Claudius

Um, yeah. Lets see the back side too. That will be helpful in identifying this creation.

Hello Ökenräven; As Chris said, welcome to Imperial German collecting! I copied your specific questions and have the temerity to answer them below. These are only MY opinions on the best way to proceed. Nearly every member on this site would have their own suggestions, but this may serve as a discussion starting point. So, this area is totally new for me and as I understand It's pretty wide so I'll start with focusing on Prussian and Saxon awards. What I need from you experts is: What literature should I buy before I get started? -"Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany an World War I and the Men Who Earned Them - Volume III - the Aviation Awards of Prussia" by O'Connor -"Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany an World War I and the Men Who Earned Them - Volume III - the Aviation Awards of Saxony" by O'Connor (The two above books appear to be only Aviation related, however there are great photos and descriptions of the leading WWI awards from these Kingdoms. -a copy of "Die Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Reiches" by Dr. von Hessenthal /Schreiber (this is the "bible" of German awards and medals. Mind you, I said copy, the originals are very expensive) -a current issue of "Deutsche Orden Und Ehrenzeichen 1800-1945" by Nimmergut (this will also have some color photos of the awards along with values. The values are not perfect as prices for medals can fluctuate, however it will give you an idea of award prices.) Are there as many copies on the market as the third reich militaria? If so how do I avoid them? -YES, there are fakes. It will take a long time to discuss all the ways to avoid them, but if I had to say in one sentence about how to avoid them I would say; "Buy from trustworthy dealers." Trustworthy dealers are ones that have been around for several years AND have repurchase guarantees if an item they sell turns out to be fake. Then I would appreciate if you guys could recomend some awards to get started with and some serious dealers from where I can get my first items. -There are several online dealers that consistently have quality items for sale, however I would not want to mention some of them and give you the illusion that these were the ONLY good dealers out there. A little searching through this forum and online and you will find some dealers. At first, I would avoid eBay...completely. I would suggest that with anything you find for sale that you post photos and price on this forum asking for opinions if the piece is good and if the price is reasonable. I think you will find that members here a very willing to give you reliable opinions and it will keep you from having "buyer's regret". Good hunting!

I could agree with this theory. Late in the war so much of the uniform has been streamlined and reduced to the minimum -by necessity and experience. There are so many war-time demands on materials (cloth) and time, why spend it on superfluous insignia to fill-in troops. I would also imagine, that had Germany ended the war successfully, they would have returned to the cuff-title.

Wow! What a story and what a nice gift. Even after death, Rick remains a kind and thoughtful person. And it appears that his behest was well placed. Alex, that was a generous donation to the public for the benefit of their edification.

The SMH Wolf was quite the surface Raider. She roamed out mid-war, laying mines and capturing ships before returning in 1918 with her seized goods. The onboard Friedrichshafen two-seater really contributed to her success and Remy was part of that success. Thanks for showing it here!

Ah, Malamute Company. They were expanding out of the Murmansk area, part of Syren Force under Major Gen. Maynard's command. Excellent! I would LOVE to see the uniform that was part of this group! Specifically I'm curious about his CEF North Russia unit patch. It should be a white star on a blue field.

???! Who was it? Where was the gentleman; Murmansk or Archangel? Any patches or insignia in the lot?

I think they are all phony. poor, poor copies

You're right. You don't often see this one mounted. Nice! The gentleman preferred to have the medal turned this way? Perhaps to show royal cyphers rather than the campaign dates?

Hmmm..stopped updating his medal bar around mid 1938. It is still a fine looking medal bar and at least we know that he also earned two additional awards.

Correct. That is what Paul is saying. I thought $500 was a minimum, but apparently the value on these has slumped.

This badge isn't common, but certain Imperial Russian badges are more desirable than others. Specifically, the enameled badges can expect higher prices. However, fakes are a problem. This badge, if legit, could be worth over 4,000 Kr.

What a great progression of a gentleman's career! Lucky for us that Schüle always had entirely new bars made when he had a new medal to add. Thanks for showing them.

I was always under the impression that the 1332 date on the sabers clasps translated to 1914. That was further reinforced by the fact that Turkey entered the war in 1914.

Ahh, now the circumstances of this photo come together a little bit. Dad is only too happy to pose with his serving son, but he has some rank and overseas experience to show.

I agree. We know how yellow can turn up really dark in these photos. Combined with single-medal ribbon bar using the old style wrap, I think we are looking at a China veteran who is proud of his earlier service. Can we see the entire photo?

Good job Claudio for re-uniting this group!!! I very glad you were able to get it. The TWM clasp is Kanal, if I'm not mistaken.

Will need a better photo. Front / back any hallmarks. What is the booklet?

Hello Dodyory, It doesn't look like any piece from a medal or badge. I can't match it to anything Belgium. I get an African vibe from it. It appears to be a decorative buckle or hanger device. In any case, it is well make, with deep-patterned enamels. Maybe someone else has seen something like this before. btw...you don't need to type in capitals...IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE SHOUTING AT PEOPLE.

I know Rick R was relying on the blacklight to definitively catch this one but he may not have considered that anyone that would perpetrate a fraud to this degree (matching ribbon bar, miniature chain, etc.) would not so easily caught using synthetic thread.

a marvelous room! a rhetorical question? Every collector must do what they seem fitting. As for myself, I don't look at my collection the way an Interior Decorator would. Pieces may overlap and be partially obscured, but I want them out where I can view them.

Hello Barnsley; Welcome to GMIC! I'm not entirely qualified to answer your questions (to begin with, I don't live in the UK), but I can give you some basic advice. While much of it will not be that remarkable, it may help reinforce your suspicions on collecting. There are many reputable sellers, but with any item you consider you should have 100% money-back guarantee from the dealer. When you are starting out, you want to buy only from reputable dealers. Just like a buying a car, look through all the inventory available in the marketplace. Compare and contrast what you see. Seek out as many examples as possible and look at them closely. Take notice of their construction and handle them where you can. Until you build up a confidence from seeing and handling many "good" pieces and known "bad" pieces you can be susceptible to the Fakers' latest and best output. Go to the military shows and visit all of the dealer tables. Don't monopolize their time, but ask them questions about the pieces you are interested in; condition, materials used if paint or enameling, the base metal, what is rare, what is common. Knowledge about the piece and how, when, where it was used will not only help you identify a good piece and a good deal, it will further your enjoyment in collecting. Good luck and good hunting...

I am very, very disappointed..... ....that when I was in Belgium I didn't know about your collection. I would have paid admission to see it. Thank you for showing it. Great displays!

Wonderful bar!