Rusty Greaves

Howdy TracA, Perhaps this example of the Crimea Medal from the most recent Liverpool Medals catalog might be of interest to you (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/crimea-4-bars-scots-guards-off-impressed?mc_cid=edaa511724&mc_eid=eb61970ca6). It apparently sold very quickly and the realized price is not identified. The high-resolution image of this medal can be zoomed for additional details. Here is the verbatim description of this item, SKU: J9253: "Crimea Medal, 4 bars, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, James Carver, Scots Fusilier Guards, who died during the war, all confirmed and officially impressed. Officially impressed: “JAMES CARVER SCOTS FUSr Gds” Medal and all 4 claps confirmed on medal roll and service papers. Lacquered and toned, well preserved condition. With copy service papers. An excellent fully confirmed 4 bar medal as issued posthumously. James died during the war, his papers recalling that he “Died in the East of fever on 5th March 1855”. James Carver was born during 1826 in the parish of St Martins, Hereford, Herefordshire. He had initially signed on for “Unlimited Service” being attracted by a bounty of £4 on 4th November 1846, joining the 44th (Essex) Regiment. Soon afterwards, he transferred over to the Scots Fusiliers Guards, as the Scots Guards were known as since 1830, “Transferred to Scots Fusilier Guards on the 1st August 1846, Authority dated 29th July 1846.” Joining the Scots Fusiliers Guards on 1st August 1846 he would serve with them until his death in service. He was not the most well behaved Guardsman at first, being stationed at Windsor as a Guardsman he would be “apprehended by the Civil Powers for an assault, convicted and sentenced to 6 days of imprisonment.” He was missing from the regiment whilst “In Prison” from 11th October 1849 until 16th October 1849”. This did improve, his papers noting in the “Distinguished Himself” section that he was entitled to “One Penny per diem of Good Conduct Pay from 17th October 1851”. He was then deployed to the “East” in Crimea from 28th February 1854, landing with the Guards Brigade. His papers recall his battle service as: “Present at the Battles of the Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann & Siege of Sebastopol”. A good description of the Scots Guards service in Crimea can be read on their Regimental Website here: https://scotsguards.org/historical-overview/the-crimean-war/ This medal would be hard earned, the Scots Guards had been waiting for the opportunity be deployed for decades, since they last were sent out to fight Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, only about half the regiment would return home alive, and would be award 5 Victoria Crosses for the war. They finally got their chance in 1854, when the full Guards Brigade got together and sailed for Crimea, consisting of the 1st Scots Guards, the Grenadier Guards and Coldstream Guards. One of the finest battles fought in the history of all 3 of the Guards Regiments was the Battle of Alma. At the battle, James was amongst a brave bunch, by the end of the battle Ensign Robert Lindsay of the Scots Guards, carrying the Queen’s Colour would earn the very first Army Victoria Cross, alongside Sergeant James McKechnie, Sergeant John Knox and Private William Reynolds, all 4 would get the Victoria Cross that day."

The most recent Liverpool Medals catalog is offering an example of the uncommon pewter Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum, SKU: J9269, £1,795.00 (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/gordon-star-for-the-siege-of-khartoum?mc_cid=edaa511724&mc_eid=eb61970ca6). Are there any experts who can weigh in on the authenticity of such a piece stated to also have an original ribbon? Taz's post of 8 May 2008 is the only other contribution showing a fragment of a ribbon. Identify Medals states that the ribbon was either deep blue or red (https://www.identifymedals.com/database/medals-by-country/great-britain-medals/the-general-gordons-star-for-the-siege-of-khartoum/). A 1965 article in the British Numismatic Society Journal provides some scholarly treatment of this decoration (https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital BNJ/pdfs/1965_BNJ_34_23.pdf). High-resolution image of Liverpool Medals offering of Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum, obverse. As noted in the quoted description below, the medal was adapted from General Gordon's own Ottoman Order of Medjidie. The inscription is translated as: “The Siege of Khartoum” with the Hijri date of 1883/84. This photo and that below of the reverse can be zoomed for greater details. High-resolution image of the Liverpool Medals offering of a Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum,reverse. Some of the information in the description is not included in past posts by folks knowledgable about and interested in this unofficial medal. It does describe it as being sandcast in pewter, and provides a translation of the central inscription. Here is the verbatim Liverpool Medals description: "General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum, an Original example of the Pewter sand cast copy of General Gordon’s Order of the Medjidie Badge. A complete example with attached crescent suspension, in good preserved condition with all tips of the arms surviving. This unusual star is likely to be the lowest quality British Order or Medal ever produced. That is because it was produced during the Siege of Khartoum, by order of “General Gordon of Khartoum”. Major General Charles George Gordon, aka “Gordon Pasha”, was a highly decorated War Hero under employment of the Khedive of Egypt, serving as his Governor General of Sudan. After a lengthy and epic siege, General Gordon was desperately in need of the British Relief Force, but they arrived too late. The Mahdi had breached the city, and send in his man to capture Gordon, apparently as they swarmed him, he stood at the top of the steps with his revolver and sword, and died there, where he and his body servant, took out as many as they could manage before he went down swinging his sword. By the time his servant awoke from the action, Gordon’s head had been removed and taken as a trophy. By nightfall the Garrison had been slaughtered to the last man. During the siege, morale was extremely low and things were looking rather dire for the defenders. The star of course bears a striking resemblance to the Egyptian Order of the Medjidie, Mecidiye Nişanı, General Gordon owned one of these examples and use it as the basis for the new medal. General Gordon decided to make a medal to award to those trapped, he drew up the medal based on his own Order of the Medjidie and had a goldsmith called Bishara Abdul Malik during 1884 produce the medals, made mostly from Pewter. As there was a lack of previous metals available and machinery, the pieces were made rather crudely from mostly Pewter, with some other bits of silver and gold etc mixed in depending on the piece, by the Sand Casting process, with a few key features changed by General Gordon to properly transform it into the “Khartoum Star”. The Arabic Script around the centre was replaced by “The Siege of Khartoum” and dated in the Arabic Calendar translating to 1883/4. Shortly after they were made, the Mahdists overwhelmed Khartoum and murdered General Gordon, it was then believed that the Star would paint a large target on any surviving wearers, proof that they sided with the enemy." Below is a copyrighted illustration and some background information on this decoration from a 19 April, 2023 auction archived on the Noonans website (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/450731/). This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals Relating to Egypt and the Sudan 1801-1920 - the Property of a Gentleman. DESCRIPTION An extremely rare framed pair of General Gordon’s Stars awarded during the Siege of Khartoum 1884-85. General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, silver with traces of gilt, as awarded to officers of the rank Mulazem to Sagh General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, pewter, as awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks, this attached by thread to a blue cloth backing. Together with 10 Piastres Khartoum Siege Banknote, the three items, with ivorine labels, set in an old Spink, London, wooden, glass-fronted case, 245 x 170mm.; the back of case with a contemporary paper clipping referring to the ‘Gordon Memorial Fund’, medals very fine and very rare (3) PROVENANCE From the collection of the late Felicité Ann Araminta, Lady Aldington (née MacMichael), Dix Noonan Webb, September 2012. FOOTNOTE From the collection of the late Felicité Ann Araminta, Lady Aldington (née MacMichael); the above probably given to her by her father, Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael, G.C.M.G., D.S.O. (1882-1969) who was heavily employed as a Colonial Administrator in Sudan. His first overseas posting in 1905 was with the Sudan Political Service, successively as Inspector of the Provinces of Kordofan, Blue Nile and Khartoum, and later he was a Political and Intelligence Officer with the Expeditionary Force which reoccupied Darfur in 1916; after which he was the Sub-Governor of Darfur Province. MacMichael was awarded the D.S.O. in 1917; awarded the C.M.G. in 1926 and received a knighthood with the award of the K.C.M.G. in 1932. During 1933-37 he was employed variously as Acting Governor-General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Tanganyika Territory and during 1938-44 he was variously High Commissioner and Commissioner-in-Chief for Palestine and High Commissioner for Trans-Jordan. Awarded the G.C.M.G. in 1941. The paper clipping reads: ‘Gordon Memorial Fund - Through the courtesy of the Egyptian Government, search was made to see if any of the notes issued by General Gordon during the siege of Khartoum had reached and been preserved in Cairo. Some were found and the Prime Minister has presented them to the Governor-General, who intends disposing of them for the benefit of the Gordon Memorial Fund. ... Anyone who wishes to obtain possession of one or more of these notes should apply to the Secretary, Gordon Memorial Fund, at the Palace, Khartoum, or care of Sudan Government London Office ..." Owain's post here of 17 April, 2008 notes several past sales of General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum decorations by Dix Noonan Webb. This page from the same above mentioned 19 April, 2023 auction archived on Noonans (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/special-collections/1138/?&offset=40) also lists 5 other examples of Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum. A 28 November, 2024 auction by Spink (Auction 24003, Orders, Decorations, and Medals) archives a listing of a silver-gilt Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum, Lot 49 (https://spink.com/lot/24003000049). Spink Auction 170002, Lot 68 is a pewter example of this decoration (https://www.spink.com/lot/17002000068). A posting by the Royal Engineers Museum of 27 January, 2025 on Facebook shows one example of this decoration and states that several other examples are on display at the museum, (https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1169289188530122&set=in-1884-5-during-the-siege-of-khartoum-the-garrison-was-hemmed-in-and-morale-was.

