pieter1012

Paul, even if the Golden Fleeces you examined were not as refined as the St Prince Lazar, I wouldn't mind having one in my collection. Regards, Pieter

As Paul mentioned the presence of Golden Fleece badges, for what its worth, I checked the list of Golden Fleece members since 1800 (both the Spanish as Austrian branch) against the Princely families Dragomir mentioned. in 1863 Ludwig III, Grand Duke of Baden received the Spanish Golden Fleece and in 1878 Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Baden also received the Spanish Golden Fleece. No mention of the house of Toerring-Jettenbach. Of course this does not mean much as the jewels could have been inherited from related families, but perhaps a small hint in the right direction.

Alex, feel free to keep the pictures on file. I took them so there is no copyright on them. 922F, both the case and breaststar are completely unmarked, so I cannot tell who the maker is. However, the breast star is very finely made, so I would suspect Kretly, who is known for it's fine work. I have added some more photo's so you can have a better look of the case and star. Pieter

Hi Alex, very nice pictures of king Kalakaua of Hawaii. The coloured picture you made of him is excellent. When I was in Honolulu many years ago, I visited Iolani Palace, which is now a museum, displaying many of the king's orders. As you also collect orders and medals, you might be interested in the only Hawaii item I have in my collection; Grand Officer of the Crown of Hawaii, bestowed to a Japanese official in 1888. Unlike a normal grand-officer class, with neck decoration and breaststar, this grand officer class consisted of a sash (narrower than the grand cross sash of the same order) without sashbadge and a similar breaststar as the grand cross.The document is signed by king Kalakaua himself. Hope you enjoy the pictures, regards, Pieter

On 4 June 1941, tomorrow exactly 75 years ago, former German emperor Wilhelm II died in Doorn, The Netherlands, where he was living in exile since the end of the first WW. Europe, again engaged in a devastating war with Germany, paid almost no attention to the emperor's death. Even in Germany it got little attention. As The Netherlands was then occupied by Germany, and the former emperor guarded by the Wehrmacht, Hitler ordered a funeral for the monarch with full military honours and send a huge wreath. The body of Wilhelm II was placed in a small chapel on the grounds of House Doorn, where it rests till today. After being granted asylum by the Dutch queen in November 1918, Wilhelm II bought a large estate in Doorn, in the center of The Netherlands, where he would be living till his death in 1941. In exchange for signing the abdication document, Wilhelm II was allowed to bring much of his personal belongings, including his numerous uniforms and decorations, to Doorn. In order to stay fit and while away his time, Wilhelm II started a daily routine of felling and chopping up the trees which were abundant in the area where he lived. The chopped pieces of wood were given to the population of Doorn, where, in time, the former emperor got quite popular. With the tree felling, Wilhelm II had the assistance of a number of foresters, amongst them G. van Veenendaal, who worked with the monarch for twenty years. When, on 10 May 1940, the German army occupied The Netherlands, most of the Dutch staff of House Doorn were soon sent away by the Wehrmacht officer responsible for the security of Wilhelm II. Capper Van Veenendaal got a signed portrait from the monarch as small memento. Earlier, on 27 January 1934 Van Veenendaal was awarded the Verdienstmedaille first class of the House Order of Hohenzollern, on occasion of the 75th birthday of Wilhelm II. I have the items of Van Veenendaal in my collection; reminders of a forgotten monarch. As forum members interested in Imperial germany, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Pieter Wilhelm II at tree cutting, in the middle with hat, and Van Veenendaal at the far left with cigar in hand The Verdienst medaiile of Van Veenendaal for some reason, the first picture with the coffin came upside down, sorry for that.

I have only a few American items (mainly regarding the Purple Heart) in my collection, but the recent visit of president Obama to the Hiroshima memorial, reminded me of a poignant Purple Heart document I have that is witness to the tragic loss of the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill on 11 May 1945 about 70 miles off the coast of Okinawa. The Bunker Hill was the flagship of the American navy in the Pacific theater at that time, with thousands of crewmen and holding the most sophistcated naval technology. In the early morning of May 11 1945, a young Japanese Zero pilot spotted the Bunker Hill and radioed home that he was going to nose dive into the enemy vessal. The Bunker Hill survived this suicide attack, heavily damaged, with 393 dead and 264 wounded, limping back to Pearl Harbour. One of the dead was 19 year old seaman first class Allan Scott Herring. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. Hope you enjoy the picture.

Hi pjcampo, the Japanese Emperor uses two kinds of Imperial seals; the Dai Nippon Kokuji, which is the State seal and the Tenno Gyoji, which is his Privy seal. For instance award documents signed by the Emperor would carry the State seal (see picture of Emperor Hirohito's signature below the chrysanthemum mark and above the State seal on an award document). The Privy seal would for instance, be used by personal appointments, such as the appointment of a cabinet minister (enclosed a picture of the Privy seal above which Emperor Hirohito signed as Regent on behalf of his father, Emperor Taisho). A Japanese document, signed by the Emperor and the whole cabinet on 14 August 1945, is often seen in books on the Japanese surrender. However, this is not a Japanese copy of the Missouri document, but the Imperial rescript on the decision to surrender. I am sure there must be also a Japanese translation of the actual surrender document signed by foreign minister Shigemitsu, but I haven't seen one. Should add that this Imperial rescript has the Privy seal of the Emperor below his signature Japan had no bravery medal such as the Congressional Medal of Honor of Victoria Cross. Its highest military award was the order of the Golden Kite, which came in seven classes. Depending on one's rank a different class was awarded for brave or outstanding service during war. Hope this information is useful. regards Pieter

