Rogi

What a beauty !!! :)

We do have a Korean section, although it is listed together in an Asia forum, Hard to find and I think this (Japan forum) is the best place for this post

Dear all,

The Double Dragon of Generalmajor Hoepfner looks very much like the one that will be sold by Spink this coming Thursday, i.e certainly a Russian-made transitional type. Those made by Godet of Berlin look quite different. It is quite interesting to see a high-ranking German officer wearing a Chinese order made in another country. Shall we conclude that these ODD transitional stars were not available at that time from German houses ? No doubt he would have worn a German-made star had it be available on the local "market".

Reagrds to all.

KimKan

Could it be that he was posted in Russia and picked up the Dragon or was awarded it there?

It certainly is

I'll look him up in a couple weeks right now I'm packed and don't have the time, but it'll be interesting to see if he is able to be found

Any more with Serbian Orders I missed?

IMG_0556.JPG

Sava is 3rd class?

Wow awesome thanks for the post Nick :D

The centerpiece looks pretty rough (like a heavy polish was laid down

As Nick mentioned, looks ok, just rough

Should still tell a nice story if you order research for it :)

Awesome group Paul thank you for sharing it with us

Great research! Congratulations!

I often find that the research part of our hobby is as challenging and enjoyable as the collecting

/Michael

Thank you Dragomir and Michael for your comments really glad that this beauty joined my collection

Fully agree there Michael it is so rewarding when history of these orders and recipients can be found it brings me great joy to find and explore the history behind them.

Hello Rogi my friend!!

This is a extraordinary find!! Remarkable fusion of Serbia and Japan The order itself is in flawless condition!! You owe us a fine picture of the reverse of the star, so We can enjoy the full beauty of the order!!

Great effort You took to find out the recipient of the order!! Respect!!

Keep o the good work Rogi!! Where did You find this gem?

Best

Joeph

Thank you for the comments my friend greatly appreciated It was a gift from the family.

I would like to share this research journey with you:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/63092-order-of-takovo-grand-cross-research-journey/

Hope you will enjoy it

Just wishing to share the story of my Order of Takovo Grand Cross set and it's research journey.

The Order of Takovo Grand Cross set that I own is made by the producer Karl Fischmeister (Vienna). This would place the date of this set in time frame between 1890 to 1903.

Here is the full set:

Sash Badge front:

Sash Badge Reverse:

Breast Badge:

I found two inscriptions in Japanese (my friend translated the Japanese and helped a lot in research :

On the Little Rosette Box:

"セルビヤ" written in Japanese Katakana letters

It can be read "Serubiya" and means "Serbia

Here is the Rosette next to the Sash badge,

and inside the sash is sewn:

"塞耳織　ダコヴオ　第一等"

"塞耳織" means "Close Ear Weave"

"ダコヴオ" can be read "Da Ko Vo", it means Takovo.

"第一等" means "First Class"

This research journey initially started in attempt to translate inscriptions that came with the order, but very easily expanded with every new discovery.

From Prince Yorihito's biography,

In 1894, Prince Yorihito was on a Royal tour of Serbia with his advisors. They were awarded Serbian Orders. The Prince himself received the Order of the White Eagle. The awarding ceremony took place at the Hotel "Serbian Crown" in Belgrade at 1:00pm on March 18th, 1894.

My friend told me that, in that time in Japan, in order to be allowed to wear foreign Orders, recipients themselves had to write request to the Emperor. It was considered disrespectful if the request wasn't written by recipient.

From searching JACAR (Japan Center for Asian Historical Records) and with the help of my friend we were able to find 3 recipients who received the Order of Takovo Grand Cross within this time period: Count Hisamoto Hijikata, Count Munemitsu Mutsu and Mr. Shogo Nagasaki

Here are the names and reference codes as follows (found in JACAR):

宮内大臣秘書官兼式部官小松宮家令長崎省吾セルビヤ国勲章佩用允許ノ件

Shogo Nagasaki's Request for Ratification of Decorations of the Serbian First Class Order of Takovo

Reference Code: A10112443300

外務大臣伯爵陸奥宗光塞耳淮国タコヴァ十字第一等勲章受領及佩用ノ件

Munemitsu Mutsu's Request for Ratification of Decorations of the Serbian First Class Order of Takovo

Reference Code: A10112447700

宮内大臣伯爵土方久元塞耳維国タコヴァ第一等勲章受領及佩用ノ件

Hisamoto Hijikata's Request for Ratification of Decorations of the Serbian First Class Order of Takovo

Reference Code: A10112448100

Among the 3 recipients, only Count Hisamoto Hijikata's writing style matches to the writing style on my set. When we compared the "Serbia" in his request form (Page 3), we found that it contains the same type of letters, called "Katakana" that was used only by highly educated people in Japan in that time period.

