Rusty Greaves

Below is a very crudely made miniature Order of the Nile from a current eBay offering (https://www.ebay.com/itm/125817753727?hash=item1d4b52907f:g:-XUAAOSwsR1kDmB6&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4HQq9Tc2%2B4s3YKb0BCagrDjglPCcRj0yFHFvVQpO0dOunFNU0%2FtpZGLHq4lDbXFORav14Paqto45%2ByCQVg1uhTYNeqHDaHMX6ThF5GS35YW2XhorxAK9Z1BF%2BKd5QBP%2FdbkAPwniMoUfv2EVzBh8ADdVEBfxu6v1SUnJAVEUPQrCWYGcwHgA%2BedPcom6UOOeFiPlCpHyrV0%2FhKX38ngQDYEJDbkVhq7MEza%2FpwrJp4sVKUTsGQ5BgDNvNYBQ4datstiAIPKbXtZhN%2BNKZaY81eem4PgtbNnIPe9d36tFnF%2BI|tkp%3ABk9SR47oqYKKYw). No information is provided in the written description. Above is a moderate-resolution image of the obverse of this current eBay example of a miniature Order of the Nile. This is a 3rd Class mini as indicated by the rosette with a lack of any galon. It is evident that the workmanship is quite rudimentary. The form of the attachment of the rayed embellishment to the crown suspension element is perhaps the most simple form shown on any of the miniature Order of the Nile examples in this thread. The calligraphy of the central boss also is very crude, resembling that shown in a couple of Nile minis on this thread: the 1st photo in my post of 2 April, 2018; and especially in the 8th photo of my post of 2 October, 2018 that presents a clear image of the inscription. Obviously, the obverse face of the ribbon has experienced significant fading. A very slightly higher-resolution close-up image of this same miniature Order of the Nile from eBay. Reverse of this same eBay miniature 3rd Class Order of the Nile miniature. No maker's mark is visible on the reverse. The detailed reverse of the crown suspension device is quite unusual. Only one other example of an Order of the Nile mini illustrated on this tread shows full detailing of the reverse of crown (2nd photo in my post of 11 November, 2022), all other examples shown on this thread exhibit a plain reverse of the crown suspension device.

Could this be one of the Gebrüder Reiner maker's marks from Krumbach, Bayern (1910-present)? These illustrations are not a close match, but there are similarities, perhaps a pre-1914 version would be useful; to compare? Above is an illustration from www.925-1000.com Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks, and Makers’ Marks that includes 2 examples of Gebrüder Reiner maker's marks, one with a partial circle around the letters "G" and "R". The illustrated marks are identified as post 1914, no previous maker's marks are shown in this online photographic archive. I have not seen many marks with the post 1888 crown almost on top of the maker's mark (from: https://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_marks_a1884_8.html).

I recently came across low-resolution photos of a 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail archived on Colnect.com (https://colnect.com/en/medals/medal/6619-Order_of_Ismail_Grandofficer_2nd_Class-General_Issues-Egypt). The set is attributed to a Belgian individual on the occasion of King Fuad’s trip to Belgium in 1927. The Colnect description gives the dimensions of the neck badge as 62 x 85 mm, and the diameter of the breast star as 70 mm. The associated attribution appears to confound two different examples of 2nd Class Orders of Ismail. I am not illustrating the low-resolution Colnect photos as I found better-quality images of these same photos from the 2021 auction archived by Jean Elsen & ses Fils, shown and discussed below. The Colnect description includes the confusing statement: “…with awarding document, 395 x 253 mm, to the King’s Italian Doctor and at the end of 1927 to Maurice Damoiseau (sic.), governor of the province of Hainaut on the occasion of King Fouad's official visit to Belgium.” It initially appeared to me that the mention of the award brevet and Italian doctor to King Fuad probably referred to an unfortunately damaged and badly rotated breast star example that I have previously illustrated on 14, Nov 2017 in its case, with its award brevet and envelope; as the photo in my post of 11 January, 2019 looking at hallmarks, in the 2nd-to-last photo (23rd photo) in my post of 19 October, 2019; and shown in a higher-resolution image of breast star as the 6th photo in my post of 31 January, 2021, all on this thread (I also have illustrated the Dr. Quirico breast star below in this post). I thought perhaps someone had repaired the poor condition of this breast star that had been awarded to Dr. Giovanni Quirico. However, that breast star has significant damage to the blue enamel on three of the arms of the star that are not visible in the Jean Elsen & see Fils better-quality photos of this set (described below). It seems that Colnect has jumbled two attributions. This breast star cannot be that awarded to Dr. Giovanni Quirico, despite the description statement suggesting it was given to the King’s Italian physician. The attribution to Maurice Damoiseaux is not supported by other documentation, but is the more likely of the two alleged awardee identifications. Note below that a 3rd Class, Commander Order of Léopold, Civil, was offered in the same Jean Elsen & ses Fils auction of 11 September, 2021 (Auction 148, Lot 1508) as this Order of Ismail attributed to Damoiseaux. Obverse and reveres of the 2nd Class Grand Officer Class Order of Ismail from the Jean Elsen & ses Fils 11 September, 2021 auction listing (higher resolution that the Colnect version). Obverse and reverese of the 2nd Class Order of Ismail breast star of this set, illustrated on the