Graf

Hi Igor, I can confirm that the Cross you showed is bronze I had one in my collection, Interesting is that the both central medallions have enamel that is blue purple in colour instead of the traditional red and black.otherwise the features are the same as Farmer described them Yes It is a pity that the back central medallion is missing Why the French made them in bronze is the other questions, however we see from time to time French legion of honour in bronze gilded from the same period That is a mystery because the vast majority of the Orders from officer class and above were made from gold We can only speculate. However those orders have their own place Here are few French examples made in France during this period 1/2 size Knight Class next tho Dutalis Cross The 1/2 size cross is marked with French mark for silver Knight Class Badge with swords -marked with French mark for silver -Gold Commander Class -reduced size 68 x40.5 mm I assume this was an Officer Class converted to Commander Class for neck wearing -Grand Cordon Badge -again French made in Gold The Star is made by British maker

This is the line i am referring to - Dear Graf - this is type II (Boris III), not type I (Ferdinand I). related to my post #10 and more particular to the statement " Excellent mini of the King Boris III Type i do not argue about the use of Tsar or King. As you mentioned both King and Tsar are used in the English literature This site is meant to discuss and share knowledge in a polite way All the Best Graf

Hi AlexLev, I think you are young and energetic eager to learn and to absorb new knowledge person. It is OK If you read carefully my Text it will noticed that i referred to the Cross as King or you prefer Tsar Boris III Model Best Graf

Hi Larsb001 Excellent mini of the King Boris III Type I like those minis Here is the full Size of this Model. It is not marked No idea who was the maker I assume German Firm, however I can only speculate

Hi AlexLev The Ferdinand Model was mint in Austria I have to check the Boris Model for any maker marks The exact number will be difficult to determine, because they are given in very huge numbers Perhaps if you contact the Military Museum in Sofia you might be lucky to get some information Here is the first Model Officer XX Years of Service Cross

Hi Ruiz, Your 6th Class -Silver Order is Ferdinand Emission The Lion is one of the features of the different Models/Emissions Other features are Size Enamel, Quality etc The Ferdinand Emissions the lion has a Saxon Shield The Lion is slimmer The quality is excellent especially the first Emission with so called "Glass enamel'" -Sutka F Order above Post - #19 The Boris Emissions -the Lion is smaller and fatter Post # 15 The Regency The Lion is like Boris Emission however it is inside the obverse medallion The Reverse is the three coloured Bulgarian flag. In this Emission there is also a Lion without shield The Commander Class in Post #14 and The Republican Emissions -The Lion loses the crown and the Saxon shield and is again inside the obverse medallion The Commander Class with Wreath in post #14 There are some Orders on the market that has very unusual Lions. Those Orders were made either privately or by rare makers by the order of the awarded person.Those Orders were very difficult to be put in any period only by the Lion Other features can help to determine their period Ilieff has created a a good internet site with the Bulgarian decorations if you do not have any books

Hi Igor, Bravo ! Good Job with your research Now we know 100% that the year is 1913

Hi New World, I have only the picture of the miniatures. I wish I had the minis on the picture. However i managed to zoom the picture and the Date is 1913 which is the correct year for the Balkan Allies War ( or the Second Balkan War as it is known in Bulgaria)

Hi New World I Suspect the British Officer was a Medic working for the Red Cross and could be awarded by helping wounded POWs and humanitarian deeds/work .. or he was some kind of James Bond ( less likely)

The Cross in Medal Bar and in Miniature Model

Hi New World, Good Job. 922F mentioned this Star on Liverpool medals in posts#191 and #193 and stated that he could not relocate this picture. Now we have the picture. The only question is to be able to find out the exact purpose of those Star and badge ..or to accept what is already known and speculated

The New world is correct the ribbon is red, however we have seen this cross being sold with different ribbons simply because the original was lost Even the red ribbon appears in different sizes and shapes on the market

Hi , i have the sets of minis in my hands They look fantastic The Star is very vaulted an the central medallion is hand crafted Gold Both the cross and the Star are marked with old Austrian marks and also V.M, which i assume is for V.. Mayer Vienna Here are more pictures

That is a good picture. Who did the needle test? The Dealers are very reluctant to perform such a test I recently saw a nice Military Star on German online dealer. I requested a test he never replied again.The Star looked very good, however few things bothered me Notice It has a number on the pin(which is there to deceive) look the finish on the silast picture ..also the letters look very thin..plus the red enamel has no any structure/features underneath The Numbers do not have to convince us about the item originality .The fakers know about them and they stamp the Stars to make the look good. There is no exact information exactly wht those numbers do mean Badge number, Worker Number ???? Those number are present on some of the Stars, however not on all of them

That is correct comment

Hi New World Thank you for the comments. They are mounted to be worn together I assume this is the 1st Class Set I am not sure how how the awarding was in place Whether the persons awarded could be given the Order/Cross more then once 922F- any information will be appreciated I will post more pictures when the Set arrives Best Graf

Hi Guys Here are the miniatures of the Order The badge is 18 mm wide and the Star is 24 mm wide -Silver gilded Best Graf

Hi Alpha Draconis, The price is what the market is willing to pay at this point. All Catalogues are only guide lines I have seen over the years very "expensive " items sold very cheap and vice versa seemingly not important items sold for a small fortune I suspect you did buy the Cross on a very good price and now you are selling it to make few $$$ It is OK in the real world ......or your main interest is not Bulgarian Orders otherwise you will keep it Good Luck

Here is a nice photo of Queen Eleonora wearing her Red Cross Badge Look the size of it Plus a man with decorations The man is not known to me Any idea?

Hi That is a good news Then Consider it as Grand Cross Meanwhile i looked the Cross and has features of a Grand Cross and also the length you gave is typical of a Grand Cross YJust wanted to make sure that is the correct Cross Congrats. Regarding the Collar -there are two of the Big and Small The big one had a cross 55 mm wide while the small Collar had a Cross 51 mm wide

Hi Here is an example of a Grand Cross of the Order of Civil merit The French can call it Hybrid. The body is the 1st type of the Princely Model with hand made back of the oak leaves, while the crown is from the is from the 1908 Model -Tzar or King Type. Prof. Pavlov in his book has mentioned that this Crosses appear as early as 1900 after the Order for Military merit was introduced. I agree with New World on the second point Once the 1st Class with Green enamel was introduced the Grand Cross was introduced as well in 1908 We have to keep it this way for the sake of the simplicity It does not mean tha some could have used in the past both names

Hi, The Order for bravery looks like the one with the lilies The The Order of Leopold Grand Cordon Star -Military Division is a very nice an early model It is typical shape here are pictures of similar Star Also some unusual pictures of French generals wearing Bulgarian Order for Military Merit -not very common Graf

Hi Alpha Draconias, Can you measure the arms of the Cross in a horizontal line for ex. upper poiint of the left to upper point of the right arm I have the feeling that the Cross might be Commander and the size you gave is measured at diagonal then you have 54 mm if is horizontal 50-51 mm it is Commander The decorations are always measured in horizontal line Here are pictures of Commander measured two ways right way -horizontal line 50 mm wrong way diagonal line -54 mm If your cross is 54 mm in horizontal line it is Grand Cross if it is 50 mm it is Commander/2nd Class Cross with missing ribbon loop Both New World and the Ilieff are right Although this Cross officially is a King Ferdinand (if the size is correct) is Grand Cross, however there are reports suggesting that the King Crown was used even before 1908 and it is speculated that this might have happened after the Order for Military Merit was introduced in 1900 (this order never had princely crown as the other Orders) and its crown form was used In my opinion as,Ilieff stated it is difficult to draw a firm line Best Graf