landsknechte

I found this website quite by accident some time ago, and is the best resource that I've been able to find online that deals with German Red Cross decorations: http://www.richardajordan.com/Red_Cross/GermanStatesRK.html --Chris

There really is something about astroturf that brings out the subtle nuances of ribbon and medal bars... (Although I have heard rumors that various untoward things have been done on said astroturf by various four legged entities.) I don't really have all that much that's Austrian, but I've always found this ribbon bar to be rather interesting. The owner has kept his interwar Republic award in first place, in violation of Third Reich regulations. --Chris

Being someone who can almost never bring themselves to sell anything, finding a buyer won't really be an issue. I've inherited my grandfather's infamous packrat genes. I picked it up for $50. I knew it was a deal, but I didn't know how much of a deal it was. Thanks, Chris

Not mine, just an interesting find on eBay. Someday when I get more money, I'll venture into medal bars. For the time being, I'm strictly a ribbon bar guy. --Chris

Of course not! As a Californian, I can't imagine another scenario where a right-leaning Austrian could ever come to be elected to a major political office in a foreign country during a time of economic uncertainty. --Chris

Doh. :speechless-smiley-004:

The term goes at least as far back as the early 16th century, in use within German mercenary formations. There was a tradition of them wearing either red or white (I can't remember which, off the top of my head) ostrich plumes in thier hats in battle as an marker. --Chris

Cool... How much do these guys go for typically? (I know I got a deal, I'm just wondering how good of a deal.) Thanks, --Chris

...and one of the reverse side that shows the blade a little bit.

My flea market miracle... Ca. 1820 - French or English smallsword. $40 from a seller that thought they just had some sort of theatrical prop. It's been appraised for between $1500-$2000. jumping --Chris

My lone contribution is a single ribbon bar... --Chris

Has anyone seen this particular veteran's decoration before? --Chris

For the benefit of anyone staring at a "mystery ribbon" on one of their ribbon bars... --Chris

No idea who the maker might be - any ideas? --Chris

If I'm not mistaken:

Thanks!

I picked up this rather "salty" Crown Order this weekend at a local show. I couldn't muster a legible photo of the maker's mark, but it's stamped ZEHN. Being a neophyte medal collector, I've got a couple of questions... ...what would you expect the "fair market value" of this medal in this condition to be? ...what was the underlying metal that the gilding was applied to on this decoration? Thanks, --Chris

My lone HHOX contribution:

...and this medal:

...one intriguing find is the similarity between this different version of the Prince Alphons badge:

I've posted this one in a few different places, and as of yet, nobody has been able to determine what the blue and white ribbon to the right of the Luitpold Jubilee is. From two different sources, I've managed to acquire two absolutely identical ribbon bars. My desparate hope is that the medal bar will eventually surface, allowing for a positive ID of that ribbon. There seem to be a number of foreign decorations that have similar ribbons, but none of them that I've come across really make much sense in context. Given that the blue on the Long Service ribbon is precisely the same shade, it's probably something Bavarian. The closest that I've been able to find within Bavaria is this decoration: Only problem, is that there's no evidence of anything that could potentially have been worn from a medal / ribbon bar existing on this ribbon.

(The kicker is that the damn seller is rather obviously splitting a group here. flame )

Also found these listed on eBay - the first time I've seen documents associated with these medals: