1939 1945 – no reverse date 6. France - Croix de Guerre for Overseas Operations – no reverse date 7. France – Combatant’s Cross. 8. Unofficial – European Combatant’s Cross. 9. France 1939-45 War Medal 10. France - Indochina Campaign Medal 11. France - The Rhine and Danube Association Medal 12. Malta – Grand Cross of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem & Malta Middle Row 1. Ivory Coast - Grand Cross (1st Class) of the National Order 2. Ethiopia – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia 3. Ethiopia – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Menelik II 4. Argentina – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of May - Military Merit Division (N.B. the badge is of a pre-1957 type – possibly an error of the French manufacturer.) 5. Brazil – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Diplomatic Merit 6. Cameroon – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Valour 7. Togo – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Mono 8. Morocco – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Alouite 9. Tunisia - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Republic, (miniature breast star) 10. Lebanon – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Cedar, (miniature breast star) 11. Belgium – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Leopold I 12. Luxembourg – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Crown of Luxembourg Row 3 1. Austria - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Decoration of Merit of Austria 2. Madagascar - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Malagasy National Order 3. Niger – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of the Republic of Niger 4. Zaire - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of the Leopard 5. Gabon - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Equatorial Star 6. Dahomey - Commander (3rd Class) of the National Order 7. Mauritania – Commander (3rd Class) of the National Order of Merit 8. Malta - Commander (3rd Class) of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem 9. Benin - Officer (4th Class) of the Order of the Black Star of Benin 10. France - Colonial Service Medal 11. France – Ruhr, Rhine and Tyrol Occupation Medal – 2nd Type post 1945 Prior to independence the then Colonel Jean-Alfred Diallo served with the French military and commanded a battalion of the 5th Engineers at Versailles. He returned to Senegal shortly before the political crisis of December 1962 when the Prime Minister Mamadou Dia was accused of an attempted coup d’etat. President Senghor appointed Diallo Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces instead of General Fall and whilst Diallo had agreed not to take sides, under pressure from French officers he would give his support to the President. Thirty years later in 1992, General Diallo noted, “Mamadou Dia has never made a coup d'état against Senghor - the history of the coup d'état is pure fabrication”.

Good morning from London, This time a French LdH 3rd Class/Commander led group of five with Dutch, Belgian, Japanese and Moroccan awards. Possibly a diplomat. The centre of the Moroccan order reads, "Allah, the Nation, the King". A nice group but I am not sure if I like the suspension brooch - a bit 'chunky'. Owain

Graf, I don't think the MM earrings were made from solid miniature pieces, rather they are cast hollow silver items. Perhaps this was done as hollow pieces would be lighter to wear from the earlobe? Owain

Graf, Something different - silver Medaille Militaire earrings - found in a bric-a-brac/antique shop in Boston, USA. Owain

Graf, Lovely mini chain - possibly a diplomat? Owain

Gentlemen, Another LDH led group acquired in the last few years - no research done and I doubt if much is possible other than to provide a summary of each award. The recipient of these awards was, I suspect some manner of late nineteenth and/or early 20th century senior diplomat or colonial administrator with much service in Indo-China. Owain