Below is an image of another receipt by J. Lattes. It is dated 17 October, 1916, but refers to work from June-November of 1916. This photo comes from a January-February 2025 eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/276785516680) Of interest, this receipt also is made out to Ahmed Bey Ehsan. I previously illustrated two other Lattes invoices to the same person and one from Zivy Frères & Cie. of Alexandria also to Ahmed Bey Ehsan in my post of 14 August, 2024 on this thread. The invoice shown in the Magdy Hanafy volume (2023. Encyclopedia of Egyptian Protocol: Collars, Orders and Medals 1914-1953. Friends Group for Philately and Numismatics, Cairo pg, 343) dates to 6 April, 1916 and includes items listed from November 1915 - March 1916 (shown as the 2nd image in my 14 August, 2024 post). The first Lattes receipt shown in that post dates to 14 January, 1922 and includes references to materials invoiced in December 1921 work done in February 1921. The Zivy Frères receipt in that 14 August post is dated 15 November, 1927 with a note about payment by cheque dated 3 January, 1928. I also illustrated a second Zivy Frères receipt to Ahmed Bey Ehsan date 29 May, 1926, with notations about additional purchases between February 1926 and October 1927, shown in the 4th photo in my post of 3 November, 2022 in the thread: :Egyptian Khedive Judge's Badge question" here in the the "Middle East & Arab States" section. The genealogical site Geni has an entry for Ahmed Bey Ihsan (https://www.geni.com/people/Ahmed-Ihsan/6000000014814946995) providing his birth and death dates (1 November, 1888-10 August, 1946), notes he was a government worker in Egypt, and includes the above low-resolution undated portrait of him. Le Mondain Égyptien, The Egyptian Who’s Who,1939 , pg. 219, identifies Ahmed Bey Ihsan as the 3rd Chamberlain to the King, and lists his honors as Commander of the Order of Ismail, Commander of the Order of the Nile, and Grand Officer of the Italian Order of the Crown. Le Mondain Égyptien, The Egyptian Who’s Who,1941 (pg. 107) also lists Ahmed Bey Ihsan as a recipient of the Grand Officer Class of the Iranian Order of Humayun, and still in service to the King. The 1943 Le Mondain Égyptien, The Egyptian Who’s Who notes Ahmed Bey Ihsan's former role as Chamberlain to the King on pg. 157. The above moderate-resolution group portrait of the Cabinet of the Grand Chamberlain staff to King Farouk I names Ahmed İhsan Bey as the 3rd Chamberlain and shows him seated in the front right row. This image comes from an untitled & undated photo portraiture publication and listing of the Egyptian King's staff. Phototypie P.-G. Evrard, 50 Avenue Secrétan, 50, Paris. The high-resolution scan of this as a pdf file does not convert to a high quality jpg. I posted a higher-resolution version of this image from the flickr site of Ms. Maha Mahmoud as the 4th photo in my post of 2 April, 2019 on this thread.

The hallmark is that of Tewfik Bichay, he was the foreman and head craftsman in the J. Lattes shop and took over that shop in ~1930. Owain would be the most knowledgable person about this award. He states in that post of 25 April, 2018 on the thread "Miniatures of the Middle East & Arab World": Owain's illustration of the reverse in this same post shows the correct orientation of the Bichay hallmark.

Howdy VtwinVince, Thanks for pointing out my posting this in the wrong section. I'll see if Nick can help me move it. Cheers, Rusty

The most recent Liverpool Medals catalog features a Transport Medal for South Africa awarded to Captain Benjamin Jones, C.O. of the Ulstermore, awarded the USA Presidential Gold Medal for his lifesaving bravery (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/transport-medal-captain-in-command) The Liverpool Medal auction description and biography of Captain Benjamin Jones reads: "Transport Medal, EDVII, bar S. Africa 1899-1902, Benjamin Jones, In Command, Captain of the S.S. Ulstermore during the Boer War. A Remarkable “In Command” Transport Medal for South Africa of Captain Benjamin Jones, C.O. of the Ulstermore, awarded the USA Presidential Gold Medal for his lifesaving bravery in leading the rescue of a doomed American Ship in 1884. Officially Impressed: “B. Jones, In Command.” Confirmed on the medal roll, as Commanding Officer and Captain of the Ulstermore during the Boer War. His career was nicely summarised in his Obituary in the Liverpool Journal of Commerce, on 19th December 1910 reading: “THE LATE CAPTAIN BENJAMIN JONES The interment took place on Thursday last at City of London Cemetery, Little Ilford, Essex, of the Late Captain Benjamin Jones, who passed away at Southport in his 63rd year. Captain Jones was associated with the shipping firm of Messrs W.N. Johnston and Company Ltd, for about 30 years, during which time he commanded many of their principal vessels, and was for a period of about 15 years Marine Superintendent of London. He retired from active service about 2 years ago. Amongst the various decorations that Captain Jones received was the South African War Medal with five clasps (Sic, they mean one) for transportation of troops during the Boer War. He was also the recipient of a Testimonial from the late Admiral Tryon for Transport Services during the Naval manoeuvres, and in addition a Gold Medal and a Pair of Binoculars from the President of the United States of America for saving a shipwrecked crew in mid-Atlantic, also the Royal Human Society’s Medal and Certificate for Lifesaving…” The Rescue referred to of the American Barque, was recalled when he was presented with his Gold Medal in the Liverpool Mercury, 15th August 1884: “PRESENTATION TO A SHIP’S OFFICER At a meeting of the Local Marine Board held yesterday – Mr Thomas E. Lemon in the chair, the other present being Messrs R.L. Greenshields and J.H. Worthington – A Handsome Gold Medal, the gift of the President of the United States, was presented to Mr Benjamin Jones, Commander of the steamship Cranmore, in recognition of his services, whilst Chief Officer of that vessel, in rescuing the crew of the American Schooner Almira Wooley, which foundered at sea on the 6th March last. The Oranmore, during a voyage across the Atlantic, discovered the Almira Wooley in a sinking condition, and notwithstanding the state of the weather and the heavy sea that was running, a boat manned by Mr Jones and 6 Seamen proceeded to the Schooner, and safely transferred her crew to the Oranmore.” At the time of the rescue, the situation was looking bleak back in America, many newspapers were reporting that the ship was doomed, “Alrmia Wooley presumed lost with all hands” it was reported, before the miraculous appearance of the crew in Liverpool, the Brooklyn Eagle, on 22nd March 1884 reports: “THE ALMIRA WOOLEY’S CREW SAFE Picked up by an English Vessel and landed in Liverpool. Ever since March 3rd, yesterday afternoon, a dread fear of the loss of Captain Hazard Rackett and the crew of the Schooner Almira Wooley, was felt by the people of Greenport and Orient, where the families of most of the persons on board the Schooner reside. On March 3rd, the Almira Wooley was seen in a terrific gale, sounding under bare poles and with men at the pumps, by an English Steamer which arrived in Baltimore on March 12th. The Steamer lost sight of the Schooner, and the general impression was that she had foundered. It appears that the Schooner was kept afloat for 3 days longer, and on the 6th the Crew were taken off by the English Steamer Oranmore and carried to Liverpool. Telegrams from Captain Rackett were received yesterday announcing the safety of himself and his son Lester and all of the crew. The Schooner was short of her full cargo and was kept afloat longer than she otherwise would have been.” Another newspaper had reported on the presumed loss on 17th March 1884, “SEVEN MEN LOST AT SEA” which details the ships crew and how a steamer had witnessed her foundering but then after a Squall the ship was nowhere to be seen and it was fought they were gone. Captain Benjamin Jones was born during 1848 in Liverpool, Lancashire. On 11th September 1872, he got his first proficiency Certificate becoming Second Mate. Not long afterwards on 15th July 1875, he became First Mate. It was on 14th August 1879, that he became “Master” in the Merchant Service and could command his own ship, he was only 31 years old at the time, and had only been Second Mate barely 7 years earlier. Becoming a Master, he would go on to as mentioned in his obituary during his long career with Messrs W.N. Johnston & Co, “Command many of their Principal Vessels”. His Merchant Navy Master’s Certificate contains 2 interesting stamps, the first reading: “MARINE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF TRADE, Certified That A GOLD MEDAL presented by The American Government to Benjamin Jones in recognition of his services in rescuing the crew of The American Schooner ‘Alvira Wooley’ on the 6th March 1884.” And another that reads: “MARINE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF TRADE, CERTIFIED THAT A Sea Transport Medal presented by His Majesty’s Government to Benjamin Jones, for services rendered in South Africa 1899 – 1902.”

