Bison

Not Order of "Guadeloupe" which is a French Island in the Antilles, but Order of "Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe"... My two cents. Bison

Paul, In fact one can find all arrangements. The hybrids are not sequential, but random... So, you can find 1st Empire with Monarchie de Juillet... Here is an example: Regards Bison

Well... this an infinite topic. However, there are some foundations in documentation. According to me: - "Ordres français de chevalerie : contribution à l'histoire des Ordres de mérite", Comte Michel de Pierredon, Rodez 1923. This book describes all types of the Légion d'honneur, without illustrations. This book is very scarce to find but constitutes the first serious study. - "Les Ordres français et les récompenses nationales", C. Bourdier, Paris, 1977 2nd edition. The very basic for all collector of French orders. - "L'Insigne de l'honneur, de la Légion à l'étoile 1802 - 1815", Société des amis du musée national de la Légion d'honneur et des ordres de chevalerie, Paris, 2005, ISBN 2-901644-14-7. The best about the 1st Empire models. Regards Bison

Jim, Terrific set! Henri Meneboode was a lieutenant of the 91st Infantry Regiment when he has been awarded the LdH in 1862. This is really great to have a name and a story with a french group. I am jealous... congrats. Regards Bison

Hope you noticed 1st of April today...

Hi Megan, This is a huge topic from a phaleristic point of view. This is one of the French ministerial Order which has been made by a lot of private makers... with a myriad of variations... ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="1000px" height="725px"> Here is my favorite, made by Louis Aubert, with the observe centre in gold and in two parts: ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="642px" height="750px"> Which differs greatly from the official model from the Monnaie de Paris: Regards Olivier ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="1000px" height="725px"> ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="642px" height="750px">

Here is an example of a Restauration model with its intact lilies and original centres. Observe was "Henri IV Roi de France et de Navarre", reverse was with 3 lilies. This was probably the original design of yours. This model is stamped with a head of hare. ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > Regards Bison ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

Garth, The right hand side one has a crown from the Restauration period. The lilies have their branches cut off to comply with the Monarchie de Juillet regulation which forbid them. I see some hallmarks on the ribbon at 6 o'clock. You should maybe find a head of hare: ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > This is the official mark for silver between 1819-1838. This may prove that the star with the modified crown may have been made during the Restauration period too. But you may also find a head of boar which is the mark for silver between 1838 - 1962 which is a quite large period but prove that the star was made during the Monarchie de Juillet. ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > It is very common to find this kind of changes on the Légion d'honneur, during a period where the political changes were frequent... Regards Bison ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

Another group with an Officer of the Légion d'honneur, Croix de guerre 1915 with one palm and four stars, and a Military Cross. Unfortunately I have failed to find the name of the recipient... http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-43807000-1425058359.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-06017600-1425058382.jpg And below, another unusual reduction group, half size of the actual size. The Croix de guerre 1915 is in silver gilt with two tiny palms. Probably for a woman (?) http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-39325100-1425058476.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-26236300-1425058508.jpg Regards Bison

Another nice one, in bronze, dated 1917, with seven palms and three stars. All palms and stars are in silver or silver gilt with a guarantee stamp "head of boar" Unfortunately the name of the recipient has been lost. I wish I would retrieve it one day... Maybe an aviator... or a commanding officer... http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-23019800-1424972915.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-48093500-1424972935.jpg Regards Bison

Here are the documents. CdG: French notification for MC (there are other nominations for DSO, DSC and MM: All found with the original boxes: Cheers

Hi Chris, Yes it does: citation of the CdG and French notification for the MC. I will post them tonight.

I have to correct what I said above. The model shown by argus is not a private made one but the official for the "gold" rank. It differs from the "gilt" rank with the palms on the observe and it is often found in gold. When in gold the official mark on the edge is : "cornucopia" / the number "3"/ and another "cornucopia" engraved on the edge. "3" stands for gold 750 °/°°; This could answer the question of argus. Regards Bison

Hi, Just to wake up this sleeping topic... One beautiful 1917 in solid silver probably made by Arthus-Bertrand: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-38592800-1424797114.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-34750300-1424797248.jpg Another 1916 in silver gilt, made by Bacqueville: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-27729300-1424797209.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-91944500-1424797292.jpg And a group from Capitaine Charles Costes, awarded during the Somme Battle, while its unit was attached to the British Forces: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-48328000-1424797628.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-35600400-1424797655.jpg Regards Bison

Hi, This medal can be awarded either to civilians working for the Ministry Defense (Air Force) or for Ministry of Transport related to air. I suspect this one was for a civilian of Ministry of Transport. This one is a third type 1978 - today, but this is a relatively scarce model made by a private maker. There is one for sale on eBay France: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/111601989988?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Before 1978, the medals were all the same, with "Aéronautique" on the reverse. Here is a second type 1932 - 1978: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-14271800-1424796001.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2068-0-03702800-1424796017.jpg Back to the question of argus. It is possible to answer if you can describe or show the gold mark, which could be on the edge. Regards Bison