Graf

Hi Igor, Yes it is very nice In real looks even nicer It is more likely to be WW1 period It is the small type 53 mm x 30 mm German made Stamped, as you see "SILBER" on the top Godet?! Perhaps yes, however without maker mark difficult to say Recently 14 Carat Gold badge by Godet was sold on auction in Germany It was a stunning piece and the price was also stunning Sadly I was not the lucky buyer Graf

Hi Vazov, This is a very interesting topic. Congrats If we assume that this is the Original top of the famous "Samara Flag it could be a prove of one of the theories for this rare emission. This theory speculated that it is the very first one dating 1880 This theory was supported by some Bulgarian Authors This Emission was short lived at that time and replaced by the Emissions we know for this period Then this Emission surfaced again during the period between WW1 and WW2 believed to be around the 1915 Emission period. It was speculated that left overs were found and awarded ??!! Why it is still mystery, which will be resolved one day Then again it was used in the final stages of WW2 when a very famous Soviet Marshals and Generals were awarded with "Tree Dots" Emission I suspect because this Emission did not have any date on it to relate to any of the Tzarist Periods It was even suggested that new rings were made featuring "Three Dots" to replace the rings with 1915 dates and these new rings were somewhat different in size and text format from the original. Late Prof. Pavlov rejected the idea of this Emission to be the first one pointing several reasons He believed that this emission was awarded more likely during King Boris III period, although never have been proven. He also mentioned that this Emission was awarded to top Soviet Military personnel in the final sages of WW2. Because he was and still considered to be the biggest expert for Bulgarian Military Awards, the theory that the THREE DOTS" Emission is the very first one was not followed and/or forgotten. Graf Insert other media

Enamel of the front central medallion is missing??!! Otherwise the Order is in very good condition It looks it is Gold

Hi Lars, Welcome. Here is a variant of the second model of the Cross 1915-1916 With a pin system on the back. However, the most common seen is with the ribbon loop on the top as yours Also a picture from the Queen Eleonora badge The text says "Druzestvo Samarianka" (Samarianka Society) which reinforce my belief that this is not a a model of Queen Eleonora Cross but a badge/sign of this Society. I am still researching when it was founded It continued trough WW2 period I found among my Documents a Certificate of Completed Course for Samarianka run by the Bulgarian red Cross It is from King Boris III period -1940. It appeared that those medical personnel were trained to be deployed during war and crisis situations

Hi Lars, Yes, It seems the correct colour of the ribbon is red. i have seen it mainly in two shapes -Austrian type and strait one as seen on the picture with the Queen Eleonora photo. The page on the picture with Queen Eleonora signs, medals and crosses is from a book by Veselin Denkov According to the book there are four models of the of the Commemorative signs. Your sign is described as the 3rd variant -1915-1916 However when i looked the existing literature and information i am more inclined to think that that there are three different signs/ awards 1 Medal of Queen Eleonora in three grades Gold, Silver and Bronze 2. Red Cross of Queen Eleonora two variants 1912-1913 and 1915-1916 Your Cross is the second variant The text says "God's is our work/deed" This Commemorative Red Cross was introduced in 1913ian it was awarded personally by the Queen to people in recognition of their services to the Bulgarian red Cross during the Balkan Wars 3. The third sign with the green enamel and no ribbon It comes with a pin system on the back. In my opinion was a sign/award given to the medical personnel members of the so called "Samarianka' organization to which Queen Eleonora dedicated significant time helping the ill and wounded military personnel.. Sadly she contracted an infectious disease during rendering services to the sick and wounded personnel and that caused her death I hope that helps Regards Graf

Update of the 1915 Cross

Hi 922F Thank you for the comment The Neck Cross is part of a Set This size Cross is used for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Classes of this Emission i have never seen yet Grand Cross Set from this Emission The Order of Military merit from this Emission is far more difficult to get I have seen only 2-3 pieces of it and mainly 5th Class with crown and without crown Sadly this nice Medal bar below is not mine I have so far only one with a crown

