Stogieman

This one was interesting. pretty sure I was the first person to open it. Stone-cold mint in the tissue, in the blue wrapper!

Here's one with only a "K"

Here's an example of the plain blue packet, made in the thousands and tossed. How many do you have? This one is ink-stamped with a purple "KO"

Here's another example:

We see hundreds of the thousands of EK2's awarded in WW1...... but what about the packets? Not many found as most were tossed away almost immediately. I've seen a number of the "Retailer" named packets over the years. Some common and colorful, many just elegant in their simplicity....... But the real gems to me are the plain blue wrappers the crosses left the manufacturer in. So far, I've seen plain packets in paper and wax paper, paper packets ink-stamped in purple with the following makers: "KO", "W" & "S&W". How about you? What ones have you seen or do you have in your collection?

Here's a basic retailer packet. This maker was not a manufacturer, but rather a "jobber".... these can be fun to collect in and of themselves. You'll see them with all sorts of hand-written notes as to recipient, contents, units, etc.

Hi Chuck, welcome to the Forum. Fabulous Order, especially with the swords. I think much of the Imperial Russian Orders are amongst the most beautiful. I've bid on a number of bars with a St Anna, or St. Stanislaus mixed into a German grouping......... but always seem to get hammered out in the end by a Native Russian. Can't say I blame them at all!

Of course I would be miscreant to not offer up the same medal on the scarce Non-Combattant ribbon!

Whoops, sorry about that... rather small. Here's a bigger view of the packet/medal.

Speaking of Bulgaria, here's a nice complete set to a German. Award document, Medal and imprinted cellophane bag of issue!

Paul's post of the backs is interesting. Many of these bars are all individual ribbons with snaps that could be slipped on/off and added to very easily. Quite different from the German sewn/tabbed style of bar where every time you were decorated you's have to get a new bar!!

Some awards are very rare on ribbon bars. Any group with an Order of The Iron Crown is especially nice.... some times, like the examples above, you'll see the ribbon with just swords. Very occassionally, one will find a bar with a miniature KD Laure Leaves wreath in gold & enamels........

The real Pot of Gold......... a Leopold Order. One of Austria's highest awards for strictly Officers. Perhaps a member has one to show??

I wish I could remember the mini-bar but I figure some of you guys can do this in your sleep!! I'd love to have one nice British gallantry group but these days...... yikes!

This was a mini/"mess dress" board. Quality was superb with the MC & others in real silver. The mini bar and mini MID palm were exquisite...

I was searching through my archives and finally came across photos of the one Brit Gallantry group that floated through here!

Maker's label from inside the lid. Box had no stampings/title at all and this is the only example I have ever found/seen.

Reverse of the medal:

The piece is tough enough to find. Especially mounted in a group. Here's an early war in real silver in the simple maker's box.... This would be equivalent to the Prussian EK2

A little closer on the bars:

How about some nice Veteran's pieces? The variety was almost infinite and lots of really, really neat stuff. I invite all to add theirs to the thread!!

Here's a Kyfhauserbund Medal with 2 "battle bars"..... we could almost do an entire thread on nothing but this one style of veteran's piece!

Notice the typical color inversion we see with a Saint Henry Ribbon......

And, up close in personal

Rick R surmised this as a proof..... the paper is almost nothing! A little closer!

In from Germany and some nicer photos.

Hi Paul, I've seen wound medal ribbon with 5 stripes!

Reverse with that nice woven "tape" material that we see many times, but not that often in red!!

Here's a rather rare one with the Wilhelm's Cross w. Swords. A rather odd and scarce award along the lines of the Saxon Honor Cross...... you know, one of the "we don't have anything really to give you, take one of these" awards!