I came across this unusual medal in the most recent Liverpool Medals catalogue (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/ghuznee-cabul-1842-41st-foot-rare). I know nothing about this medal, and did not readily find another appropriate thread to add the high-resolution photos and description to, so here is a new topic. This medal has been sold. The Liverpool Medals description reads: "Ghuznee Cabul 1842, Private James Saville, 41st Welch Regiment of Foot, very rare British Army example with this reverse. Officially engraved in correct style to the regiment: “JAs SAVILLE, 41st REGt” Fitted with original steel, now slightly rusted clip and bar suspension. Provenance, Sold in DNW on 9th May 2018 for £1400+ (About £1800 all in) and sometime sold by Cultman Collectables for £1585. This “Ghuznee Cabul” type features a uniquely designed reverse compared to the other issues of the medal. It was only issued to 360 European and 1163 Indian Recipients. The only British Army units to receive this variety was the 41st Foot, issued 105 medals and the 40th Foot, issued 3 medals, the remainder of the 360 Europeans serving with the Honourable East India Company’s Indian Army. Private James Saville of the 41st Foot, served with the service number 1535, he is first recorded on the 1841 Army Index as “On Route to India” in 1841 as part of a draft for the 41st Foot. Their many battles fought and services in the war are recounted in great detail in the book “A History of the services of the 41st (The Welch) Regiment (Now 1st Battalion the Welch Regiment) from its Formation in 1719 to 1895” written by David Alexander Napier Lomax in 1899. During the 1842, the 41st Foot, aka the Welch Regiment, as they were known since 1881, were deployed from India to Afghanistan to fight in the first Anglo-Afghan War. The 41st became part of the so called “Avenging Army” or “Army of Retribution” who were tasked with getting revenge for the massacred troops who fell in the November 1841 retreat from Kabul through the Khyber Pass, in which the enemy killed many men, women and children. The Avenging Army arrived to take part in a full scale invasion of Afghanistan in March 1842."

I saw a recent listing in the most current Liverpool Medals of this uncommon German East Africa, King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, KAR DCM Rumbo April 1917. The description is acompnaoied by a high-resolution image of this award (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/kar-dcm-rumbo-april-1917). I am ignorant of this medal, and hope I have posted this in a potentially appropriate GMIC Forum. The description reads: "King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, GV, 399 Sergeant John, 2/2 K.A.R. for his Gallantry at Rumbo on 18th April 1917. Awarded with the following citation: “For conspicuous gallantry in the action of Rumbo on 18th April 1917. He behaved with great bravery under heavy continuous machine gun fire at close range, and maintained excellent fire control throughout the day. He was severely wounded towards the close of the engagement. This NCO has always shown initiative and self reliance when in command of small patrols in the enemy’s country.” Officially impressed: “399 Sjt: John 2/2 K.A.R.” Polishing and contact wear as typically seen. Sergeant John would also earn the 1914-15 Star Trio for his services, these being issued on 29th August 1923. The award of the Colonial variety of the Distinguished Conduct Medal with “King’s African Rifles” reverse is extremely rare. According to research done by Abbott and Tamplin for their book “British Gallantry Awards”, they found that the Ministry of Defence (Army Department) reported that only approximately 195 medals, and 8 second awards clasps were awarded between the years of 1906 and 1925. 2 for 1906 and the remainder after 1911, mostly for the First World War. Harry Fecitt MBE TD wrote an interesting article regarding the services of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment (Nyasaland) of the King’s African Rifles during 1917 titled “From Rumbo to the Rovuma River”, as part of his writing “Harry’s Wars in Africa” which can be read here on Kaiserscross.com: http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/433401.html He writes the following regarding the services of Sergeant John and his unit at the battle of Rumbo: “THE ACTION AT RUMBO By April 1917 German units were threatening Kilwa from the south-west and a British camp was established at Rumbo, with a forward post on the Ngaura River. The 40th Pathans were ordered to advance over the river and defeat the enemy troops positioned to the south; attached to the Pathans were two man-packed mountain guns of the Gold Coast Regiment escorted by 30 Gold Coast (now Ghana) infantry, a Royal Navy Lewis Gun (light machine gun) detachment, and 140 Askari and 2 machine guns from 2/2 KAR. The 22nd (Derajat) Mountain Battery supported the operation from Rumbo camp. Major W.T. Gregg (Royal Irish Rangers) commanded the Askari who were drawn from Nos 1 and 3 Companies of 2/2 KAR. On 18th April Gregg crossed the river and advanced on his own through bush up a spur on the British left whilst the Pathans and Gold Coasters pushed down the main track across the river, which was at this time only knee deep. However rain was falling up-river. As the fighting on the spur developed one of Gregg’s Askari, 2394 Private Saidi, received an African Distinguished Conduct Medal: 18/4/17 Rumbo. For gallantry and devotion to duty. This man succeeded in extricating a wounded British NCO from a position swept by enemy machine gun fire, and carried him to a place of safety. The Pathans soon ran into a German defence occupying higher ground, and although the Indian infantry fought bravely an enemy counter-attack over-ran two of the Pathan machine guns, shooting down the gun teams. The German defenders were the 11th and 17th Field Companies commanded by Captain von Liebermann and Lieutenant Bueschel; the former opposed Gregg’s advance whilst Bueschel attacked the Pathans. After their one field officer and the advance guard commander were killed confusion reigned amongst the Pathans as many of the sepoys were new arrivals, and a withdrawal was ordered. By this time the river was visibly rising and the Gold Coasters, supported by 50 of the 2/2 KAR Askari, had to fight hard against German attacks whilst the mountain guns were carried across the river. The Pathans lost another machine gun as they crossed. Panic-stricken porters dropped many loads of ammunition and supplies into the river or abandoned them on the enemy bank. Downstream Gregg fought his own battle against 17 Field Company as he got the remainder of his Askari back across the river, and even then one wounded man, 23 Lance Corporal Lufani, had to be left on the enemy bank. Two more African Distinguished Conduct Medals were won. 399 Sergeant John was awarded his: For conspicuous gallantry in the action of Rumbo on 18th April 1917. He behaved with great bravery under heavy continuous machine gun fire at close range, and maintained excellent fire control throughout the day. He was severely wounded towards the close of the engagement. This NCO has always shown initiative and self reliance when in command of small patrols in the enemy’s country. 464 Sergeant Yessow’s citation read: 18/4/17 Rumbo. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He has always behaved with marked gallantry in action, and particularly so at the action at Rumbo on 18th April. 2101 Private Waziri Simba was awarded a Military Medal. Gregg was one of the last to swim back across the river. During this fighting Major Denys Walter Reynolds (York & Lancaster Regiment) was severely wounded. The other 2/2 KAR casualties were 4 Askari killed and 12 wounded. Major William Thornton Huband Gregg was later awarded a French Croix de Guerre with Palms.” Also for further reading here is an extract from the King’s African Rifles A Study in Military History of East and Central Africa, 1890-1945, by Lieut Col H. Moyse-Bartlett. “ACTION AT RUMBO, 18th APRIL 1917 – Rose was ordered to attack the enemy camp at Makangaga. He entrusted this task to Lieutenant-Colonel Tyndall of the 40th Pathans with a column of 450 rifles drawn from the Pathans, the Gold Coast Regiment, and Nos. 1 and 3 Companies, 2/2 K.A.R. The column assembled at Rumbo on 17th April. Leaving a detachment of Pathans and Gold Coast to hold the position there, Tyndall marched next morning, crossed the Ngaura, and climbed the high ground beyond. There he drove off a German picquet and soon afterwards came under heavy fire from the direction of his left flank. A force of about two enemy companies was well established upon a spur, 700 yards from the road. The intervening terrain was covered with tall elephant grass and thick bush, but Tyndall thought it essential to postpone his advance on Makangaga until this threat to Rumbo and his own retreat had been removed. Dispatching the K.A.R. into the bush to work around the German right, he began a frontal attack with the Pathans. Several hours of firing did little but reveal the enemy strength, and Tyndall, realizing that success was beyond his powers, ordered a general retirement. This was the signal for a determined counter-attack. The morale of the German askaris was high, and throughout the afternoon they pressed hard upon the rear and flanks of Tyndall’s force. The two pack guns were saved, but the Germans captured three machine guns and a quantity of baggage and ammunition. The action had been fought in heavy rain, which since the morning had flooded the Ngaura. The Pathans lost another machine gun in getting across, and the K.A.R., who owing to their detached position made the crossing lower down, were obliged to swim for it, casting away a good deal of their equipment. In this reverse, 2/2 K.A.R. lost 4 Askaris killed and 1 Officer and 12 African ranks wounded. Three days later, 2/2 K.A.R. moved to Rumbo and for the next two months was employed on incessant patrolling against enemy parties raiding the British supply dumps. This was the testing time when the battalion, after taking two severe knocks at Nambanje and Rumbo, outgrew the recruit stage and developed into an experienced and effective unit. One more action was fought by 1/3 K.A.R. in the northern part of the 1st Division area before the district was evacuated and the battalion withdrawn. On 11th April, long before the floods had subsided, 1/3 K.A.R. was ordered from Utete Fort to the place known as Utete II, which lay about twenty-two miles to the south-west. Utete II was reached on the 13th, and an enemy patrol was driven from the water-hole. The River Lugonya had become a fast, unfordable torrent, confining the enemy entirely to the left bank except for a bridgehead at Kiawe. There the road crossed the river by a bridge approached on either side by a causeway over the swampy ground. Not wishing to fight with their backs to such an obstacle, the Germans had constructed their main defences on the left or farther bank.”

The most recent Liverpool Medals catalogue has a Canada General Service Medal, clasp Fenian Raid 1866, 969 Private Thomas Christian Herbert, 2nd Bn 17th Leicestershire Regiment in its listings (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/canada-fenian-raid-17th-leicester-regt). The photos are high-resolution. Unfortunately, it does not answer your question azyeoman about the 10th Bde RA. The description of the medal reads: "Canada General Service Medal, bar Fenian Raid 1866, 969 Private T.C. Herbert, 2nd Bn 17th Leicestershire Regiment, Rare British Regiment issue, stayed in Canada after the war before returning to Leicester in later life. Officially Engraved: “969 Pte T.C. Herbert. 2/17 Leic R.” Typical “Engraved in England” example, upright engraving style as seen on British produced and named examples. Confirmed on the medal roll. Which recalls the medals being authorised in August 1899, his entry noting his issue address as “2 Rutland Terrace, Grange Lance, Leicester” Crisp unworn condition and issued not long before his death in 1903. Thomas Christian Herbert was born circa 1843. The son of John Christian Herbert and Sarah. Shown on the 1861 Army Census as on duty with the 2nd 17th Foot at Shorncliffe Dublin and Curragh. At this time he would be newly enlisted about 18 years old. The 2nd Battalion had been recently formed back in 1858, and the battalion was posted overseas for service in Canada “British North America” being stationed there during the Fenian Raids. The 2nd 17th would return back home in 1868, but Pte Herbert stayed in the country. Pte Herbert is not on the 1871 Army Index (or any further army records) suggesting that he took the opportunity to take his discharge from the Army to remain in Canada. He is next seen in 1872, on local marriage records living in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario. On 4th July 1872 Thomas married Bridget Fawell, a lady living in Kingston, the daughter of Darby and Bridget Fawell. The records recall he was no longer a serving soldier and now worked as a “Labourer”. Thomas looks to have in later life returned back home to Leicestershire, receiving his long deserved medal once it was finally issued about 1899-1900 living in Leicester. He died during March 1903 in Leicestershire."

I have been helping clear out my mother-in-law's home and came across an original matted print of the portrait of Judge Pierre Crabités. I have included other versions of this portrait shown below, but I did not know the source of this image. The photo is mounted onto a mat marked with the name "Zola, CAIRO" on the lower right, and a symbol on the lower center showing a lion rampant on the left and an upright horse (with a lion-like tail) on the right, both animals on either side of a horseshoe-shaped device surmounted by a crown. The basal ribbon legend has vertical marks that appear to represent text, but when magnified there are no letters on the ribbon nor on the margins of the horseshoe-shaped element. The Zola studio symbol appears to intentionally use British-inspired imagery. As with most of the Egyptian photo studios in the early 20th century in Egypt catering to wealthy and foreign clients, Zola was probably ethnically Armenian. Above is an original mounted print of Judge Pierre Crabités in his judicial garb. This photo was probably taken at the beginning of his appointment to the Cairo District Mixed Court on 18 June, 1911. The matting measures 291 mm tall X 190 mm wide. The photo measures 193 mm tall X 115 m wide. The resolution of this photo is better than other copies I have scanned and posted several times on this thread (most from the photographic morgue of the Times-Picayune newspaper of New Orleans, LA). However, the photo surface has been scratched (above Crabités left shoulder to his left ear) and rubbed (notable on his left shoulder but also in a couple other locations). The name "Zola, CAIRO" on the lower left and the studio symbol on the lower middle of the matting are both hard to see, even when the photo is zoomed. I have posted images of the identical form of the Zola name and symbol below from another matted photo produced by the Zola studio. Zola was a well-known photographer and portraitist whose studio was located on Madabegh Street near Suares Square, Cairo. Armenak Arzrouni, and Egyptian-Armenian photographer and the founder of the important Studio Armand in Cairo, was an assistant to Zola following his apprenticeship with Karapet Pabuchyan in Studio Nadir, Alexandria in the 1920s. Following Zola's death in 1930, Arzrouni opened Studio Armand nearby in Suares Square. A moderate-resolution image of the Zola studio name on a darker mat showing the name better than on the Crabités portrait matting. This photo, and that below, can be zoomed for some additional detail. This cropped image comes from a photo on a current eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/316135477829?_skw=zola+studio%2C+cairo&itmmeta=01JJQ022SDV6S4MENWV3JQ0WKG&hash=item499b249245:g:tl4AAOSwmeNmn-0E&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKm2f%2FeveKYsLmk%2BjZtY4oifqJUyPOUqICqSDV25fc51cTO3XUwsBmb029IlIo6b4JPCt2uRrlRKfMeD%2BHAKJBbtvvJZj1XkJLnQ0EF2ExOzKkS6GBP%2BKDWu0WFomdypgyOc%2B55iMeBr1%2FUpAeTvg7bt6RlJTr8x2V8hVOmcmdj0jwFutXt%2BI3aQCN30fg5S9ZqjQu0xoTjM80ORd%2B2NHCC25UIvpohaTQALaRAJKi2MBmdL2XhlIBqVcmKx0a--pES%2FvBgH1sm6v5y%2F6XDpZ542y5o%2BfVaQwY0u%2Fds%2F8%2BYaUA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-isiOCVZQ) The British-inspired symbol on the lower central portion of the mat of the same eBay portrait of a child from the current eBay listing as shown above. The positions of the Zola studio name and symbol are the same as on the Crabités portrait matting.

Owain identified this hallmark on the the Egyptian Order of Independence of the Republic (Nishan al-Istiklal) as that of the manufacturer Fuchs in his post of 25 April, 2018 on the thread "Miniatures of the Middle East & Arab World" here in the "Middle East & Arab States" section. Below are 2 images of this hallmark in the correct orientation. The photos can be zoomed a bit for better details. Fuchs hallmark from a past listing on La Galerie Numismatique 1st Class full-sized Nishan al-Istiklal medal: https://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com/auction-xxix/order-independence-republic-egypt. From a past Sixbid.com/La Galerie Numismatique listing of a full-sized 3rd Class Nishan al-Istiklal neck badge: https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1845&category=37879&lot=1613256

