Stogieman

Now the mark in question:

A montage for your review. I can show many more identical ones, if you'd like.

Well, anyway you slice it, that is one sweet photo. Bernd, thanks so much for all you have been adding to these threads and for sharing all your information!! That's what it is all about Ladies & Gentlemen!!

I have seen both types, but not on MKF ribbons, usually, one is on peace-time statute ribbon. I have also seen both gold & silver, but again, both on statute ribbon.

Interesting bar. I'd say BMVO4wX, BMVO4, EK2, Jubilee, PCO4, LSC

I saw this bar and feel strongly it's a contemporary mounting.

Well, based on the statutes, looks like a high combat order. My friend in Germany asked about this and had to choose, I told him to get one of these, so hopefully when he returns to Europe we'll get some good scans for the archives!

Hi Ed, what really stuns me is the clarity of these tiny little images!! Yes, history it is.

Interesting differences here Ed... Especially given that the simpler one seems to pre-date the hard-bound one.

Very nice bar Chet!

He must have been well-to-do in a difficult economic period in order to make these bars... A name would be pretty neat.

A great little thread Gentlemen! Sometimes, we tend to overlook the pre-WW1 campaigns and wars. So many scarce items from China and before. Thanks!

Part of what is so amazing about this one is that aside from the rather extreme rarity, the medal itself is just drop-dead beautiful. Heavy, well-struck and high relief. I have not seen a scan/image yet that does it justice. You just have to hold it in your hand...

final detail:

more:

additional images of the order:

And... an example of the post-1979 Order, recently sold on eBay-USA. (not to me!)

Early photo of Marti in Jamaica:

Orden "Jos? Mart?" Instituida en 1972. Se otorga a ciudadanos cubanos, extranjeros y a jefes de Estado o Gobierno por grandes haza?as en favor de la paz y la humanidad: Por valiosos y extraordinarios aportes en la educaci?n, la cultura, las ciencias y el deporte, as? como por m?ritos destacados en el trabajo creador. English translation: Jos? Mart? Order Instituted by the Law number 1239, of 2nd of December 1972. Awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba. It is conferred to Cuban and foreign citizens and to Chiefs of State or Government for great deeds in favour of peace and mankind: For worthy and outstanding achievements in education, culture, sciences and sports, as well as remarkable merits in creative work. Jos? Mart? (1853-1895) Cuban poet, essayist and journalist, who became the symbol of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain and who promoted better understanding among American nations. "No man has any special right because he belongs to any specific race; just by saying the word man, we have already said all the rights." Mart?'s three major collections of poems were Ismaelillo (1882), Versos sencillos (1891), and Versos libres, written in the 1880s, but published posthumously in 1913. In his most famous political poem, 'Sue?o con claustros de m?rmol', he takes the reader in his dream world, in which sculptures of dead heroes come alive. Ribbon shown below is the post-1979 version of the ribbon used for this order

Hi David, now that's a scarce little bar! Very nice!

If you examine the badge in question and compare it point by point, you'll see what I I'm saying.

Or like this:

It's really quite simple. The quality of the badge being shown isn't this good.

Be my guest!

Well, I don't think you'll find much that could be scarcer. Or more beautiful. The Type 1 medal is very hard to find and this one is just one huge hunk of real silver. Weighs a ton!