Jean Elsen & ses Fils 2021 auction listing (higher resolution that the Colnect version). This same set of the Grand Officer Order of Ismail was offered on the Jean Elsen & ses Fils website and is illustrated with higher-resolution images of the neck badge and breast star than the Colnect photos (https://elsen.bidinside.com/en/lot/8515/egypte-ordre-dtismahl-ensemble-de-2e-/). The above moderate-resolution illustrations show the neck badge and breast star well enough to see the design characteristics of the obverse and hallmarks on the reverse. These images can be enlarged slightly for some additional details. This comes from an 11 September, 2021 auction (Auction 148, Lot 1542). The wreaths on both the neck badge and breast star are of the normal J. Lattes pattern and workmanship. The engraving of the gold floral elements on the neck badge exhibit two lateral marks on each side of the terminal blossom and one central mark accenting the longer central petal. The two middle flowers show three lateral marks in each flower and a single engraving mark accenting the gap between the central petals and the longer lateral petal. The engraving on the floral elements of the arms of the breast star show the same common execution of these marks as on the neck badge. The Jean Elsen & ses Fils website description identifies the awardee as Maurice Damoiseaux (Maurice Louis François Damoiseaux, 1866-1938), who held the governorship of Heinaut Province in Belgium from 1908-1937. Damoiseaux was apparently awarded the 2nd Class Order of Ismail in 1927 during King Fuad’s visit to Belgium. The photos on the Jean Elsen & ses Fils site clearly shows a “Z” date hallmark on the reverse central boss of the neck badge. The reverse of the breast star also shows “Z” date hallmarks on the long ray to the viewer’s right of the central long ray of the inferior segment of the rayed embellishment and on the middle of the tunic pin. The ”Z” hallmark indicates an assay date of 1924-1925, still about 2 years before King Fuad travelled to Belgium and gave at least one Order of Ismail award during his official visit (also commemorated with a 1927 table medal). Of course, the assay date also might imply that Colnect has added a secondary spurious attribution. I know little about how many Egyptian Orders may have been made well-ahead of their distribution. I mostly assume that the date hallmarks represent ~2 year windows (the intervals covered by each date hallmark letter) on the decisions electing recipients and the formal award. The Jean Elsen & ses Fils listing also includes the above low-resolution photo of the neck badge and breast star resting in their presentation case. Note that no neck ribbon is now associated with this set. For comparison, above is the damaged Lattes-made 2nd Class Grand Officer breast star awarded to Dr. Giovanni Quirico (formerly archived on the La Galerie Numismatique website, but apparently no longer on that site: https://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com/auction-33-day-1/order-ismail). The incorrect rotation of the star relative to the rayed embellishment is obvious. Also the central medallion with the name “Ismail” is rotated slightly to the left, out of its correct orientation. This high-resolution image shows a crack in the enamel of the upper left star arm, some possible enamel damage to the most proximal (nearest the central boss) portion of the most superior star arm, and extensive enamel damage is apparent to the most proximal portion of the upper right star arm, including fractures and abrasions. There may be some damage to gold portions of the breast star near where the enamel of the star arms is damaged. The clearly visible damage indicates that the Colnect statement about this being the set with brevet that belonged to King Fuad's Italian physician is almost certainly incorrect (the Dr. Giovanni Quirico set is fairly unique among recent auctions to have this identified association, along with the case and brevet). Above is a low-resolution portrait of Maurice Damoiseaux from a MutualArt website auction of 23 February, 2021 (https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Portrait-de-Maurice-Damoiseaux--gouverne/E701D8770ED488F). This undated portrait was painted by Louis Buisseret (1888-1956), and has the descriptive title: Portrait de Maurice Damoiseaux, Gouverneur du Hainaut. Damoiseaux was the Governor of the Heinaut province (usually written “Heynault” in English) in Belgium. He also held a Doctorate of Law from the Catholic University of Louvain and was the author of several political writings. The embroidered jacket appears to be part of insignia of the role as Governor of Heinaut. Similar jackets are shown on other contemporary portraits of Belgians identified as local Governors and Governor Generals of the Dutch East Indies. The Jean Elsin & ses Fils auction of 11 September, 2021 auction (Auction 148) also offered an Order of Léopold, 3rd Class Commander, Civil, in a Maison Wolfers presentation case with Damoiseaux's name on the outer lid and an award date of 8 April, 1929 as Lot 1508 of this same auction as the above Order of Ismail. Damoiseaux appears to be wearing this neck badge in the above portrait. At his retirement in 1937, he was promoted to Grand Officer of the Order of Léopold. Above is a low-resolution photo of one of Maurice Damoiseaux's calling cards. From a current eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-Ancienne-carte-de-visite-maurice-damoiseaux-gouverneur-mons-/372740020727?_ul=AR).