I have found photos that appear to represent either another possible example of what I have termed a “jewelry” version of the Mixed Courts badge insignia made by Wolf Horovitz, or higher resolution photos of the same badge shown at lower resolution in 2 other past auctions. The current example comes from a 21 July, 2024 auction (26: Osmanli ve Avrupa Eserler Müzayedesi [Ottoman and European Works Auction]) by the Ünal Auction House in Istanbul, Lot 34 (https://www.muzayedeapp.com/en/product/bronz-mineli-adalet-nisani-hidiv-19-yy-sultan-abdulaziz-han-donemi-imalat-damg-MTkwLTI1MTQwLTg2ODU5NjY=). The images on the Ünal auction listing are high-resolution and show aspects of the badge execution better than 2 previous Turkish auction listings of 2 different badges with low-resolution photos (the Hitit Antik 21 February, 2021 auction (5, Lot 126; and the 24 October, 2021 auction listing (Auction 20, Lot 16) by Arthill Museum Collection) and to the first example I found and illustrated here from a Bamfords Auctioneers and Valuers’ auction of 5 December, 2018, Lot 3620 (archived on the saleroom website with only the photo of the obverse: https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bamfords/catalogue-id-bamfor10553/lot-546dbbb8-f7b1-4f6a-a2ba-a9a0009cb8b5). One of 2 images of the obverse of this very abbreviated execution in bronze of the Mixed Courts badge design from the Ünal Auction House offering of 21 July, 2024. This high-resolution image, and the 2 others from the Ünal listing, can be zoomed for additional details. The auction description identifies the material of this badge as bronze. However, it also suggests the piece is gilt in gold, this may be unlikely. The black enamel ornamenting the mantle margins, tassels, and a portion of the crown also is listed, but the white enamel in the Order of Medjidie element is not mentioned (this is a painted, not baked, form of enamel). There is some apparent loss of black enamel that can be seen in this photo and the next one below of the obverse. The outermost tassel on the viewer’s left is missing enamel in the lower chamber representing the neck or ruff, below the head of the tassel and above the skirt (the fringe). On the viewer’s right, the outermost tassel is missing enamel in part of the cord portion (above the body & skirt), the body, and the skirt. There also appears to be chipping of some of the enamel in the uppermost draping of the mantle below the crown and to either side of the star above the central inscribe tablet. The photo above shows well the chips in this enamel at the lower margins of the drapery, to both the right and left of the star. The next photo below of the obverse also shows these chips, but not as well as the negative conchoidal fractures visible in this image. The dimensions are given as 11.5 cm tall x 8.5 cm wide, as with the other examples this is the same size as the more elaborate and official forms of the badges as shown on this thread. The description claims this piece was made by Froment-Meurice. However, as seen on the reverse of this badge, on the Bamfords example, and on the Arthill example (all shown below) the name “HOROVITZ” is visible on the reverse above the 2 recessed rivet holes in the central portion (see the 3rd photo in this post). The description of the Bamfords example states that it is “probably silver gilt”. I first illustrated the Bamfords example in my post on this thread of 2 December, 2018. The first image shows the obverse and the 2nd shows the reverse with the “HOROVITZ” name. Also note that the most inferior portion of the mantle fringe on the Ünal badge does overlaps some of the rayed embellishment, suggesting that the mantle element may be loose or has slipped downward. Another high-resolution image of the obverse of this unusual piece from the Ünal Auction House listing for Lot 34. There are 2 apparent bubble anomalies in the black enamel that are useful in comparing this badge with the Bamfords piece. Two chambers on the viewer’s right margin of the mantle below the tassels (where embroidery designs are present detailed normal Mixed Courts badges) each show surface irregularities in the black enamel that are not seen on the Bamfords example. Note the hole visible under the corner of the folded mantle margin on the left side of the badge. This suggests the loss of at least one of the rivets holding the multiple components of embellishment, mantle, and central tablet with the inscription together. Compare the 1st photo in this post that appears to show the same hole showing the white surface on which the badge is resting. The lack of projection of the rayed embellishment at the inferior margin also is quite apparent in this photo. High-resolution photo of the reverse of this piece. The “HOROVITZ” name is partially visible in the superior portion of the central depression underneath the proximal portion of the tunic pin where the bifurcated proximal portion becomes a single pin. Although they cannot be distinguished clearly, it appears that the 3 Egyptian [silver] hallmarks are present on the inferior portion of the central depression above the tunic pin catch. As with the Bamfords example, the above image also appears to show the 3 Egyptian hallmarks (for silver) on the right side bifurcation of the tunic pin higher than where they join into the more distal portion of the pin (in the above photo, to the viewer’s right of where “…OROVITZ” appears underneath the tunic pin. Two very distinctive casting flaws lines that are probably pouring defects are readily apparent in this image on the left side of that central depression. Additionally, several pouring defects (misruns or cold shuts) also are apparent in the most inferior portion of the central depression, seen on both sides of the tunic pin catch. Other casting flaws can be seen on both the obverse and reverse of this piece, and the other examples I have illustrated here on this thread. It is unclear if all of the rivets are present in this example. The central most pair of rivets are either missing or recessed in what appear to be empty holes. The reverse of the Bamfords example also shows recessed holes. In the photo of the reverse of the Bamfords piece, at least 6 of the 7 holes may be filled with an alternate form of attachment, or they simply show the underside of the mantle element (see below). The Ünal Auction House example may be missing some rivets, and the mantle element may have slipped inferiorly so that very little of the rayed embellishment is visible beyond the inferior margin of the lowermost mantle fringe. Above is a moderate-resolution photo of the obverse of the Bamfords “mock-badge”, as I have occasionally referred to it for its schematic design execution and lack of any details seen on even the least elaborate versions of the Mixed Courts badge (probably those by Zivy Frères & Cie). This was the first example of this odd badge that I found online. As noted, the auction description identifies this as There are several similarities between this image and the Ünal Auction House example that suggest these may be the same pieces. However, there also are some glaring dissimilarities that challenge that possibility. The Bamfords piece appears to have the same areas of missing enamel as the Ünal example in the 2 tassels. The Bamfords and Ünal examples both show very little of the most inferior portion of the embellishment below the fringe margin of the mantle element. Both pieces show an anomaly appearing as a grey spot (a bubble?; or a high point in the cell holding the white enamel that shows through as a dark spot?) in the 10:00 position in the white enamel inside the wreath that holds the round suggestion of the Order of Medjidie element. However, there also appear to be differences in the staining, scratches or other surface damage, possible loss of enamel on the Bamfords central tablet inscription and some differences in the form of the calligraphy, and in the distinct casting flaws on the reverse of each badge. The Bamfords piece appears to be missing enamel in the “cordage” wrapping cell element around the mantle corner on the viewer’s left side, while the Ünal piece appears to have enamel in this cell. As noted above, the 2 bubble anomalies in the 2 chambers on the right margin of the mantle (embroidery on fully detailed official badges) do not appear to be visible in the Bamfords badge photo. The Bamfords central tablet inscription is missing enamel in the 2 diacritical marks between the 7th and 8th vertical alif strokes on the upper left quadrant. Enamel also is missing from 2 “bird” diacritical marks in the lower right and lower left quadrants of the tablet. The lower resolution of the Bamfords photo makes comparison of some of the apparently different forms of the diacritical marks on this tablet inconclusive. The staining of the Bamfords badge does not match what is shown in much higher resolution in the Ünal auction photos. This is especially apparent in the well-defined different lighter spots on the Ünal Auction House’s central tablet. There are at least 12 fine pits (casting flaws or damage?) somewhat clearly visible on the upper left half dome of the tablet of the Bamfords badge that are not present on the Ünal piece. Possibly similar pitting may be present on the Bamfords star that cannot be identified on the star of the Ünal badge. The right hand horn (from the viewer’s perspective) of the crescent surmounting the crown appear to be slightly bent downward and inward on the Bamfords badge but not on that of the Ünal crescent. There is a dent or casting flaw on the tall 7th ray to the viewer’s left of the tall central superior ray behind the crescent finial; on the crown (counting that as the 1st ray) that is not visible on the same ray of the Ünal piece. I cannot match staining or damage of the embellishment between the 2 examples (except possibly similar marks on the 2 longest rays in the cluster of 3 to the left of the lowermost extent of the enameled lowermost folds of the mantle, that could also be mold flaws). Above is a moderate-resolution photo of the reverse of the Bamfords piece (or at least from the auction listing of this badge), showing the placement of the “HOROVITZ” name, the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks on the tunic pin and on the lower central depression above the tunic pin catch. Note the distinctive casting flaws (pits, misruns, and possibly cold shuts) on this piece that do not appear to match those seen on the Ünal Auction House example. Additionally, the staining and well-defined lighter areas are not seen on the Ünal piece. The rivet holes on the Ünal badge also do not match those on this Bamfords example. Above is a low-resolution image of another example of one of these odd cast pieces using the original Mixed Courts badge design. This example comes from a 24 October, 2021 auction listing (Auction 20, Lot 16) by the Turkish auctioneers Arthill Museum Collection, still archived on their website (https://www.arthill.com.tr/urun/4095822/hidiv-19-yuzyil-altin-vermeyli-bronz-mineli-adalet-nisani-19-yuzyil-sultan-abdu). This piece is identified as being made of bronze, measuring 11.5 cm tall x 8.5 cm wide. There may be some vermeil on this example, but I cannot determine which part may be gilt. This was the second example of this surprising workmanship by Wolf Horovitz, who also made much more-detailed Mixed Courts badges that were struck not cast. I illustrated the 6 photos included with the Arthill auction listing and described this badge in my post of 7 April, 2022. This example has no white enamel around the Order of Medjidie element, and lacks black enamel in some of the portions that the Bamfords and Ünal pieces have (in the upper portion of the mantle drapery including most of the bunched corners, the cords of all 4 tassels, the body, and skirt of each of the outermost right and left tassels, and all of the lateral fringe in the folds of the mantle). It is unclear if the enamel has been lost or was never applied to this piece. The poor resolution of this photo makes it difficult to determine whether there is black enamel in more portions of the crown than on the Bamfords or Ünal pieces. Note that the inferior portion of the rayed embellishment on the Arthill piece does project further from the lower margin of the mantle fringe, compared with the Bamfords, Ünal, and Hitit Antik badges. Low-resolution photo of the reverse of the Arthill example. The name “HOROVITZ” is in the same position as on the Bamfords and Ünal examples. The detail is not good enough to confirm the presence of the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks on the tunic pin or the inferior portion of the recessed central portion of the badge. However, the image appears to show the 1st and possibly the 2nd silver hallmarks visible just to the viewer’s left of the distal portion of the tunic pin. Above is a moderate-resolution close-up of the “HOROVITZ” name on the reverse of the Arthill badge. Note the many casting flaws evident in this image. Above is a very low-resolution illustration that I came across of this same form of abbreviated design came from a 21 February, 2021 auction (5, Lot 126) by Hitit Antik in Ankara (https://www.hititantik.com/en/product/3207720/hidiv-armasi-avrupa-yapimi-bronzdan-imal-edilmis-11x9-cm-uzerinde-osmanlica-ad). The single photo with this listing is low-resolution, making comparison with the Bamfords example difficult. There was no image of the reverse in the Hitit Antik auction listing. The auction listing identifies the material as bronze and its dimensions as 11 cm tall x 9 cm wide. I posted the single image from this auction listing and discussed this example in my post of 18 July, 2024 on this thread. This appears to be the same badge as that listed on the Ünal Auction House in Istanbul auction offering of 21 July, 2024, Lot 34, shown in the first 3 images in this post. When zoomed, this badge photo does seem to shows the 2 chipped areas of black enamel on the inferior draping margin of the mantle on each side of the star. The tassel elements appear to be missing the same portions of black enamel as the Ünal example. The grayish dot at the 10:00 position in the white enamel of the Order of Medjidie element also matches that on the Ünal and Bamfords pieces. The small amount of the inferior portion of the rayed embellishment below the lower mantle fringe also resembles the Ünal and Bamfords badges. Although hampered by the low-resolution of the above image, the staining and some possible damage or casting flaws on the rayed embellishment show a strong similarity to those that can be compared on the Ünal piece (but not to the Bamfords badge pictures from the 2018 auction). I noted in my 18 July, 2024 post about this piece that I was unable to match the staining of the central tablet on this badge with that on the Bamfords badge, despite my suspicion that the grey dot in the white enamel around the Order of Medjidie element indicated a high probability these are the same badges. I also cannot match the areas of lighter and darker staining on the central inscribed tablet of the Hitit Antik badge with those shown on the Ünal tablet. Again I am confounded by some of the staining/tarnish differences. On many Mixed Courts badges, distinctive staining has been an important means of identifying the same badge's journeys through different auction houses. The high-resolution photo of the Ünal badge show very distinct areas of discoloration, but these do not map out in the same areas as this Hitit Antik. Other than repairs, chemical cleaning, or replacement of the missing enamel on the Bamfords central tablet calligraphy between 2018 and 2024, I cannot resolve the lack of similarity in the forms of the central tablets between the Ünal, Bamfords, and Hitit Antik pieces that seem to show many other similarities of their obverse faces. Another glaring anomaly is that the photo of the reverse of the Bamfords badge is quite different from the photo of the reverse of the Ünal example. If the Bamford’s photo of the reverse is actually of that piece, I do not see how the different casting flaws could be so different while many aspects of the obverse are similar. Potentially different rivet holes by themselves might represent attempts to stabilize a loose badge between 2018 and 2024. These abbreviated badges are uncommon enough that finding an unassociated image of the reverse of such a Horovitz badge in the Bamfords auction listing would not necessarily have been simple to obtain. My working idea is that the Bamfords, Ünal, and Hitit Antik badges may all be the same piece, with some maintenance effects that make the central tablets appear dissimilar in each of the photos of the obverse of these badges. The Arthill Horovitz badge is clearly a second example. If the reverse images of the Bamfords and Ünal badges are associated with the illustrated obverse photos in these auction offerings, then there is a strong probability that they represent 2 different badges. The current auction examples indicate that at least 2, and possibly 3, different examples of this abbreviated Horovitz design have come to auction over the last 6 years. The more interesting but opaque issue is why Horovitz made these badges that are so unlike his (and others’) clearly official Mixed Courts badges. Are they a form of brooch jewelry (for judges or other court officials’ wives?) or some other kind of semi-or unofficial insignia? Only Horovitz is currently identified as a maker of these odd pieces.

