Hi Lube,

Thank you for the information

I said to myself  the same  when I joined the GMIC in 2011

Always is a nice to be a member to a club where we share our good and bad experience and contribute with our knowledge and expertise I can admit sometimes is getting hot and sparks fly in the air

Yes, We all have this crazy stage in our collector's life I also  have slowed down significantly, nearly to a stop .

I can contribute that is due to the crazy time we have been living for the last 2 years Although we pretend  everything is normal  -it is not And all those events affected also our collecting  We hope for the best

I hope that you can contribute with your knowledge, expertise  and experience to the forums

Best Regards

Graf

This is a classic 18 carat,16-17 Grams  Gold Officer   - Third Republic

See the fine construction and the typical Gold appearance

Usually they have the French hallmark " eagle head' for Gold  on the bottom of the cross  -on obverse or reverse side

Size is 4O mm wide

Hi GM1,

Thank you for the information.

Spain Orders were not my main collector interest, however i am fascinated by the beauty of the Order of the Charles III Stars and crosses They are real master pieces

Hi Lubo,

Welcome to the club.

 We will appreciate if you have any evidence backing your opinion.

It is not a rule of those forums, however it will be nice if you have the right information to share with the members of the club.

That way the members will avoid buying those "rare" items that are questionable.

As novice collectors most stick to  standard pieces, since it is safer.

However as we advance our eagerness to buy "rare'  once off pieces to advance our collections grows.

That is why we can get in position  buying this "rare" or once off piece that is not correct not to say fake.

We all have experienced that and we learned from the mistakes. Did we?

Once again Welcome to the Club

Hi New World,

I agree with your point about the neck ribbon loop.

At the same time we have seen few Sets of 1st Class/Grand Cross with crosses this loop.

In my opinion the size is the most important  if we have to follow the books, although we have seen those Sets with non standard size of either the cross or the Stars. We do not know whether those Sets had been awarded as they are or some of the parts were replaced due to damage or loss later I have in mind the well known and documented Sets not the ones in the collectors world where the mix and mach can take place at any time.

See even in those Sets the rules are not followed

in the Russian issue 1st Class Sets the one without the swords the Star looks like a later model

The cross from the luxury  Grand Cross Set  has ribbon loop

Hi Great Dane,

Good points Worth exploring further

Hi PREM,

100% sure this is not a gold one It is Silver gilded It is nice and the correct price will be 250-300 EURO

Even if it is Gold the price will not be so high More likely in the range of 600-700 EURO.

Always be on alert if someone sells very urgently It is alarm bell ringing loudly

Here  is  LOH in gold Compare with your friend LOH

Sorry.

Hi TJLA,

It is very interesting medal

I have seen few few attributed medals with the names engraved on the side of the medals (like the British ones0

This one is different My pure guess will be it is person name rather then battle field one

Hi JeffV,

It nice and original to me -minus few chips - Yes it is Silver Gold gilded

and the marks look on the ribbon loop ( French mark for silver "boar head" and maker,s mark -the romboid one) and one on  the very bottom of the cross ( French mark for Silver) are OK

If the price is right around 300 -350 Euro .

Cheers

Nice small collection of the Order

It is nice to see more collectors are interested in Bulgarian Royal decorations.

Te Regency  Period 6th Class Order comes with Bravery Order ribbon indicating that it was awarded in war time

The higher classes had war decoration attached and the central medallions were different ( with white enamel)

-as the 5th class without crown on the middle of your photo

I agree with New World

Congrats

Hi Igor,

Nice Grand Cross.

It is difficult to judge the size on the Polish Marshal set, however it is not unusual some Sets to come with 2 Class Cross We have seen few examples in the past Even in the Military Museum in Sofia there are handful of 1st Class/Grand Cross  with a crosses from  lower  Classes

Nice badges

It is nice to have one or more in anyone collection.

I have seen some fake Stars of Order of St Alexander fitted with the central part of one of those badges

Another variation of this model

I can guess it is an early post Prince Battenberg issue by Rothe  --perhaps a bit later then 1880?

Hi Igor,

Welcome back

Graf

I am glad the topic is getting some interesting responses

Graf

Hi,

In my opinion it is more likely King Ferdinand Model in around the WW1  It is Commander Class - 3rd Class

More likely unmarked Austrian Maker  I am not sure whether the Firm Miloshev made St Alexander, especially in the early period.  perhaps during the Regency and republican periods at the end of WW2

The text is very typical for this period During later periods the text is bigger

Look for marks on the loop on top of the cross and on the ring above the crown. If you cannot find do not worry .still nice, although as you stated 'butchered"  Most of those crosses had makers marks or hallmarks for silver content, especially the early made ones, however some were not marked, especially the bronze gilt ones

Here are few examples of crosses with the green enamel

On the left are crosses from King Boris III period on the right from King Ferdinand period

See the difference in the Lions and the text on the central medallions white rings

Note the Crosses  on the middle with the text instead of lions, are 1st Class ones - one on the left King Boris III period the one on the right King Ferdinand period

Thank you for your contributions Their are more then i expected when t i started this topic

I enjoy all those rare items listed by the members They are really very rare and nice an showed the real dedications of those who collected them

I wish I could have contributed more, however i am glad that the topic sparked a very nicely surprising response

Regards

Graf

nice

Hi 992F,

Nice to "hear " from you again

This is WWII Bulgaria Kingdom Police Officer Visor Hat Cockade

Keep safe

Regards

Graf

Hi,

I am glad that the topic became "alive" Nice to see your minis

Lars know that i am into other country minis, however Swedish Order always are fascinating me.

Hi  Lars i hope one day i pop up in Copenhagen and i have a look of your' private" Museum... if i am included in your 'by invitation only" list

Hi Larsb001

Nice to "hear" from you again,

As usual - nice am rare items Congrats

Graf

Very nice mini displays

 Hi JonasE I like all, however you have few very rare and old minis that I like the most  Congrats.

 Hi JohanH  Well done for identifying the owner of the miniatures  Congrats

Cheers

Keep safe

Graf

H TJLA,

It is a good work It looks you are very dedicated in your research

Here are few photos of

- Documents It will be very difficult to prove whether the medal and document from the Auction are not 'married' later on Only a strong provinance from the family member can prove this. Also I am not sure whether thre were different Documents for the "Cent Gardes' Model Medals

- Photo of General de Failly with the "Cent Gardes" medal. That is a proof that those medals did exist and are not a late creations The Question is whether they were awarded as that or the crown was added later on  by request of the owner of the medal to give more dramatic look.

It is known that the French Orders were awarded as standard model . Later on people with deep pockets ordered luxury models to show their status in the society Also many High ranking officers and Officials got luxury models as presents by their Officers or friends or employees

Général de Failly, campagne d'Italie

[PE1443]

Catégorie : CDV > portraits > Militaires
Année : Circa 1865
Type : Tirage albuminé
Format (cm): 6,5x10,5

CDV vintage albumen.
Pierre Louis Charles de Failly
Le général de Failly
Le général de Failly
Naissance 21 janvier 1810
Rozoy-sur-Serre
Décès 15 novembre 1892 (à 82 ans)
Compiègne

Né à Rozoy-sur-Serre dans l'Aisne, il est le fils de Charles, Louis comte de Failly et de Sophie de Mons de Maigneux. Il intègre l'École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr en 1826. Il fait ses premières armes à Paris, dans l'affaire de la rue Transnonain, où il gagne une réputation de cruauté militaire. Le crayon de Daumier a reproduit l'épisode de la maison Doyen avec une singulière énergie. Colonel au mois d'août 1851, général de brigade le 29 août 1854, il participe à la guerre de Crimée et revint général de division.

Il épouse en 1857 Felicité de Frézals de Bourfaud née à Compiègne (Oise) le 19 avril 1821.

Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur depuis 1842, il est nommé grand officier de l’ordre le 25 juin 18592, après la campagne d'Italie.

En 1867, il est chargé d'arrêter net la tentative de Garibaldi sur les États romains ; c'est alors qu'après Mentana il écrit : « nos fusils Chassepot ont fait merveille », phrase qui lui est durement reprochée.

Sénateur depuis le 12 mars 1868, il commande le 5e corps d'armée durant la guerre franco-allemande de 1870. Le favori impérial donne la mesure de son esprit militaire en laissant écraser Mac-Mahon à Reichshoffen, le 6 août 1870.

Le 30 août, méprisant les avertissements des habitants de Beaumont-en-Argonne, il se laisse surprendre, près de la Meuse, au moment où ses soldats mangent la soupe. Victime de l'impéritie de son chef, la division de Failly écrasée, découvre le corps principal de l'armée, en marche sur Sedan, et sa déroute précipite le désastre final. Failly est démis de son commandement, et se retrouve prisonnier après la capitulation de Sedan.

À son retour d'Allemagne, le général de Failly échappe au Conseil de guerre et se fait oublier avant de prendre sa retraite.