Below is an image of a silver “housewife” (an 18th century term for a “sewing roll” or hussif [verbally, rarely written] for sewing equipment or embroidery supplies, or a cloth purse of some kind carried by women, and is applied to boxes holding silver service), sold under the J. Lattes name. This is from a 13 May, 2023 auction by HVMC, Auction House Monte Carlo, Lot 309 (https://hvmc.com/en/furniture-and-works-of-art-old-and-XNUMXth-century-paintings/important-housewife/). This same listing also is archived on the Drouot.com website (https://drouot.com/en/l/21410491-important-menagere-in-silver-with-chased-foliage-decoration) and calls this a ménagère, in English often translated as a canteen of silver cutlery, Although I am vigilant for additional examples of Lattes’ work, there are not a lot of examples of jewelry (see the 1st photo in my post of 12 November, 2019; and the 1st-2nd photos in my post of 6 March, 2020) or other objects attributed to him readily findable online. The clocks I have previously shown on this thread (see the 2nd-5th photos in my post of 12 November, 2019; the 4th-11th photos in my post of 8 March, 2021; the photo in my post of 29 June, 2021; and the 1st photo in my post of 11 April, 2023) are more commonly identified as the work of Lattes Frères of Geneve. Other than these clocks and the Egyptian royal awards, I have only encountered a small number of pieces that can be attributed to J. Lattes. The horology literature was the source of identification the probable first name of J. Lattes being Job Lattes. See the 1st photo in my post of 11 April 2023 on this thread showing the name Job Lattes on the clock face; and the info in my post of 16 April, 2023 from a horologic publication listing the of the 3 brothers in Lattes Fréres & Cie a Geneve as Italians from Cuneo in NW Italy living in Alexandria in 1883 , and identifying the name Job Lattes for the only brother with a first name beginning with "J". The above housewife is from the May, 2023 auction by HVMC, Auction House Monte Carlo, Lot 309. The only information in the Lot description is a listing of the contents and a summary of the form of decoration. It contains What is of interest to me is that the form of the Lattes label is similar to those placed inside Egyptian royal awards, and is attached in the same location of the inner lid. The label on this housewife reads: “J. Lattes Genève-Caire.” All the other Lattes pieces I have seen only have a form of the Lattes name printed on the lining of the cases, not a ribbon as seen above and on the various awards manufacture by Maison Lattes. This housewife contains: 24 large forks; 20 knives; 12 dessert cutlery; 12 dessert knives; 12 salt cellars with their small spoons; seven serving pieces; and 12 large spoons. The service is described as silver decorated with chiased foliage decoration and monogrammed “JM” on the handles. I realize this service is peripheral to interest in J. Lattes’ manufacture of royal awards. However, it is difficult to find out much about him and his shop, so that information from clocks or other pieces can occasionally add some information to the meager profile of this maker of such beautiful Egyptian awards. As a note on some of those other J. Lattes jewelry cases, I contacted Wave Antiques who continually feature a number of pieces of jewelry in what appears to be a single case marked: “J. LATTES JOAILLIER LE CAIRE” that do not appear to represent pieces likely to have been made in the early 20th century (see the 2nd-4th photos in my post of 11 April, 2023 on this thread). Wave Antiques currently still uses this same one(?) case to exhibit several earrings, brooches, etc (the example of a citrine brooch shown above is from: https://waveantiques.com/products/vintage-citrine-brooch). This website also uses other historic jewelry boxes for online exhibition that are unrelated to the makers of the jewelry they are selling. Wave Antique wrote back to me about my enquiry that none of the pieces they have illustrated on their website in this case were made by Lattes. The case is just used for display and photography for their online sale catalog. The case (and the other pretty older cases) is not sent out with purchases, and appears to be re-used for their rotating inventory display on the website. The lettering on this case is different from that on the royal awards and on the one other piece of jewelry I have found of J. Lattes (see the different form of calligraphy on the inside lid shown in the 1st photo in my post of 12 November, 2019).

Owain, the crown with a crescent to the left appears to be common as a post-1886 German hallmark. Apparently, it is a national mark that replaced city hallmarks, the Halbmund und Krone became an obligatory German state mark in 1888. The crowns take a few forms, but several are identical to that seen on the reverse of this medal. See the examples online at this source: https://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_marks_a1884.html. The 925 of course refers to 925 silver (92.5%). Manufacturers' marks seem to principally appear to the right of the purity mark, but this odd Ethiopian star does not have any. .

Below are two additional photos of the obverse of the original 1916 design of the U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents' Division Badge #1. This comes from an Instagram posting by statedeptdss, the Diplomatic Security Service (https://www.instagram.com/p/CsWIICbNTZ_/?img_index=1). This is a different image from DSS than the ones I previously posted on 2 May 2023. The above image is slightly higher-resolution than the image of the obverse in my previous post, the lighting is somewhat better, and the image can be zoomed for good detail of the badge design and execution. An oblique view of the obverse of U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents' Division Badge #1. The focus is variable, especially affecting the inferior portion of the badge and inscription in the foreground and the superior legend on the badge.

