Paul L Murphy

Unfortunately I cannot post a picture since I embedded it into a word document and deleted the source image. If anyone know how to save an embedded image from a word document as a normal image then send me a pm telling me how and I will then post it !

Look at the form of the first character on both of your inscriptions, this is what helps to date it. In this case they are both Meiji period inscriptions.

Best regards,

Paul

Gentlemen,

For anyone who is planning to visit London, or lives there, I would strongly recommend that you add a visit to the Guards Museum onto your agenda. It is not well advertised but is an excellent regimental museum located on Bird Cage Walk near St James Park. They have over 30 VCs on display, real ones not museum copies unlike so many other UK museums, and lots of other medals and uniforms to get the juices flowing

One good thing is that, while the size is not huge, it is well displayed and very informative. Admission is cheap (GBP 3 if my memory is correct) and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Plan to spend about two or three hours there (depending on how closely you want to look at everything).

Cheers,

Paul

It is not possible to tell which rank he held from the photo since only the uniform facing colour is different. At the moment I have no idea who he is since I have not yet researched it at all. If I find out anything interesting I will post it here.

Well done, it is the uniform of a nobleman. I have not yet tried to find out who he is but it should be researchable since he has the first class of the Rising Sun, Sacred Treasure and Taeguk. Don't we all wish we had his medals and orders !

Final clue, this uniform was worn by five different ranks but the difference is shown by the colour of the collar, cuffs and piping. Otherwise the same uniform is used for the five different ranks.

I have to admit I have a soft spot for the painted ribbon bars myself. Here are two from my own collection.

If my memory (and eyesight) are correct he has the following on his medal bar : - The Imperial Constitution Promulgation Commemorative Medal; Meiji 25th Wedding Anniversary Medal; Korean Annexation Commemorative Medal; Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal; Merit Medal; Korean Imperial 50th Birthday Commemorative Medal; Korean Imperial Tour Commemorative Medal; Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal; unclear ?; Red Cross Cross of Merit; Red Cross Special Member Medal.

Not sure on the two Korean awards but pretty certain on the Japanese ones. All in all a nice medal bar and unfortunately one that is not in my collection. I suppose I could try to recreate it but I tend to be a bit of a purest in these things.

Afraid this next one is as good as I can get since I am working from a photo of a photo (the original is with my in-laws in Japan since I did not want to bring it back to Moscow with me).

Regarding your earlier comment on Manchurian buttons, I am not sure if they had a special pattern. I do not have any decent photos of Manchurian official uniforms that show the buttons sufficiently to enable them to be identified. I think most of the Japanese officials in Manchuria continued to wear Japanese uniform since in the scheme of things it was a much younger conquest, but that is just my own theory on it.

This next one is a lot easier. What type of uniform is he wearing ??

Most Japanese collectors should be more familiar with this style of uniform than the previous one.

As Ed says, a very good example of a Japanese Imperial uniform and Japanese Imperialism (offending phrases have been edited out by yours truely). This was worn until 1945 during the period when Korea was under Japanese occupation. His orders are the 2nd class of both the Order of the Taeguk and Order of the Eight Trigams (both Korean under Japanese occupation), the 3rd Class Sacred Treasure and 4th Class Rising Sun. The commemorative medals do not show well here but he has a decent selection of Japanese and Korean awards.

Before you ask, unfortunately I only have the two photos, I do not have his orders or documents.

With regard to the buttons, they are a pawlonia leaf however this style of pawlonia leaf button was only worn on Korean uniforms, not on Japanese. The pawlonia leaf on Japanese buttons is raised out, not recessed in as on these.

Cheers,

Paul

Afraid not. He has the same rank as an ambassador but is actually a high ranking Japanese official in the Korean administration. Here is a more impressive photo of him wearing his orders and decorations.

No, but you are on the right track since it is non military.

Think wider in terms of the Japanese Empire.

No takers so far ? What happened to the spirit of adventure and throwing caution to the wind ????

OK, here is another clue.

These are the buttons worn on this tunic.

Now, any guesses as to what he is ?

This is the certificate for the 6th Class, in this case awarded for the Russo Japanese War. These are very difficult to find. For every ten 7th class certs you will find, you will be lucky to find one 6th class.

Closely followed by a Showa period 6th Class Golden Kite.

Bye the way, the 6th Class is now very difficult to find in Japan so grab them while you can since they are scarcer than the 5th class.

On the basis that you can never get enough of the Golden Kite, here is a nice 4th Class piece from the Meiji period.

Next up, a 1968 certificate for the Order of the Rising Sun 6th Class. This is actually a posthumous award (The 6th character from the top in the extreme right hand line means "The late" when it comes before the name as it does here). You can notice that the post war certificates have a lot less wording on them than the pre war. This is because all of the fancy titles have been stripped away from the emperor.

Now a genuine group which came with the service papers verifying all the awards. It is to a Private Kawamura Manjiro and was awarded for the Japanese attack on Tsingtao at the start of the First World War.

Most of the Japanese "groups" that you see for sale, especially on evil-bay, are put together. This is a nice original set comprising the Rising Sun 8th Class, 1914-15 War Medal, Victory Medal and Showa Enthronement Medal.

Some more items from my Japanese collection.....

First up, an interesting miniature group since it is a Spink mounted British WWI trio with an Order of the Rising Sun 4th Class. I got this years ago, I liked the fact that it was mounted by Spink and is a good quality miniature set.

OK folks, here is a photo of a Japanese gentleman wearing a uniform that is Imperial Japanese but not the run of the mill uniform one is likely to encounter. A simple question, what is he ?

Thinking caps on and guess away !

Hi Chuck,

I let a few of the sellers that I deal with here in Moscow know I was looking for one and lo-and-behold, within one month one emerged from the woodwork.

I do not know whether to describe the Georgian badge as beautiful or ugly ! It would certainly be noticable on a lapel.

Here is another badge I picked up recently. It is the present Russian Federation badge for graduates from arts academies such as the Musical Conservatoire. The greb has been replaced by a two headed eagle and the colour scheme has remained the same as the older Soviet rhomb. It is made by the St Petes Mint but the quality is not anywhere as good as the older badges.

The second badge is from the Ministry of Culture for Excellence in Amateur Theatrical Productions. I like the way they have stylised the masks for comedy and tragedy on the front, very modern.

Cheers,

Paul

If you liked the film Master and Commander then read the books. They are brilliant and really bring the Napoleonic Royal Navy to life.

Gentlemen,

This is excellent, many thanks. With this information these items have just joined my core collection , and to think that I was thinking of selling them at one point !

Can anybody point me in the right direction as to where I might find a photo of Captain Holmes ?

Paul

That's all for today folks ! Questions are welcome and I will do a Meiji period order certificate next so that you can see the similarities, and more important the differences, between the two.

Regards,

Paul