The first class of the Crown Order always had a sash badge,light blue sash and eightpointed breaststar. In case of an award with swords, the sashbadge would have swords between the arms, and on the star as shown in picture one. Here a picture of a civilian first class set of the Crown order I have. I took the sash out of the case so the colour can be better regognized. regards, Pieter

Hi Demir, thank you for your quick response. Yes, I like this set, especially as it comes with the old pre WW1 velvet case, even if the inner lining of the lid is missing. Best regards, Pieter

Hi Demir, I have in my collection a grandcross of the Order of the Medjidie, with velvet case. Unfortunately, the inner lining of the lid is missing.(see pictures) Is there any way this can be repaired? I guess I will need a piece of silk cloth from the Ottoman period, can that still be obtained somewhere in Ankara? Thanks for any advice, Pieter

Hi Demir, Sorry to put this here, but I see you are the host on Turkish orders. I have a question on the order of the Medjidie that I posted in the Turkish section, perhaps you can take a look. thanks, Pieter

Demir, the order was indeed established in 1866, and the last number looks more like a 6 to me; compare it with the 1 in front. The picture shows the reverse side of the order. The front side has the motto MERENTI. Regards,Pieter

Hi Rohleder, the Meiji era golden kites had drooped wings. regards, Pieter

Hi Oamotme, thank you very much for the information on the Iranian medal. I basically bought this medal because I liked the design, without knowing anything of its purpose. Thanks to the input of you and g1usxs the medal has now become a much more interesting addition to my collection. Regards, Pieter

Be assured that I will take good care of the medal. Hopefully, some day I can complete it with its ribbon. Regards Pieter

Hi g1usxs, thank you very much for the useful information on this Iranian medal. Looking at the persons on the medal, I suppose it is for cooperation between the army and civilian population. I checked the ribbon chart and the ribbon of this medal has an elaborate colour pattern, so unfortunately it will be difficult to match. Again, many thanks and regards, Pieter

A bit off topic, but amazing that Napoleon had time for these "trivial" matters. From April till june 1807 he was headquartered in Schloss Finckenstein, East Prussia, engaged in a war with Tsar Alexander of Russia, fighting off remnants of the Prussian army, meeting with his Marshals, managing the Empire with almost daily reports from Paris, and last but not least, taking care of his mistress Marie Waleska, who was living with him in Finckenstein. Pieter

Hi Augustin, indeed a beautiful example of this rare and short lived order. Actually, it is the first order of the kingdom of the Netherlands. His big brother Napoleon was not pleased at all with this action of Louis Napoleon. He wrote to his brother an angry letter, part of which says "vous marcher trop legerement et trop vite. Vous creez des ordres de chevalerie, ce qui est une chose ridicule. La Legion d'honneur n'a jamais ete consideree comme un ordre de chevalerie". Clear language. Pieter

Peter, I agree with you, historic items need not be expensive, but having said that, prices have risen for even simple items from the Napoleontic period. How nice that you joined the re-enactment at Waterloo last summer. I could only get a look-on ticket somewhere at a distance from the battlefield. The good places were sold out, but anyway the whole atmosphere was exciting. Paul, yes when I started collecting as a youngster many years ago in the Netherlands, the highest Dutch award, the Military Order of William, knights class in good condition, could be bought for 50 guilders (about 25 euro). Now 1000 euro is not enough. Of course I realize that at that time wages were also lower, however the price increase is many fold the wage increase. I should have bought any Military order of William then coming on the market, and who knows would now have been able to afford Wellington's Garter. Pieter

Well, I guess the ambassador didn't want to appear underdressed before the British King.

Hi forum members, since I have shown my DSO to a Japanese navy officer, here a GCMG bestowed to a Japanese statesman in 1906. Takaaki Kato was Minister of Foreign Affairs when Prince Arthur of Connaught led a mission to Japan to present the Order of the Garter on behalf of King Edward VII to Emperor Meiji. Kato later became Japanese ambassador to the Court of St. James. When he was ambassador in London, he had a mantle made for his GCMG, which, together with the order including collar, is in my collection. Hope you enjoy the pictures, Pieter a picture of ambassador Kato in London and his collar & mantle GCMG

yes, but they are the usual stuff, like Rising Sun, the 1914-18 war medal, victory medal, etc.

Paul, thanks. What makes the set also nice, is that rear admiral Sakano was a member of the treaty faction within the Japanese Navy. In the 1930's the top of the navy was divided by those who supported adherence to the Washington naval treaty of 1922, modified by the London naval treaty of 1930 (treaty faction), and those who wanted to ditch it and increase the tonnage of the navy (fleet faction). Unfortunately for Japan, the fleet faction won and in1934 the Japanese government unilateraly abrogated the treaty. Many admirals of the treaty faction, including Sakano, were put on the reserve list and had no more service. Pieter

Hi Paul, thank you so much for the information on number of DSO's awarde to Japanese. It is very helpful and I appreciate it very much. Chris, I tend to agree with Paul on the reasons Sakano received the DSO. He was aide-de-camp to the Admiral commanding the Japanese squadron in the mediterrenian of one cruiser and eight destroyers. To confirm Paul's suspicion, I have attached as sample an invitation Sakano received from the Governor of Malta, for a luncheon; am sure champagne was served. For both your interest, Sakano became later aide-de-camp to the Japanese Navy minister during the peace Conference in Paris. He received there the Panamese Solidaridad medal 2d class. Although the medal itself is regulary seen on the market, I have seldom seen the certificate, so am happy to have it. He also became Officier de la Legion d'Honneur of France. Pieter

Thanks Mike, yes I saw it, but am happy to leave that to people like Lord Ashcroft