I have two 1st Class Grand Cordon examples of the Order of Ismail to illustrate today. The first example comes from an upcoming September 23, 2023 auction (Auction 57, day 2, Lot 1280) by La Galerie Numismatique, archived on the invaluable.com website (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-order-of-ismail-1280-c-7c0441d8e8). Above is a low-resolution image of the sash with the sash badge and breast star of this Grand Cordon set. The only useful information in the auction description is that the breast star is identified as measuring 81mm in diameter. That, and the configuration of gold fruit dots in the wreath of the breast star, clearly indicate this is a 1st Class versions of this award. There is apparently no case nor documentation associated with this Grand Cordon set. It is unclear whether the ends of the sash exhibit pinking or not. The view of the end of the sash in the above photo is blocked by the placement of the breast star. Additionally, the folding of the sash and the odd knotting above the sash badge makes the bow of the decorative knot invisible, so whether that is pinked also cannot be determined (pinking is cutting the ends of the sash and bow with a zig-zag bladed scissors or other cutting device, the zig-zag reduces the frequency that the ends of the sash and bow may unravel). Above is a moderate-low-resolution image of the sash badge and breast star of this set. The wreath is the normal Lattes configuration.The date hallmark appears to be “C”, but it is unclear in the low-resolution image. "C" = an assay date of 1928-1929 (on the reverse of the sash badge's central boss and of the reverse of the sash badges suspension clip to the clip on the sash). The engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms of the blue and gold star arms on the sash badge appears to show 2 lateral marks on the most distal flowers and a single mark within the central petal. The middle flowers exhibit 3 lateral engraved marks and a single mark in the longer medial flower petal, almost forming the triangular outlining the central petals of those flowers, as seen on some Lattes and Bichay examples. The resolution is not good enough to comment on the other engraving within the gold floral ornamentation of the gold and blue enamel arms. The breast star of this set shows 3 sets of lateral marks in the most distal floral elements and a single mark in the central petal. The middle paired-flowers have 3 lateral marks on the middle flowers and a single mark engraved within the longer medial petal of each of those blossoms. The other engraving on the arms appears to be the most common format, but the photo is not high-enough resolution to distinguish details of that engraving. Above is the other offering of a 1st Class Grand Cordon breast star of the Order of Ismail. This moderate-resolution image comes from the same September 23, 2023 auction (Auction 57, day 2, Lot 1281) by La Galerie Numismatique, archived on the invaluable.com website that includes the above set with the sash: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-order-of-ismail-1281-c-e12424fa29?objectID=182383900&algIndex=upcoming_lots_lotNumber_asc_prod&queryID=c5f96266345ba7896be949a74ed75cc7). The given diameter measurement in the auction description of 80 mm, and the configurations of fruit dots in the wreath, confirms this is a 1st Class award. There is no image of the reverse of this breast star and no descriptive information about the date hallmark, although the maker's mark for Lattes is noted. The wreath configuration is the standard design and execution seen on most Lattes-made pieces. The most distal flowers on each arm exhibit 3 lateral marks and a single engraved mark within the central petal. The paired flowers in the middle of each arm have 3 lateral marks and a single longer mark in the longer most medial petal. The other portions of the engraving appear normal and all of the engraving on this star is carefully done and symmetrical. This breast star is apparently unassociated with other elements of the insignia.

Today's addition is a few bits and pieces. First, an example of a District Courts' badge from a past 2016 auction. Second, a portrait of Belgian Judge Maurice de Wée wearing his judicial sash and badge, along with other awards and medals. The final contribution is a business card for an Italian jewelry house in Cairo 7that may be an additional manufacturer of these Mixed Courtsl badges. Moderate-resolution image of a Mixed Courts badge, probably a gold and silver District Courts emblem. This example is Lot no. 82 from a 13 April, 2016 auction by Beaussant Lefèvre, Auction Histoire & Chevalerie, archived on the Drouot website (https://drouot.com/en/lot/publicShow/5856725). The above image is from the online description of Lot 82. The description states the badge is vermeil (gilt silver), suggesting it is a District Courts badge. Although difficult to distinguish in the above photo, the next image shows the contrast of the vermeil gilt and silver better. The information for Lot no. 82 gives its dimensions as 117 mm x 87 mm. It does not identify any maker's mark, but does describe a boar's head mark on the reverse, which is a French mark for 800 silver minimum fineness, in use between 1838-1962. The workmanship is consistent with that of Froment-Meurice. The tablet calligraphy is most similar to the Froment-Meurice Group 1 examples, especially that illustrated from a 3 June, 2015 auction by Dreweatts & Bloomsbury, (Lot 175), archived on the-saleroom.com website that is shown as the 3rd photo in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread. The orientation of the three tuğ elements of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie is rotated slightly clockwise to ~30°-40°, as seen on almost all other Froment-Meurice badges. There is some damage and loss of small parts of the enamel of the central tablet inscription. Low-resolution image of the same badge, cropped from the illustration from page 15 of the pdf catalog for this 13 April, 2016 auction by Beaussant Lefèvre, Auction (https://www.gazette-drouot.com/telechargement/catalogue?venteId=26010). This is a lower-resolution image that does not show details of the design and execution as well as the first photo in this post. However it does show the vermeil gilding of the rayed embellishment, on the star above the tablet, the tablet (?), on each of the laurel and oak branches with their tughs, possibly some of the fringe of the mantle, and maybe on the Order of Medjidie and its surrounding wreath. Oddly, the damage to the enamel seen in the first photo in this post is not apparent in this photo. Tarnish or loss of the gilt on the rayed embellishment (especially on the uppermost portion) indicates this is the same badge as that shown above. The dark stains on the central tablet seen in the 2nd photo are not as sharply defined in the 1st photo in this post. Those spots in the first photo of this badge are a more