Claudio

... and here's a medal bar coming from your collection that I bought from you (thanks again for the sweet deal ). Medals' description: ? Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (OEK 1909) ? Silberne Medaille Verdienst im Kriege 1914 (OEK 2833) ? Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer (OEK 3803) ? Schlesisches Bew?hrungsabzeichen ?Schlesicher Adler?, 1. Stufe, bruniert (OEK 3299) ? Preussen, DA 2. Modell, 1913-1920, 1. Klasse f?r den Soldatenstand nach 15 Dienstjahren (OEK 1974) ? Polizei-DA, 2. Stufe f?r 18 Jahre (OEK 3527) The very odd thing about this bar is that the Silesian Eagle is a nice 1st class piece mounted as it was 2nd class. Medal bar, obverse and reverse for your enjoyment. ciao, Claudio

Here's the Reverse:

Hi Stogie, Here's my Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen Kreuz der 3. Klasse mit Eichenbruch (OEK 2786). Obverse:

Hi Christian! Wow!!!! What a Feldspange... a real beauty! My congrats... The campaign clasps on the ribbon are really spectacular, especially the "Feuervergoldung" so finely polished... Einfach super! Ciao, Claudio

Have you noticed the breast decoration of the officer next to Sch?rner? Is it the very rare Tamara order given to German soldiers who served in the Caucasus area (Georgia)? For more info on this decoration, please consult this very intesting link: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1032&hl=Tamara Claudio

... and here its "Urkunde":

Dear all, I'd like to contribute with a close picture of the clasps of Ramsauer's China Denkm?nze. The "spange" in the middle is an unofficial one.

Hi Wildcard, Just for your comment; this is my Commander grade cross. ciao, Claudio

The more I look at it and the more I think Andrea's right. A propos Oldenburg orders; I found a very interesting link of a very promising museum with quite a rich and interesting collection of rare orders and medal bars (that's something for me as medal bar fetish! ). http://www.schlossmuseum.de/sammlung/ Ciao, Claudio

Hi Andreas, I didn't think of that! Yes, but why he didn't get the class with swords?? From the picture I can't see the swords. Furthermore in Thierry's list there is no mention of an Oldenburg decoration, but it could have forgotten... Ciao, Claudio

Hi David, Look at this link: http://axis101.bizland.com/HungarianAwards3.htm It really looks like the Hungarian Order of Merit... There are no Finnish crosses / orders worn as pin-back type of orders (Offizierskreuz) on the pocket like this. Ciao, Claudio

Hi David, The elongated blue (dark) cross is the Bayerische Offizierkreuz MVO mit Krone u. mit Schwertern (Bavarian Officers' cross of the Military Merit Order with crown and swords), pretty a rare bird among this very desirable Bavarian order. If you meant the white cross, it looks like the Hungarian Merit order, but it's difficult to tell from the picture. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Mike, It was sold for Eur 14'500.- (startin bid was Eur 12'500.-) + 27% commission fee and taxes... Ciao, Claudio

Hi Marshall, Here's a pic of the cover. What do you want to see from the catalogue? Ciao, Claudio

Niemeyer's bar. I think the RAO should have been a 3 Kl. mit Schleife, but it was corrected afterwards...

Here's the back:

This is a group that was snapped under my nose... too bad! I would like to share the picture with you. That's a very early one! Here is the description of the medals: - Roter Adler Orden, 4. Kl. mit Schwertern mit Ritzmarken AW - Alsen-Kreuz 1864 am Band f?r Kombattanten - D?ppeler Sturm-Kreuz 1864 am Bande f?r die Reserve-Truppen (1865) - Erinnerungskreuz 1866 f?r Treue Krieger, 1866-1867 - Kriegsdenkm?nze 1864 f?r Kombattanten - Milit?r-Verdienstmedaille mit Randgravur (!!!). Exceptionally rare this last medal. The medal has been named to the wearer and on the rim of the medal there is following inscription: KNGL PREUS SEC LT FAUST D?PPELER SCHANZEN 1864. That is quite a sweat detail, since 99% of German Imperial medals weren't named (with exception of the Baden Tapferkeitsmed.). The medal bar came with the picture of the wearer and a trapezoidal ribbon bar. Ciao, Claudio

...a big one...

... another one.

Here is my contribution Rick:

Hi Ulsterman, It's the Bavarian Ludwigs-Orden (1827-1918), Ehrenkreuz... pretty rare Nimmergut (OEK # 437) lists it on his 2001/02 catalogue for Euro 3'323.- (made in Gold). I never saw an original one, just pictures from a collection of one in a spectacular Bavarian medal bar. It must be quite a rare order, awarded for high civil merits, I think. I am sorry not to know more about it, since I do not have the proper reference's book at hand. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Rick (the good one ), Thanks to you. Actually I had it on my watch list, but you were so positive about the fact that it could be Flaccus' ribbon bar, since this is quite a unique combination (see that KVK without swords) that I couldn't resist. Thank you again; the ribbon bar looks even better "life"... Ciao, Claudio

Fortunately you didn't buy it because Rick (the evil twin) told me that it belongs to this bar... (see below) Ciao, Claudio

Hi everybody; Just got it in the mail today. What do you think? Ciao, Caludio

...not to mention that the Rumanian Crown Order is the 2nd type give from the late thierties on. Very strange; all orders are supposed to have been awarded during WWI and this medal bar has that Rumanian order but no Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer. Also interesting is the fact that this bar has been put together in easier "fakable" Bavarian style. I wouldn't even touch it... Ciao, Claudio