Hi, That mean that this cross is not an Officer bu 1st Class and the Emission is as i suspected early King Boris 1918-1932 Period From the information you gave us it looks like he was high ranking Diplomat It can explain the high Classes awards including the Bulgarian The Cross Badge is worn on a Sash therefore comes only with ring ( no ribbon loop) The Star of this class is -95 mm in diameter In 1933 King Boris of Bulgaria introduced The Grand Cross The Cross Badge is similar as the one of the Diplomat, however the Star is different it is diamond cut type I doubt that this Diplomat was awarded this Class simply because it was given in a very special occasions and to a very very high ranking persons It is very interesting fact that this Diplomat never had a post in Kingdom of Bulgaria. Either this Cross came from somewhere and was added to the Group or he was awarded for his contributions to Bulgaria without being there, however involved in some way Did the Group come directly from the family? More research is needed Here are the two Emissions i just described 1 Th 1st Class - early King Boris Emission 1918-1932 picture from a book 2 The Grand Cross 1933 King Boris Emission - in the box from my collection Regarding the GO Star of L2 The crown is typical Heremens It can come in any box The Box looks early Fonson not late made one Here is GC by Fonson You can see the crown on the Star It is from my collection

This rare Emission was believed to be made around 1937 for a very short period It has specific flat reverse medallion . Also the text is different from the other emissions -Ferdinand ! 2 VIII 1891

The Bulgarian Order for Civil merit, without the size details, looks like 4th Class -Officer with missing ribbon. The correct ribbon has a rosette If you provide the size of the cross, especially the width this can be confirmed the The correct size/width is 50-51 mm for this Class We need the size.It look early King Boris Period -around 1920-1930 It is a pity that the GO of L2 i has a missing central medallion. Very likely this central medallion has a French text only typical for the before 1951 pieces. Any maker marks on the back? It looks like piece of Fernand Heremans. Usually the central medallion by this maker does hot have decorative trim surrounding it Regards

Just added to my collection This one has a gold crown I wander how many variations are existing just for this cross

Hi 992F, Those Stars with the very slim text appeared around 2009 First on Ebay then on some Auctions around Europe, It was a work of well known distributor of fakes on eBay Viktor or Victor. We discussed him in the very early listings, when i started this topic He ended his activities and now he is selling high end Russian and Bulgarian fakes watches, and jewelries His Shop is called Viktor antique jewelries or similar His new adventure is to sell very expensive "original " items claimed to be Royal Russian and Bulgarian ones. He also sells many fantasy gold rings and jewelries with skuls Apparently he found selling fake Bulgarian Orders and decorations not very awarding money wise

Here is another shot of the Star The upper arm of the Cross is off the central line by a quite a bit Also the text is very slim and not quite clear The body of the Star looks OK i suspect the rest was added later I might be too critical, however there are too many warning signs.

Just saw on eBay this shocking fake. Unfortunately a nice 4th Class of the Bulgarian Order for Bravery was butchered to create a fantasy Order -Russian White Army Price Tag $ 1800 Also This Star of the Order for Military merit brought my attention The seller is selling it bellow the market value I do not like this wide black line of the edges of the enamel. Also the way the swords were ?aged" I would not be adding this one to my collection

Small update of the 1915 Red Cross Three variations

Hi New World, Thank you for finding this treasure and listing it It is a 1st Class The owner of this miniatures bar must had been a very high ranking person Amazing Few more mini bars . Not as impressive but very nice You can see the 3rd Class with green enamel on one of them PS. I just read the tread Yes it was an important person

Hi Here is a picture of Lot 53 and the result of this Auction to support the Great Dane information One of the seller, who is selling the Catalog I listed above, was very kind to send me them If this Set is not in this Cataalog The seller stated it does not feature on the back cover of the catalog, then ith might be on the back cover of a book/catalog written by Graf Clenau about Orders from Europe, which was published in 1978/1979- -picture provided Hi Ilieff, do you have any access to the King Simeon Office. They might have information what was ordered Set or a cross. The might have the answer of this question I still support the 922F statement " Gustav Tammann had a 1940's C & M small collar with a much later thin arm badge that he said was Cejalvo work. He had a new star with that collar, most likely a 1960's Rothe. I suspect that some of the Cejalvo Crosses were married to late Rothe Stars like in this picture The cross on the right is typical Cejalvo with the SS Brothers not painted directly to the center

Hi Great Dane, Thank you for the picture Without seeing a color picture I can tell you that this is a real one, also the size is correct 75 x75 mm The cross with the blue enamel discussed on the Forum and sold on eMedals site is much smaller 59 x59 mm

Hi Great Dane, Do you have the Auction Catalog If you have can you list picture of the Order I found one for sale on internet One thing emerges as a fact that Cejalvo Crosses could have been paired with late -postwar Stars to make Sets The question remains who and when those Mystery crosses with blue enamel were made. Whether they are post war Rothe work and someone copied them later on to make those crude sets recently sold on eMedals site.

Those are better pictures of the Medal with the the hinged crown Click to choose fThe medal and the crown look much finer and slimmer The crown is very small There is only one mark on the hinge "VI" and is it engraved The size of the medal is 31 mm wide

Hi Ilieff, Thank you for the great work. That is a big step in the solving the puzzle of this strange Set/Cross of the SS Cyril and Methodius. Obviously the Sets and crosses sold by eMedals and various Auctions and Dealers are not Cejalvo work made by the appointment of HM King Simeon I have couple of questions: Did you see the Cejalvo Sets or Crosses of the Orde.r According to the those not confirmed theories only Crosses were made by this firm. You stated "(though yes, C&M crosses have been minted by them upon appointment of HM The King)". I am following a link which, hopefully, will give me some more light on this question. Second question- you stated " Among the Royal collection at present, there are two such azure orders of different grades." Are those SS Cyril and Methodius azure orders or other orders?

Hi Igor, Do you try to prove the point that your 3rd Class is before 1908 You might be right All we try to do to help you to get to the right conclusion We do not try to diminish your collector achievements. Relax There is not a clear cut exactly when the shift from Princely crown to a Kings Crown took place Here are some examples that could not fit the criteria for the models of the particular period 3rd Class Order of St Alexander- Rothe with unusual crown for a Grand Cross both the cross and the ribbon loop are marked for Rothe The other cross is typical Rothe Commander with green enamel Grand Cross of the Order for Civil Merit with Kings crown, however the cross has the features of the Princely model with hand made leaves

Hi922F, Thank you for the information. I feel very happy that I started this topic. I think we are much more informed then many "Lone wolfs" collectors who are not members of any club. In my opinion the making of such pieces has no not stopped for a moment Only they are not made constantly It takes time to make the dies and the parts. then to try the market how will response to them. I have noticed that many high end WW2 German items such as KC of EK appeared on the market almost of the same time on the sites of Dealers in North America and Europe. All those crosses and high end items were in "mint" conditions Discovered in some places, where they were unnoticed for nearly 70 years and more I have heard that in recent years some Orders were made using de-assembled Originals Those "new Originals" were so good that they are sold as Originals on few Auctions around Europe Well, till the demand is there there will be efforts to satisfy the market. Our role is to get educated and not to get into the traps, however we cannot help those collectors out there who buy such items believing that they are getting the real period pieces

The Set was just sold on eMedals Auction for $ 8521 including the commission fees That is above the prices of similar Sets recently sold in the range of 5-6000 EURO on different Auctions in EUROPE What I found very disturbing is the fact that the seller has listed for the last few days at least 20-25 Collectors Copies of a high Classes of different Orders from Europe It looks like he got them from one source Are they collectors copies??