diffuse "staining" that may represent the effects of attempts to polish away those darker stains (the cleaning may have removed some of the vermeil on the tablet exposing some of the silver underneath). Could some of this cleaning/polishing be responsible for the damage to the enamel of the tablet inscription? Above is a high-resolution undated image of the Belgian Judge Maurice de Wée from Les Moments littéraires no. 45 (https://lesmomentslitteraires.fr/fiche auteur/FAde wée.html ). Maurice de Wée was a practicing lawyer in Brussels from 1913-1919 and was the substitute and first substitute for the King's Prosecutor in Belgium from 1919-1924. He was appointed as a judge to the Mixed Court of Mansourah on 22 April, 1924, and made Vice-President of that Court in on 13 November, 1925. De Wée later served as President of the District Court in Mansourah, possibly through 1949. He also may have been made President of the Cairo District Court and a legal advisor to the Appeals Court sometime prior to the closing of the Courts in October 1949. De Wée published several legal studies, including: La compétence des juridictions mixtes en Égypte ("The jurisdiction of the Mixed Courts in Egypt"), 1926, Librairie des sciences juridiques, Brussels. I have previously included an illustration of Maurice de Wée with the rest of the Mansourah court as the first photo in my post of 21 August, 2021 on this thread. I also included a later portrait painted by fellow jurist Mahmoud Saïd of the same court as the 3rd photo in that same 21 August, 2021 post. Another group portrait of the judges of the Mansourah Court shows a comparatively young de Wée in the photo in my post of 3 September, 2019. De Wée appears even younger in the above portrait, and compared with the other two Court portraits. I think this photo is likely to have been taken close to his initial appointment in 1924. Although he wears a tarboosh, the jacket is not the stambouline coat that is the normal outerwear for Mixed Courts judges when at the bench. This western style jacket was worn by several members of the Mixed Courts probably as an alternative formal non-court attire (note fellow Belgian Firman von den Bosch as Procureur Général [the Chief Prosecutor] in the 4th photo of my post of 29 April, 2019 wearing the same jacket, white vest, white tie and celluloid collar; the Chef Greffer Adib Makaad Bey, especially in the portrait from February 1926 portrait shown as the 14 the image in my post of 6 September, 2019; and the unnamed judge or functionary illustrated as the first two portraits in my post of 6 April, 2020 on this thread; additionally, members of the Indigenous Courts in my post of 6 April, 2020 [see the 10th and 12th photos of that post] often seem to have worn this style jacket). In addition to the monochrome sash and judicial badge, de Wée also wears several medals that appear to be principally Italian and Belgian. He wears the 3rd Class Commander neck badge of the Italian Order of the Crown. I believe that the miniatures represent (from the viewers L to R): the Belgian Order of Leopold (?, Knight?, Civil Division?), the Belgian Civic Decoration of the War with the WWI service ribbon, the Belgian Victory Medal 1914-1918, the Belgian Commemorative Medal of the 1914-1918 War (?), the Belgian Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food (?, likely 3rd Class, silvered bronze), the ItaIian Order of the Crown 3rd Class Commander (with rosette and silver galon), but I am uncertain about the final miniature at the far right with a rosette and possibly a galon. The last item I am including is the above business card from an Italian jewelry store in Cairo that sold jewelry, silverware, watches and clocks. This comes from a recent eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/276009039960?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050). Filli. Fr. & V. Rusciano's card includes a line in the center left that reads: "Experts près le Tribunaux Mixtes" (Experts at [to] the Mixed Courts). Although I have never seen a badge nor case marked with this name, there remain still four badge design styles I have looked at that I cannot yet identify with any particular maker. Filli. Fr & V. Rusciano's could be one of those four manufacturers. The reverse of the card identifies the Register du Commerce Caire No. 10736, and has a note of receipt of payment dated August 27, 1937. Reverse of the same business card from Filli. Fr. & V. Rusciano with the receipt of payment note, date, and the commercial registration number.

And here's another website with many period illustrations and historical narrative: https://hemamisfits.com/2018/09/10/duffing-rascals-what-is-la-canne/ Most sorry to hear about you being robbed! Yikes-a-mundo! Did that put you in mind of the use of La canne as a marital art? I certainly see various homeless rascals carrying sticks every day as I walk or ride the bus in Albuquerque, for use against dogs or hooligans (hopefully only that).

Several identical images turn up on a number of auctions sites in a search by the image. I cannot vouch for the veracity of these, many descriptions seem spurious. One description (https://www.rubylane.com/item/1973071-BPLx200100/1920-Vintage-French-Lady-Birds-Signed) states: "1920 Vintage French Lady Girl with Birds Signed Medal Gold Finish Pendant by Artisan M.PAUTOT."; Mark(s): On the front of the pendant, it is signed with "GRAVURE "M PAUTOT" 1920 JOURNÉE NATIONALE AUX FAMILLES NOMBREUSES." This website (https://leoncechenal.com/mothers-day-france/) identifies the date and name as a precursor to modern Mothers' Day in France (highlighted in bold in this quote): "The history of Mother’s Day in France. The tradition of Mother’s Day dates back to the 19th century when a low birth rate and a declining population became a concern for the French government. Thus, the idea came about to celebrate those mothers who were caring for large families, perhaps to encourage them to continue having more. Although it is said that Napoleon Bonaparte first thought of it in 1806, it didn’t actually take root until the 1890s. In 1918, the city of Lyon celebrated Mother’s Day as a tribute to mothers and wives who lost their sons and husbands during World War I. In 1920, a “journée nationale des mères de familles nombreuses” (a national day of mothers of large families) was established. But it was only in 1926 that the French government formalized a Mother’s Day as part of the birth rate policy encouraged by the Republic. In the 1940s, Marechal Pétain gave more recognition to this celebration. Mothers being put on a pedestal by the Vichy regime, French people were encouraged to celebrate motherhood. After the war, the law of May 24, 1950, was created to dedicate Mothers’ Day as an official tribute to mothers. This law fixed the date for this celebration on the last Sunday in May (unless this date coincides with that of Pentecost, in which case it is postponed to the first Sunday in June)."

Above is a low-resolution image of a District Mixed Courts judge’s badge from a 26 May, 2023 auction by Delon/Hoebanx & Associés (https://www.delon-hoebanx.com/en/lot/134960/21656566-egypt-large-badge-of-judge-of-mixed-court-for-the). The description for this badge (Lot 170) identifies the maker as Froment-Meurice and that it is a 3-piece construction of vermeil (silver with gilt). The dimensions are given as 116 mm x 89 mm, and its weight as 172.9 g. No photo of the reverse is provided, and the description does not indicate whether it is marked with the Froment-Meurice name. The tablet inscription is most similar to that which I previously categorized as Froment-Meurice group 2. It is most similar to the tablet inscription seen on the example on display in Abdine Palace (shown in a higher-resolution image in my post of 26 January, 2022). It also resembles the inscription of the Clark Auction Gallery example (Lot 0235) shown in the low-resolution 9th photo of my post of 6 September, 2021, and in a high-resolution set of photos (1st-3rd, and 5th) in my post of 19 June, 2022. The spotty remnants of the gilding on the embellishment rays, the Order of Medjidie element, the proximal ends of the tughs, the proximal end of the oak branch, and a couple of the oak leaves on the upper left side, suggests the possibility of attempted chemical cleaning that went awry as this loss does not resemble wear. The central tablet retains its gilt around its margins, but it appears that the central portion has lost the gilt. There is some loss of the enamel on the tablet, especially in the central area. Although not a good-quality image, it is an example of one of the less common District Courts badges, and even with the loss of much of the gold on the design, it is of research interest as there is a fair bit of variation in which portions of these District Courts badges are gilt, even among examples from one manufacturer. This loss of the vermeil and tablet damage is likely responsible for the fairly low realized bid for this piece (€550) compared with other recent sales of some of these Mixed Courts badges.

Numis, I do not think I know enough about the process of striking medals, and the diversity of doublestrike error issues to know whether these rim marks suggest they came from the same batch (would this be one of the kinds of horizontal misalignments?). Again, perhaps because of my unfamiliarity with the mechanics of these misalignments, I would have thought that these rim errors are likely to be idiosyncratic and not that useful as diagnostic indictors of temporally associated strikings. In the better quality photos I have seen and reproduced here it appears that often the rims of both the obverse and reverse show misalignments of both the hammer and anvil dies (dual misalignments?). I don’t know if these striking errors seen on several Sir Harry Smith Medals are due to loose dies or the ejection system. Given how many other SHS Medals show similar rim errors, I wonder if these are just the result of the problematic striking process for these medals but cannot be used to define any particular manufacturing event. F. K. Mitchell (1955, pg. 239) certainly feels that poor workmanship is evident on the sinking of the dies. He also lists the use of cracked dies (Mitchell identifies “die 2” used on 4 unnamed medals as cracked, is this the die used for all of the surviving medals that show a cracked reverse die, are either of reverse dies he labels “5” and “6” cracked?), variation in the thickness of the medals, and the frequency of doublestrikes to support his inference that the less skilled manufacture likely indicates that the medals were struck in Cape Town. The lettering of both the Roots and Ferara clearly shows similar proportional differences in the smaller lettering of …”IN THE...” on the reverse, indicating they probably were struck with the same dies (Mitchell’s obverse die 1 and reverse die 3, 1955, pg. 238). Below is my summary of the rim misalignments and doublestrikes that can be seen on the photographs I have included in this thread. These photos range from very high-resolution to very poor images. I have included brief discussions of all the named and unnamed examples I’ve previously posted, but left out those represented only by drawings (the Difford 1920 pg. 14 illustration of an unnamed medal, that was probably based on the Meades example, in my post of 17 March, 2021; the illustration from Irwin 1910, Plate XVIII of an unnamed medal shown as the 1st image in my post of 20 September, 2022, is this a drawing or a very poor quality photo illustration?), or with photos so poor that nothing can be seen (the unnamed example from a 1999 DNW auction [Lot 32] shown as the 4th image in my post of 13 March, 2021; the obverse image in the Simons 1998 volume, pg. 5 shown as the 1st image in my post of 26 April, 2022 and as the 2nd photo in my post of 28 June, 2023; the even lower-resolution version of this same photo from Balie 1988, pg. 112, shown in the 1st photo that same post of 28 June, 2023; the very poor photo of the Duncan medal from the City Coins 2005 auction shown in my post of 20 April, 2023; and the unnamed example from the 1991 Buckland, Dix and Wood auction catalog, shown in my post of 19 November, 2022). I have ordered the information below first to address your question numis about the Roots and Farera medals. Next, I have presented my impressions about the doublestrikes/misalignments in relation to the better-quality