Fellow collectors have advised me that, in Japan of that time, recipient was the one who would write on the rosette box of an order or medal.

( I will only post the 3rd page of the request form and zoom ins of the writing)

Zoom in of the writing:

#2 Closer Zoom of the same writing:

and final clue in the research, from couple months ago,

I was told by a representative from the Auction House, that originally sold this Order of Takovo that this order is from Mr. Nakabori's collection. (Mr. Nakabori was a rice merchant who in the 1950s when money became tight for Japanese noble families, went from one to another noble family and purchased all orders and medals from the people willing to sell. He owned Admiral Togo's entire collection)

I think that this makes good supporting evidence that the order could be the one awarded to Count Hisamoto Hijikata. I am very grateful to all friends and colleagues that contributed to and made the research journey of this order such an enjoyable experience. I am always looking to expand and further evidence and research. Your comments are welcome.

Wow the paper at the end was showing off lol

Excellent

Red Star Razor....Ohhhh ya great find Nick

Just a small follow up on the Order of the Red Star, I forgot to mention that later and after the war it was a more common Order than at the beginning and before the war started. Which is why a before the war Red Star is classed higher than the others (especially since some orders and medals had not been instituted yet before the war), you needed to contribute a lot to receive an Order of the Red Star pre 1941.

You can ask Auke (Ferdinand on the forum) to run the numbers of recipients from the serial numbers, he runs a service with a fee, depending on what you would like to receive (there are various options that can present themselves) If it is an officer you can also order a service record card that has his photo (sometimes) present.

They are Orders (similar to British System), among the highest (although in order of presendence on the USSR list, they are high, but not that high, more middle I think:D) Although this is in no way easy to ear these orders

Hope that helped a bit :)

Niceeee :)

lol That one made even me laugh :D

They almost look like circus decorations to me, something a Ringmaster would wear for embellishment. Apart from that they don't appear to look like any order or medal I have seen before :D

It seems that the same manufacturers that made the fake 2nd class rising sun, now faked the paulonian flowers breast star:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-of-the-Grand-Cordon-of-the-Order-of-the-Paulownia-Flowers-Japanese-WW-2-/301232811164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4622dfec9c

It isn't bad, it would be a good piece for people that Re-enact Although price seems, HUGE

It seems strong to me, one would expect that sort of figure for a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross although Rogi you would do well these days to get a VC for £100,000 (possibly a Mutiny or Crimea Ballot VC could be acquired for that price). We will wait and see the outcome.

Paul

Many Thanks on your expert opinion Paul , thought it was right in the neighborhood for the VCs hehehe prices tend to fluctuate throughout the years If I had the funds, I'd probably have my own museum of VCs hehehe maybe one day, when I win the lotto

That seems a bit extreme, couldn't you even buy a VC now a days for that amount or close?

I mean sure the Mil Mi 24 and Apache Orders and Medals for Afghanistan are desired, but for that price it does seem to be even more than dealer premium if we just take "financial" side to it in account. It'd be nice if it included his actual citation for the action. Other than the DFC which is the only item for gallantry, is this a realistic price on such a grouping?

don't hate bad photos, some people don't know where the Macro (flower symbol) function is on their camera yet can text 100 words a second in the same instant

Seriously, we should charge people for making us endure bad photos, some horrible charge like 40% off the list price lol and 60% off if they want a lesson on how to take photos

Hmm, it reminds of Austin Powers (Comedy "homage" movie of James Bond here in North America)

The male symbol on the badge is great

Maybe some Austin Powers Norwegian Club hehehehe

Whatever it ends up being (definatley not Austin Powers club) I'll be following this one closely