Treloarth

Many thanks for all that information over the years, and especially the images. Here is the image of my father's black St Stanislas given/awarded to him by General Pavlichenko on the wharf at Sevastopol just prior to embarkation for Constantinople in November 1920. It belonged personally to Pavlichenko, and seems from the discussion to have dated back to about 1850-70. It certainly closely resembles those in the other images. It was in its original cardboard box as shown. My father, who was a Polkovnik on the staff of General Skalon, went on to command the camp for Russian refugees at Tuzla on the Sea of Marmara. General Pavlichenko said to my father that he would get him a "proper" one later, meaning a current model with red enamel, but they never saw one another again. My father had previously been awarded the Order of St Ann and the Order of St Vladimir with crossed swords and bow. General Pavlichenko also conferred on father membership of the Don Cossack stanitsa of Shkurinskaya by way of a document which we still have today.

Marvelllous images, which I've never heard of before! Are there any close-ups?

Yes I have at least one, including a very similar Stanislas which is definitely original, that looks exactly the same.

Completely fantastic! Some of the captioned photos could be of considerable historic interest once the individuals had been identified.

There is no doubt that the tall general is Wrangel.

I was referring to the right hand obverse and left hand reverse. I don't recognise the other medallion though the Russian is easily translated.

See Wikepedia for details of Aleksei Alekseevich Brusilov (Russian: Алексе́й Алексе́евич Бруси́лов) (August 19, 1853 ? March 17, 1926) was a Russian cavalry general most noted for the development of a military offensive tactic used in the Brusilov offensive of 1916. His war memoirs were translated into English and published in 1930 as A Soldier's Notebook, 1914?1918.

A lovely medallion. The front is the same name advised to you "Ivan Matveevich Borisov " The back says Tovarich, the word the communists took over to mean "comrade" in a political sense, but which in those days simply meant "friend".

As far as I can make out, the decoration around his neck is the order of St Anne, and the first two visible on his chest are St Valdimir and then St Stanislas.

Very interesting, especially the 1922 date - which is almost 2 years after Wrangel's forces were evacuated from the Crimea for the last time, and after the camps in Turkey had been disbanded and the troops had gone to Serbia and elsewhere. The 3rd Level Bravery award of the Provisional Government has an almost identical face, but the rear has a different inscription "For Zeal" in Russian. Originals have stamped serial numbers and stamped ring loop hole. Fakes are cast rather than stamped. Some references say 29mm is the proper size but the original Petrograd mint issue "For Zeal" medals from 1915, both silver and Б.М were 28mm.

Thanks for that Paul. The consequence is that by 2020, 100 years after Wrangel left Russia and all production of Imperial Russian items ceased, no single Imperial relic will be allowed to leave Russia. Collectors must collect quickly. Treloarth

There are very many very wealthy Russians (and Ukrainians). They are enthusiastically collecting Imperial memorabilia back into Russia. They are willing to pay top market price for decorations, medals, silverware, documents etc. This will drive their market prices up even further for years to come. But the 192661 on the medal says (I believe) that this particular decoration was the 192,661th 4th Class St George to be awarded, so there are many around for collectors, and the price looks ridiculous to me. Wait and see what the next 4th class sells for. Incidentally, once rare items have gone back into Russia it is often illegal for them to be re-exported, which will make them even scarcer. That may not apply to a common 4th Class St George, but if it does, watch out for even larger increases in prices. Treloarth

I can see that the "7" is different, and I can see that the ring is simpler than on Igor's. However, there are many known genuine ones with a simple ring, and with well over 100,000 awards in this class alone the numerals surely were engraved by different hands over a long period of time. I recommend a test of the precise dimension, precise weight and metal content. I suggest that you test for silver, because it should be in the Russian standard silver. I suggest that it should be close to Weight 11.3 g. and Width 34.4 mm. There are plenty available, and it would hardly be worth making such a good quality fake. Treloarth

It looks exactly the same as a genuine one that I have.

The medal (with the red enamel) looks to me like the reproductions that can be purchased in Moscow for about $40-$80US. See the following two sites Reproductions for sale www.insideglass.com/ shop/Images/v30101000260.jpg After the February?s revolution of 1917, the Provisional Government of Russia kept the old tsar?s decoration system, but crowns were removed from the decorations of the Orders of White Eagle and St. Stanislav. The motto on the Star of the Order of White Eagle was replaced by a twig. On the white Polish Eagle the crown was retained. Star of the Order, Medal, Decoration with the crown, Cross (size 500x350) Price: $ 1314 (1052 Eur) Also the following http://capral.webzone.ru/copycarizm/stas/stas.htm Знак Ордена Св. Станислава 1 ст. с мечами в черной и красной эмали. Badge of Order of St. Stanislav 1st grade with swords black & red enamel. Цена данного лота - 36 USD(за экземпляр). Price - 36 USD(for the item). Treloarth

See the site http://www.white-guard.ru/bd/badges.ptml for images of various White Russian badges, including that green one for the liberation of Siberia. Treloarth

For some excellent images of Russian decorations etc see http://arco-iris.com/George/russian.htm Treloarth

Hi Igor Many thanks for sharing the brilliant image of the black St Stanislas. I wonder if you have any idea of its date of manufacture, and any idea of its current market price, were I looking to buy one? Treloarth (in Australia)

or alternatively THE RUSSIAN ARMY 1917-1920 UNIFORMS, DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA, DECORATIONS, AND BREAST PINS "KARAVELLA" PUBLISHING HOUSE Saint-Petersburg, 1991 Treloarth

You could try $27.00 "Badges of Russian Emigration, 1920 - 1990". A. V. Okorokov. C. 2005, Moscow. Russian text. Hard cover, 174 pp, color photos and some b/w drawings. Extremely interesting subject, barely touched on by previous publications on badges of the White Armies in Russian Civil War Treloarth