photos I have found ending with the lowest resolution images. I have titled each paragraph according to the Mitchell 1955 die identifications, as that is still the most complete published listing available. Obverse die 1 and reverse die 3: As noted, in the better photos available online and from the few published sources I have consulted, two medals appear to be struck from reverse die 3 that has the larger lettering apparent in the lowermost inscription “…IN THE…” of the “For Gallantry in the Field”: the Girt Roots medal and Hendrick Ferara medal. Mitchell (1955 pg. 238) also lists the David Faroe medal (from the Port Elizabeth Museum) and Piet Jan Cornelis medal (from the Burton Collection) as representing reverse die 3. The high-resolution photo of the Girt Roots’ medal (shown in the 3rd photo of my post on this thread of 12 December, 2020 and the 1st photo in my post of 1 May, 2022) shows this rim error from approximately the 11:00 position to 5:00 on the obverse and from the ~1:30 position to ~5:00. The lower-resolution image of the Hendrick Ferara medal (shown in my recent post of 5 July, 2023) shows misalignment on the rim of the obverse from ~9:00-5:00, and on the reverse from ~1:00-8:00. Obverse die 1 (?) and unspecified reverse die: The high-resolution picture of the unnamed medal from a 2014 DNW auction, Lot 618, (shown in the 3rd photos of my post of 13 March, 2021 and in the 2nd image of my post of 26 April, 2022) shows lettering of the reverse lower inscription (For Gallantry in the Field) with “…IN THE…” similarly proportioned to the Roots and Ferara medals, but lacking the full stop after “FIELD.” (visible on the Ferara medal but obscured on the Roots medal by a later soldered brooch attachment, however numbs you are confident that the Roots medal was struck using reverse die 3). Mitchell only identifies reverse dies 2 and 3 as having this larger lettering. Numis, what is your opinion about the authenticity and potential reverse die for this medal? The rim of the DNW medal (obverse and reverse) shows no apparent rim misalignment. However, the upper inscription on the reverse may show a doublestrike in “PRESENTED…” (or poor quality die sinking executing this word?) and possibly in the “FI” of “FIELD” in the lower legend. The unnamed example from a September, 2019 auction by Collectors Investment (shown as the 6th and 7th photos in my post of 30 January, 2021) archived on the Bid or Buy website (their name now changed to "bobshop"; product code:IL1225 [L/C]; bobshop Id: 433963525), also matches the reverse lower inscription proportions of "...IN THE..." and lack of a full stop after "...FIELD." as seen on the DNW Lot 618 medal. I have often been skeptical of this medal's authenticity because of the replacement suspension rings and as it remained unsold in that 2019 auction. However, numis lists it as a medal he has seen images of and expresses no concerns about its authenticity in his post of 16 December, 2020. Although the images of this heavily worn medal are of moderately good-resolution, I cannot see any indication of rim misalignment or incontrovertible doublestrikes on those photos. As with the DNW example, there maybe some irregularities in the upper inscription letters of "PRESENTED..." and possibly some indications of a doublestrike visible above the "PRESE...". The photo is not sharp enough, however, to confirm that possibility. Obverse die 1 and reverse die 2 (cracked): Good-poor photos online can be identified representing the same cracked reverse die (Mitchell’s reverse die 2?). These include the Thomas Dicks, Paul Arendt, Lt Edward Lister Green medal, and an unnamed medal from a 2016 Baldwins auction. Mitchell (1955, pg 238) lists the John McVarrie medal (no provenience recorded) and three unnamed medals that he identified as produced by obverse die 1 and reverse cracked die 2. He has a tentative assignment of one unnamed medal to the uncracked reverse die 2. The high-resolution photo of the Thos. Dicks medal (shown in the 1st photos in my post of 13 March, 2021, in a lower-resolution image that is the 2nd photos in that same post, and as the 3rd photo in my post of 26 April, 2022) shows clearly the doublestrike on the laurel wreath above the lion, above the lion’s head, and on the rim between the ~12:15 to probably the 6:15 position and possibly at the 8:30-9:00 position of the obverse. The reverse of that medal (seen in the 13 March 2021 post and the 3rd photo of my post of 1 May, 2022 and the 2 images in the 13 March 2021 post) shows the doublestrike (or triple?) on the upper legend (“…ENTED BY”), the 2 lines of middle inscription (“…EXCELLCY” and “…BART G.C.B”), and probably some of the lower legend (“…NTRY IN THE FIELD”). The misalignment of the rim from is visible from 12:00 extending maybe to the 8:00 position. This photo also provides the best online image of the crack in the die between the ~10:00-11:00 position, indicting it is probably Mitchell’s reverse die 2. This usefully helps identify 3 other SHS medals I have illustrated here as possessing the same crack configuration (as some of those photos do not show it as clearly as on the Dicks medal). The low-resolution online images and cleaned condition of the Paul Arendt medal (see the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd photos in my post of 30 January, 2021) makes the rim errors a bit harder to see. However, it appears to exhibit it from the ~1:30-6:15 position on the obverse and possibly from the 12:00 to ~10:00 position