Claudio

My other REK 3. Kl. mit X:

A detail of the Reussisches Kreuz (see my thread about the REK http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12749 ):

The size and shape of the crown, generally speaking, is quite similar to a mint cross sold by Hermann Historica a couple of auctions ago. The details are quite different. No doubt about the fact that the crown was added later. Furthermore I believe, although I never held in my hands another REK 3. Kl. mit Krone, that the crown must have been not stiffly fixed but movable. The ring for the band, which is not shown very clearly in my scans, is also definetely not a original but has been replaced. It really looks bad... I am going to send it back! They should also mention such "details" like repairs, soldering or replacement of pieces of the cross on the description of the catalogue, since the pictures are useless. More thoughts on that? Claudio p.s.: according to Nimmergut the REK 3. Kl. mit Krone (only) was given only 7 (!!!!) times.

I rather think that it was a nice try to bump up the price!!!

To answer to Rick's question, the crown is completely fixed to the body of the cross, althouth there is also a rivet present. Why the soldering? A repair maybe? Ciao, Claudio

Hi Andreas, That is the 3rd time that I have to send medals back to the above-mentioned auction house. In the past I asked him (Kube) if it's possible to have scans of some of his medals, but he said he isn't able to do it. Like you said, the only way it's to be present at the auction and view the items personally. There is no way to tell from the tiny pictures (mostly in black and white) on his catalogue whether the medals are good or not. This very Ehrenkreuz was depicted in colors, but the picture is so small on the catalogue that you can't see the soldering on the crown. I guess that I have to give up buying from him... Lately I had to send him also a Pickelhaube back! Ciao, Claudio Ortelli

detail of the soldering:

reverse:

Dear Forumites: I just got from Kube a reussisches Ehrenkreuz 3. Kl. mit Kr. u. Schwertern. Althouth the piece seems to be quite ok, the crown appears to be applied later. As you can see the crown has been put together later. Can you see the soldering on the edges of the crown. What do you think; was it a common practice or do you think that the crown was applied later (upgraded)? It doesn't seem that this job has been executed so well. I would really like to hear your opinion on this. Ciao, Claudio

Well, the worst part was that I asked the seller if he knew the name of that ribbon bar owner. He wrote me back and confirmed me that he knoew the officer's name but for reason of confidentiality he couldn't tell me. He just stated that it came from a family with a long military tradition and added that this family had several senior officers/generals(???). Ciao, Claudio

Hi Rick, You remember it correctly; the medal bar appeared on German Ebay with two ribbon bars. I bid on everything but unfortunately not enough. Today I would offer much more for such a group. It was really a pity that the whole lot was sold separately. Ciao, Claudio P.S.: I have also a (tiny) picture of the back of the medal bar; typical Godet construction after 1935.

Dear forumites: My brother found on the net (from an old online catalogue) a quite interesting double row bar (second from the top) with a description: Oberst von Gersdorff diente im Leibzug Seiner Majest?t des Kaisers Wilhelm II., K?nig von Preussen The first one it's mine but still without name. Since the combination looks very similar, is it possible that 1st double row bar was from an officer who served with Oberst von Gersdorff? Especially the combination of the foreign awards looks very similar. What do you think? Maybe someone has interesting info to share about Oberst von Gersdorff. Thank you in advance for looking into it. Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites: I saw this medal bar on Ebay and was wondering if the combination of two SEHO RK 2. with and without swords is possible. What do you think? The bar itself looks good, but I am a bit skeptical about the combination. The SEHO without swords appears to be a pre-WWI piece (Gold Medallion). What do you think? Ciao, Claudio

Very nice and rare Ehrenzeichen Andreas!!! ... with swords! Highly desirable... This is my brother's Verdienstkreuz in Silber, naturally single court mounted! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Sascha! It looks very nice and you're to say that, from what I can see (see the needle system on the back), it's a Godet made ribbon bar. Usually later in the years from the 30ies until the end Godet almost only used grey backing (see below), but I have also 2 old Godet medal bars (pre WWI, military and civilian) which have a red backing. I would date your ribbon bar as early 20ies. Maybe they took off the FAK2 ribbon maybe because it had the "vor dem Feinde" clasp on it and was used for making an updated ribbon bar with Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer... just guessing! My compliments for the ribbon bar, btw! Ciao, Claudio

I got this veterans' cross in a group... Ciao, Claudio

Hi David, I personally saw the medal bar in Gunzenhausen at Christian's stand. It is surely a very interesting combination of medals and orders. Did you notice that the Ehrenkreuz f?r Kriegsteilnehmer is marked G&S (Godet & Sohn)? Very nice. Since I am a bit "anal" about conditions I didn't buy it. Too bad, because it looks as if it was carelessly stored away and got a lot of humidity. With a bit of more care this bar could have looked much better. But there's still some room for restauration or at least prevention of any further deterioration. Ciao, Claudio

Great ribbon bar, Christophe!!! ... and it comes also with a face!!! I would have liked to see also the medal bar of this guy!!! Ciao, Claudio

Dear Daniel and Rick, I am also interested to purchase one of each volume... very well done for both of you!!! @ Daniel: Also CDs don't last more than 10 years? I thought they were, if correctly stored, almost "eternal"... Ciao, Claudio

Don, Here's my latest Bavarian Reserve-Offizier medal bar... it's a Godet-mounting!!! Mint... almost the same medals like your bar. Because of the Austrian Milit?rverdienstkreuz 3. Kl. these officers could have served in the same regiment whose chef was the Emperor Franz-Josef I (10th and 13th Bavarian Regiments if I am correct...). Ciao, Claudio

to me it looks very good. No problem whatsever with your bar!

Yes, Dave, you're right! I didn't pay attention on the reverse. Ciao, Claudio

Very nice bar Don! The Medallion of the BMVO 4. Kl. mit X seems to be in GOLD... I am not a specialist but it looks like a "Gebr. Hemmerle"... or maybe somebody can correct me! Ciao, Claudio

Dear fellow collectors, Through a dear fellow collector and German friend I received a lot of ribbons. In this group there were some that I couldn't identify some other that I need a confirmation. Here are the ribbons: 1) Saxony, some sort of long service ribbon? 2) Weimar Republic, Gedenkm?nze f?r Oberschlesien, 1926, oval, am Band 3) ? don't know, it was suggested to me maybe some decoration of the principality of Liechtenstein (because of the colors) 4) ? clueless, probably ribbon of some Balcan State 5) ? , same as above 6) First I thought some kind of Bavarian ribbon, but I coudn't find any confirmation. Who knows? 7) Ecuador? 8) Bulgaria? Thank you in advance for your inputs!!! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Joe, I don't need to apologize, but I thank you for your support and encouragement to post more. Yes, you are right: it's an advertisment of a firm which produced flags and such textile items (maybe also embroidery). I don't know if this firm still exists nowadays (probably). Ciao, Claudio