Enzo posted the above photo of his gold and silver District Mixed Courts badge, made by Froment-Meurice, as the 3rd image of his post of 25 May, 2021 on this thread: He posted one image of the obverse and 2 photos of the reverse. The 3rd photo in Enzo's post (shown above) has the initials “JH” engraved (casually) in the superior central portion of the badge, inside the squared-off part of the depression on the reverse. The reverse of this badge also is of interest because it is stamped both "FROMENT-MEURICE" but also has the diamond-shaped French maker's hallmark which contains a rose resting laterally with the name "FROMENT above the rose and MEURICE below it (see the threee images in my post of 25 May, 2021). I responded to Enzo's post on 25 May 2021 with some information about the only 4 judges in District Courts with the initials “JH” that I could find in the 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme, par le: journal des Tribunaux Mixtes. Alexandrie, Egypte, Février 1926. I also checked whether any Appeals Court judges might have had those initials. I did not uncover anyone else with these initials on that Court listed in the 50th anniversary volume. Although the Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926 volume only lists Court staff from the initiation of the Courts in 1875 thorough the February 1926 publication date, this is not such a handicap for researching potential owners of Froment Meurice-made badges. While some badges may have been returned (where?) after a few judges retired, it seems that many judges (and probably other Mixed Court staff who wore silver badges) kept their badges. As Émile Froment-Meurice retired in 1907 and died in 1913, presumably fewer badges from Maison Froment-Meurice would have been available after that date. I have not found any evidence that his successor, Georges Auger, continued to make any Mixed Courts badges after he purchased the atelier in 1907 and moved it from 372 rue San Honoré, Paris to 54 rue Etienne Marcel (see my post on this thread of15 August, 2019). As noted in that 15 August 2019 post, after purchasing the Froment-Meurice atelier in 1907, Auger-made pieces were marked Auger-Froment Meurice, a name that is not present on any Mixed Courts badges or cases that I have been ablel to see online. The Froment-Meurice badges were directly available 1875-1907, and possibly until his death in 1913. These badges are most likely represented more among judges from those years than after Froment-Meurice’s retirement and death. Other manufacturer’s, especially Rudolfe Stobbe (Alexandria), Wolf Horovitz (Alexandria), Zivy Frères & Cie. (Alexandria), provided badges to judges and Mixed Courts staff. My research has identified two cast versions (presumably less expensive) that were made by D. Ialanos, A. de Leo, and A, Kassandrinos of Alexandria. (see my post of 3 February, 2022 on this thread). A business card for another jeweller, F.lli F. & V. Rusciano, has the motto “Experts près les Tribunaux Mixte” (experst at [to] the Mixed Courts), although I have not yet identified any badges made by this atelier in Cairo. Additionally, there are 4 manufacturers whose badges I have seen online, but cannot be matched to the other known makers. My 25 May, 2021 post on this thread responding to Enzo's images lists the four District Court judges with the initials “JH” and gives a précis of their careers on the Mixed Courts. I have recently found photos of 2 of these judges, and a small amount of additional information on 3 of them, so I wanted to reprise the information about the potential original owners of Enzo’s badge. Below I include the additional photos and information I have found about these four judges. I do not have a prejudice about which of these 4 Judges is more likely to be the original owner of the "JH" badge. I do feel, given the completeness of the 50th anniversary volume's listing from 1875-1926 and the probability that Froment-Meurice badges were most available before 1926, that these four judges are the best candidates to have worn Enzo's badge. The history of the badge's provenance is all that may be able to resolve the question "Who was J. H.?". Just Johan Holten (24 May, 1831-1 February, 1916): Above is an undated cabinet card photo of Judge Just Johan Holten of Denmark in his Mixed District Courts regalia. His name is sometimes spelled Juste-Jean, but more often appears as Just Johan Holten (including on his posthumous autobiography: Holten, Just Johan, 1923, I Dansk og Ægyptsk Statstjeneste [“In Danish and Egyptian Civil Service”], compiled, edited, and published by Carl Dumreicher, M. P. Madens Boghandel, København, and a short biographical work by his son: Holten, Knud, 1916, Just Johan Holten. J.H. Schultz, Copenhagen). This photo is from the Émile Béchard studio that operated in Cairo 1869-1880 before moving back to France and operating in Hyères and Marseille from 1881-1897. This cabinet card portrait is curated in the image collection of the Royal Danish Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek): http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object460032/da/. The ID for this photo is: DP016037.tif and the Shelf Number (call number) for this is: Image Collection. Danish Portrait, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916), in Danish: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916). This photo may be protected by a copyright, although the source states that is unlikely. Judge Holten was the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark prior to being nominated to the Egyptian Mixed Courts. He was initially named to Ismailia on 15 April, 1876 and was transferred to the District Court of Cairo on 27 January, 1878. Holten was transferred to the Court in Mansourah on 12 June, 1878, and then to the District Court in Alexandria on 3 January, 1882. He was called back to service for the Danish government on 1 July, 1883. Holten’s short tenure on the Mixed Courts was during the period when Froment-Meurice Court badges were being made and would have been readily available. (1875-1913). In the above portrait, his neck badge appears to be the Ottoman Order of Medjidie, either the 2nd Class Grand Officer or the 3rd Class Commander. The medal closest to the center of his chest is the Order of Dannebrog, there appears to be no rosette on the ribbon indicating the Knight Class (not the 1st Class Knight). He received this award in 1869. I do not know what the 2nd medal is. The 3rd medal on Holten’s chest might be the silver cross of the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog, but the edge view makes it impossible to be certain. Wikidata (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108748423) identifies that Holten was awarded the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog in 1898, citing Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, 3rd edition. The 4th chest badge looks like the Kingdom of Italy Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus. I do not see a crown suspension element (which would indicate the Knight Officer Class), so I suspect it is the Knight (5th Class?). I have found very little biographical information about the honors awarded to Holten. Above is an in an undated photo of the Mixed District Court of Mansourah (“Judges in Mansourah”). This is a plate in the Holten posthumous autobiography (Holten, Just Johan, 1923, I Dansk og Ægyptsk Statstjeneste [“In Danish and Egyptian Civil Service”]. Published by Carl Dumreicher, M. P. Madens Boghandel, København), between pp. 256-257. Most of the men in this photo are judges with solid color sashes (red). There are 3 men with bicolored sashes (red and green) who represent other Court official (i.e., clerks): the 2 men standing in the back row on the left and the man in the back row standing at the far right. Although not identified in the text or caption, Just Johan Holten appears to be seated in the front row 2nd from the viewer’s left with folded arms. Holten served on this Court between June 1878-June 1883. However, the 1923 publication date of this plate and lack of photo identification of subjects makes the identification of Holten uncertain. The judge in the front row 3rd from the viewer’s right resembles Somerville Pinkney Tuck with his great mustaches (see the 1st photo of him in my post on this thread of 30 October, 2024). However, Tuck did not overlap with Holten on their service to the Courts. Tuck served on his first appointment in Egypt to the Mansourah Court in May 1894-November 1897, then served on the Cairo Court, and finally was legal advisor to the Appeals Court from 1908 until his retirement in 1920. However, the date of the above photo of the Court of Mansourah is currently unknown. It is still most likely that a photo of the Court of Mansourah with Judge Holten would have been selected for his posthumous autobiography, if one was available. The above cabinet card portrait of Just Johan Holten by J. Petersen & Søn studio in Copenhagen also comes from The Royal Library, Copenhagen (http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object460033/en/): ID: DPO16038.tif, Shelf mark: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916). Another version of this image that has been cropped to exclude the matting is on PICRYL website of public domain collections (https://picryl.com/media/just-johan-holten-by-j-petersen-and-son-72ecbb). The cropped version also is available on Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Just_Johan_Holten_by_J._Petersen_%26_Søn.jpg). The Petersen & Søn atelier was run by Jens Petersen (1829-1905) and Charles Bendix Petersen (1860-1927) in Copenhagen. PICRYL bracketed dates for the photo are between 1880-1905, without explanation. Holten may appear slightly younger in the above image than the portrait of him in his posthumous autobiography (facing pg. 1) that is dated to 1912, but there is little visible difference other than possibly less hair on his frontal regional. The center-most chest mini is probably the Order of Dannebrog. The other mini is likely the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog. This photo is free of any copyright. Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout (6 March, 1831-19 January, 1930): Was a French judge whose name its sometimes identified as “Fermin Jules Gabriel Herbout". I have not found any photos of Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout. Judge Herbout was the Former President of the Tribunal of Argentina (Orne). He was named to the Cairo Courts on 27 April, 1876. He was called back to service for his government on 27 September, 1883. Subsequently he served on the Tribunal of the Seine. Some census documents I have seen identify him as a judge on Tribunal de La Seine in 1896. Later censuses (1901 & 1911) identify him as an honorary judge by those dates). Judge Herbout also was a judge early enough in the Courts’ existence to have had ready access to a Froment-Meurice-made badge. Information from the genealogy website Geneanet identified that Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout was awarded the Knight Class of the French légion d'honneur in May, 1877. He was made an officer of the légion d'honneur in a decree of 18 July, 1923 (https://gw.geneanet.org/pneuvise?n=herbout&oc=&p=jules+firmin+gabriel&_gl=1*xa2pbi*_gcl_au*OTI4ODA3MzEuMTczMDMzMDY2Mw..*_ga*MTcxMTkzMjYxOC4xNzMwMzMwNjY3*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*ZmU0M2VjZWYtNGQ4Zi00NzJhLWEwMDEtNzhlZjA4MTRmODYzLjExLjEuMTczMDgyNTM0Ny4wLjAuMA). Jacques Adalbert Haakman (1837-1895) The name of this judge from the Netherlands often is written as Jacques Adelbert Haakman and also commonly latinized to Jacobus Adelbertus Haakman, especially for his publications. I have not found any photos of Judge Haakman. An incident over a Court conflict with Khedive Ismail resulted in the dismissal of Judge Haakman after only serving less than 18 months on the Court. Jacques Adelbert Haakman was a former Substitute for the Prosecutor for the King in Harlem (northern Holland). Named to the District Court of Alexandria 24 June, 1875, dismissed from the Courts by a decision of the General Assembly of the Mixed Court of Appeals on 13 November, 1876. As with the other candidates listed here who might have been the original owner of Enzo’s Mixed Courts badge, Haaakman’s brief and contentious tenure on the Courts was at a time when Froment-Meurice badges would have been readily available. Haakman became embroiled in a very difficult episode in the early years of the Court. The Mixed Courts rendered several opinions on debts that Khedive Ismail had accrued against several estates. The Courts did not recognize a Khedival decree prolonging the periods before repayment, and Ismail did not meet the established repayment schedule. This put the Courts in a very delicate position. Several Egyptian judges withdrew from the hearing feeling that ignoring a Khediuval decree amounted to insurrection against their government. The majority of the Court continued to render judgments against the Khedive and sought diplomatic assistance supporting the establishment of firm schedules for executing judgements and to support the Mixed Courts even in suits against the Egyptian Government. The Courts prevailed, and this episode contributed to the forced abdication and banishment of Khedive Ismail. Judge Haakman took a particularly extreme position about this, causing a difficult, complex, and embarrassing crisis. Haakman tried to challenge his own competency through a convoluted argument that if the law could not be applied equally to all, including the Khedive, then de facto the Courts could no longer operate justly. The Court rejected his argument, and in protest he postponed all meetings, duties, and cases. Haakman's justification was that if law was not being executed according to judgements, then the suspension of all judicial proceedings was necessary. In response, The Appeals Court called him before a General Assembly in October 1876 accused of having refused to render justice and abrogated his other judicial duties and those assigned as alternatives after his initial complaints. Haakman claimed all the judges were disqualified from from rendering an impartial judgement on him and so did not appear for the hearing. He was summarily dismissed from the Mixed Courts. Jasper Yeates Brinton writes briefly about this unfortunate episode at the courts in his important 1930 volume The Mixed Courts of Egypt, Yale University Press, New Haven (pp. 46-50). Brinton, in his usual diplomatic tone, wrote that Haakman (not named) was a Calvinist with an unbending spirit (pg. 49). A Dutch journalist, Gerard Termorshuizen writes that Haakman was notorious for his "irritating egocentrism, delusional self-righteousness, uncollegial behavior and not too much forgotten his ruthless colonial mentality" (Reactionairen en realisten. Een geschiedenis van de Indisch-Nederlandse pers 1905-1942. Amsterdam-Leiden, 2011). Haakman raised concern about the Egyptian government imposing the Mixed Court Ottoman-inspired judicial regalia of the tarboosh, stambouline coat, and the judicial sash, feeling this costume would detract from the international character of the Courts (Haakman, Jacobus A., 1877. Droit international. L’Egypte et les traités internationaux sur la réforme judiciaire. Durand), Paris, pg. 7). Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers (27 December,1850- 25 January, 1920): The above portrait photo of Dutch Judge Heyligers comes from the online version of Onze Hoogleeraren: Portetten en Biografieën (1898) Our Professors: Portraits and Biographies), Nijgh & Van Ditmar, Rotterdam, pg. 340 (https://www.dbnl.org/arch/_onz003onze01_01/pag/_onz003onze01_01.pdf). The record is available on the Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren (DBNL). The Digital Library for Dutch Literature (DBNL) is a digital collection of texts from Dutch literature, linguistics and cultural history, from the earliest times to the present. This image, and the other two below of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers, also are archived on the PICRYL website (https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/topics/julius+cornelis+theodorus+heyligers) and on Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Julius+Cornelis+Theodorus+Heyligers&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image). Note the striped rosette in Heyligers' left lapel. Wikidata (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89343648) identifies him as having received the Knight Class Order of the Netherlands Lion (blue and gold ribbon) at an unspecified date and the Knight Class Order of Christ (Portugal, that ribbon is solid red) on 28 October, 1889. Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers was a former professor at the Indische Instelling in Delft (college for colonial administration in Delft, Netherlands) from 1893-1901. He was named to the Court in Mansourah in March 1901, transferred to Cairo in May 1904, and died in Cairo January 1920. Although he came later to Egypt than the other 3 District Court judges outlined here, he still was a District Court judge at the time when Froment-Meurice-made badges could still be obtained new. Heyligers is shown in the last photo of my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread, standing in the 2nd row furthest to the viewer's R (and as the 4th photo in my recent post above of 22 November, 2024 about Carl Valdemar Kraft). Jasper Yeates Brinton, an American jurist on the Appeals Court, refers to him as "Judge Th. Heyligers" in several places in his important 1930 book: The Mixed Courts of Egypt. He also was referred to as Prof. Mr. J. C. Th. Heyligers, or just J. C. Th. Heyligers. The above cabinet card of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers is archived in the Stadsarchief Delft in the Netherlands (SAD inv.nr. 80019), in the Image and Sound section with an estimated date of c1900. The image also is available on PICRYL at https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/media/sad-invnr-80019-c46d87 and on Wikimedia at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAD_inv.nr._80019.jpg. This cabinet card measures 16.5 cm high x 10.5 cm wide. Heyligers may be slightly younger in this photo than the previous one in this post that accompanied his biography as a faculty member at the Indische Instelling (he may have more hair in the above cabinet card than the portrait in the Onze Hoogleeraren: Portetten en Biografieën 1898). Note that Heyligers is still wearing the striped rosette in his left lapel. The above studio portrait of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers also is archived in the Stadsarchief Delft (SAD inv.nr. 90912). As noted, the image also is available on PICRYL and Wikimedia Commons. The matted photo measures 40 cm high x 29 cm wide. There is a possible date "04 or possibly "08 that is written to the right of the photographer's name on the lower right of the mat ("W. H. Jazerda"?). Heyligers continues to wears his rosette (striped?) in his left lapel. The two previous portraits of Heyligers probably date to his tenure at the Indische Instelling in Delft from 1893-1901. This is the only portrait I have found that almost certainly dates to his term on the Mixed Courts, other than his inclusion in the group portrait of the Cairo District Court noted above. Although the hat he wears in that 1909 group shot obscures the amount of his baldness, Heyligers' face in that group shot most closely resembles the above portrait. Heyligers wrote a full report of the incident that resulted in the dismissal of Haakman which was published posthumously (Une episode des Premiers Temps de la réforme judidiciareen Egypte. Pamphlet privately printed, Paris 1926).

Above is an uncropped and higher-resolution image of a Froment-Meurice gold and silver Mixed District Courts badge than the slightly cropped and lower resolution photo of the same badge that I included in my post of 28 October, 2024 on this thread. That lower-resolution image in my 28 October post is from 2 other Facebook pages. This comes from 12 November post on a Facebook page of Armut Mezat (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=545850388412846&set=g.1160182087369052). This image can be zoomed for some additional details. This higher-resolution photo does shows the tugra in the Order of Medjidie element is in the correct orientation, rotated just slightly to the right. This helps confirm the indications that this is a Frement-Meurice-made badge. No additional information or photos are provided on this Facebook post.

I have been looking at portraits of Danish judges on the Egyptian Mixed Courts over the last week. I found another cabinet card image of Judge Carl Valdemar Kraft in his Court regalia by Studio Reiser of Alexandria that was probably made at the same time as the other Reiser cabinet card of Kraft that I included as the 2nd image in my post of 5 March, 2019 (and the 12th image in my post of 18 April, 2019). The above cabinet portrait is curated in the image collection of the Royal Danish Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek). From: http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object463029/en/. The ID for this photo is: DP019031.tif; and the Shelf Number (call number) for it is: Image Collection. Danish Portrait, 8°, Kraft, Carl Valdemar (1849-1924), in Danish: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Kraft, C. (1849-1924). This photo is free of any copyright. The same portrait also is included with a listing of Carl Valdemar Kraft on the genealogical site Geni (https://www.geni.com/people/Carl-Valdemar-Kraft/6000000014936894273). The Royal Danish Library estimates this portrait was created between ~1840 and 1898 (1898 is the death date of the Romanian photographer Andreas D. Reiser, although his son Lucien and a partner, Anton Binder, continued to run the studio in Alexandria until 1914). Reiser opened his photographic studio in Alexandria in 1894. Carl V. Kraft was first appointed to the Mixed Court of Mansourah in 1896 and he was transferred to Cairo in 1901. He served as Vice-Presidebnt of the Cairo District Court in 1908-1912 and again from 1914-1916. He was the President of the Cairo Court from 1916-1920. He retired from the Courts in 1920, having reached the mandatory retirement age (70). A resolution in 1902 reserved him a role as an assessor extraordinaire on the Danish Supreme Court. However, Judge Kraft did not fill this position upon his retirement and died in Egypt. This photo is likely to have been taken early in Judge Kraft's career with the Mixed Courts, so a more refined and realistic ballpark set of dates is ~1896-1870. As noted, I also posted another cabinet card portrait of Judge Kraft in his judicial regalia as the as the 2nd image in my post of 5 March, 2019 and as the 3rd-to-last image (12th) in my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread (and shown again below). That Reiser portrait likely comes from the same sitting as the first image above in today’s post. Although there are a few differences in the appearance of the collar area of the stambouline coat between the above and below Reiser Studio images, the one below is from a slightly angled perspective from Kraft's left side and may mask the open coat collar and horizontal fastener seen in the above image. The folds in the sash appear to be identical in both portraits. His tarboosh is cocked to Kraft's right ear in both photos. Judge Kraft also appears to be the same age in both studio images. In my 18 April, 2019 post here, the 2nd-to-last photo (13th) is a portrait of Kraft from the 50th anniversary volume about the Mixed Courts (Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme, par le: Journal des Tribunaux Mixtes. Alexandrie, Egypte, Février 1926), identifying him as the President of the Cairo Court in his last 4 years, 1916-1920. The anniversary volume consistently spells his name incorrectly as "Karl Valdemar Kraft". That Presidential portrait shows Kraft with grey head and facial hair (a mustache & “soul patch” in modern post-jazz parlance, probably formerly known as a form of “imperial”, but now termed in the US as either a “walrus with soul patch” or, with a more luxurious soul patch growth, the “Zappa beard”). The last image in the 18 April, 2019 post (14th photo) also is from the 50th anniversary volume showing Kraft with the other judges on the Cairo District Court in 1909. Kraft also has a grey mustache in this earlier 1909 group portrait. This same portrait shown above also is used on the Geni genealogical site entry for Carl Valdemar Kraft (https://www.geni.com/people/Carl-Valdemar-Kraft/6000000014936894273). Above is the other Reiser Studio cabinet card portrait of Judge Carl Valdemar Kraft (noted as previously posted here on this GMIC thread in my posts of 5 March, 2019 and 18 April, 2019). As noted above, this image was probably taken at the same time as the first cabinet card image in this post from the Royal Danish Library. Thie above portrait shows details of the full sash and decorative bow of his judicial costumer quite well and illustrates the other regalia clearly: the maroon tarboosh, black stambouline coat, red sash with a gold metallic thread border and fringe, and the gold and silver Mixed Courts' badge. I found this cabinet card inside of a copy of the posthumous autobiography of the Norwegian Judge Michael Hansson, 1946, Egypt: 25 år I Egypt (25 Years in Egypt). Forlagt Av. H. Aschehoug & Co., (W. Nygaard), Oslo. I have posted often on this thread about this illustrious member of the Egyptian Mixed Courts. This copy of Hansson's autobiography was apparently owned by Carl V. Kraft's brother (Rudolph Kraft) whose name is inscribed on the front endpaper, and is dated to April, 1948). All of the edges of this cabinet card are gilt. The card measures 165 mm tall x 105 mm wide (most likely, the 1st illustrated cabinet card by Reiser also is the same size). Although the 1926 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: spelled Kraft's first name "Karl", other sources, including his own brother's writing on the reverse of this cabinet card, spell his given name "Carl". Reverse of the same Reiser cabinet card portrait found inside the Hansson autobiography owned by Rudolph Kraft. I have not previously illustrated the reverse of this cabinet card here on GMIC. On the middle-lower-left is Rudolph Kraft's notation of his brother's name and life dates (born 30 May, 1849-died 3 December, 1924). I am uncertain what the dated notation at the top is (from 25 December, 1996/1896?). At the far upper right it appears that "Rud Kraft·" is written, probably meaning Rudolph Kraft. This handwriting on the reverse of this cabinet card matches Rudolph Kraft's inscription in the 1946 Hansson volume I have. Carl Valdemar Kraft apparently never married (several censuses identify him as single) and had no children I can identify. He had five sisters but only two brothers who could have contributed the Kraft name to descendants (https://www.myheritage.com/research?formId=master&useTranslation=1&exactSearch=0&action=query&qname=Name+fn.%2F3Frederik%2F3Wilhelm%2F3+ln.Kraft&qevents-event1=Event+et.any+ep.Copenhagen&qevents=List). Information on Rudolph Kraft is slim. he may have been born in 1846 or 1847, but I cannot identify any independent information on his death date. It does appear that he inscribed the Hansson book in April 1948. Judge Kraft's other brother, Frederic Wilhelm Kraft (1840-1881), had two sons, neither named Rudolph (Carl Adolf Kraft [1876-1976] and Frederic Wilhelm Kraft [1879-1962]: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-446760481-9-500893/frederik-wilhelm-kraft-in-myheritage-family-trees). Was this a Christmas gift to a descendant either named Rudolph or just another member of the Kraft family? It is tough to access names & dates of Frederic Kraft's grandchildren, as these mostly derive from pay-firewall genealogy websites. Does the inscription (if 1996) identify that the cabinet card portrait was from Rudolph Kraft and was being passed along (later?) to another member of the family in 1996? All of the black ink lettering in the upper right half closely resembles the Rudolph Kraft inscription in the 1946 Hansson book and the other writing bracketing Judge Krafts birth and death. Only a few components of the the handwriting of numbers are slightly different on this date that may be 1996. First, the flourished form of the "9" in "96" is not seen in Judge Kraft's death year "1924" (and in the book inscription of "1948·"); second, the way the slash between month number and year ("25/12. 96 .") is diagonal on this date is potentially different from the more horizontal line situating the day above the month followed by the fully written out year (in both the lifespan dates of Judge Kraft on the reverse of this card and in the Hansson book inscription). There are only a couple other "1"s and "2"s to compare. None of the "2"s in the 25/12. 96 ." show the full embellishments at each termination as seen in the "12/3 1924" death date for Judge Kraft. The "2" in "25" has a single added line at the termination of the "2" on the left. The "2" in "12." has only one line possibly added at the initiation of the "2". The "."s after dates and the "Kraft·" name also is present in the Hansson book inscription "Rudolph Kraft· 4 [over] 1948·" Above is a photo of the Cairo District Court in 1909. This is from the 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926, on pg. 189. Carl Valdemar Kraft is seated in the front row, 2nd-from-the-viewer's left. The other judges are listed in the caption under the photo in my post of 18 April, 2019. A judge who is mentioned below in my post of 24 November, 2024, Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers, is standing in the second row at the far right in a hat with a dark mustache. I included this group photo as the 14th image (last) in my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread. The above photo is from a section of the 50th anniversary volume celebrating the Mixed Courts (Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926) on pg. 48 in a section illustrating all of the past Presidents of the District Courts up through February, 1926 when that volume was published. The dates of Judge Kraft's service as President of the Cairo Court are identified (1916-1920) and note the incorrect spelling of his first name as "Karl", repeated in other listings of Kraft in this book. It is most likely that this portrait photo was taken during Kraft's tenure as President of this Court, probably early in that role as the Courts documented their history. Again, I previously used this as the 13th image of my post of 18 April, 2019 (2nd-to-last).