on the reverse. Although not a good photo, it also shows the same crack on the reverse as can be more readily seen on the Dicks medal. It is hard to tell from the low-resolution image of the Lt E. L. Green medal (see the 4th and 5th photos in my post of 30 January, 2021 and first 2 photos in my post of 28 September, 2022) whether there is any misalignment of the rim on the obverse. The equally poor photo of the reverse may show some irregularity in the width of the rim or misalignment from the ~10:30 to 6:00 positions. The crack in the die also is visible indicating it was struck with the same die as the Dicks and Arendt medals. An unnamed medal from a 3 May, 2016 auction (98) by Baldwins (Lot 2029) also shows the use of this same cracked reverse die (shown in the 2nd photo of my post of 12 December, 2020). The low-resolution photo of this unnamed medal probably shows misalignment of the entire obverse rim. I cannot tell if there is evidence of a doublestrike in the upper inscription of the reverse, but guided by the Dicks medal, the outline of the reverse die crack is quite apparent. Obverse die 1 and reverse die 1: Mitchell (1955, pg. 238) identifies the J. Hassall medal (shown in the Mitchell 1955 article Plate 1, reproduced in my post of 23 March, 2021, in a cropped version of that photo is the 2nd image in my post of 29 September, 2022, and in a very low-resolution plate from the Irwin 1910 publication shown in the 1st image of that same post of 29 September, 2022) that he had in his personal collection as having been produced by obverse die 1 and reverse die 1. He also identifies the Frs. Meade C.M.R. medal (in the Africana Museum) and an unnamed example as having also been made with these dies. I have only seen drawings of the obverse and reverse of the Meades medal that cannot identify any striking errors. (see the illustration from Tancred 1891, pg. 356 in my post of 13 April, 2022). The two low-resolution images of the Hassall medal I have posted here do not clearly show rim misalignments and are not detailed enough to determine whether there are any doublestrikes. Obverse die 1 and unspecified reverse die: The moderate-resolution Spink image of the John Keiberg medal (see the 1st photo of my post of 12 December, 2020 and the 2nd photo in my post of 1 May 2022) appears to show rim misalignment on the obverse possibly of the entire rim circumference. I am labelling this as obverse die 1, although there is no confirmation from Mitchell or others, as it does have the “HOPKINS” name underneath the veld sculpture and according to Mitchell’s inventory, only obverse die 2 lacks this name. The reverse of the Keiberg medal looks as though it exhibits a doublestrike affecting at least the “PRES...” of the upper legend and misalignment of the rim between the 2:15 and 6:00 positions. I am not familiar enough with the proportion letter differences in spacing and size to distinguish whether this clearly represents reverse die 1 and there are no comparative photo images available to me for comparison with reverse dies 4 (which you are skeptical of), 5, or 6.

The Isaac Balie, 1988 pg 112 Afrikaans text associated with the photos of the Hendrick Ferara medal also has a brief mention of two other recipients of the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry: Sgt. Lodewyk Kleinhans and Sgt.-Maj. Johannes Jass. Their identification as recipients of Sir Harry Smith medals also was recounted by Dr. F. K. Mitchel on page 241 of his 1955 article: Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry. African Notes and News (Africana Aantekeninge En Nuis), Vol XI, No. 7 (June 1955), pp. 236-242. Africana Society, Africana Museum, City of Johannesburg (printed by Cape Times Limited, Johannesburg). Mitchell obtained information from the documents he called the "Diary of Genadendal" and possibly the "Periodical Accounts" (likely at least partly by Rev. L. R. Schmidt) about Rev. Schmidt's search for the Kleinhans and Jass medals. Balie's (1988) short note about these recipients mentioned that many of the Sir Harry Smith Medals for Gallantry went to "browns", but it is unclear if Kleinhans, Jass, and Hendricks were all considered of mixed ethnicity. Mitchell (1955) writes that the family of Sgt. Lodewyk Kleinhans told Rev L. R. Schmidt (of the Moravian Mission in Genadendal) that Kleinhans' medal was sold many years ago. Rev. Schmidty also interviewed the son of Sgt.-Maj. Johannes Jass who gave it to "his old missionary" (George Schmidt?) at Genadendal in approximately1894 and that it was then taken to the Museum of the Moravian Headquarters in Herrenhut, Germany, but was lost sometime during WWII. Schmidt did locate the owner of the Ferara medal (a woman whose father was a policeman and bought the medal from Ferara's daughter about 1900). Ferara was not mentioned as a recipient of this medal in the Mission documents, but was identified as having joined the Levies for the Kaffir Wars. Isaac's own narrative (quoted in my post here of 28 June) discusses the identification of the Genadendal constable who purchased the Hendrick's medal as John West, whose grandson apparently gave it to the Genadnedal Mission Museum(?).

Here is the illustration of the named Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry to Hendrick Ferara. This is the illustration from page 112 of: Balie, Isaac, 1988f. Die Geskiedenis van Genadendal, 1788-1988. Perskor, Johannesburgh. Upper image = reverse with engraved name: "HENDRICK FERARA" and flourishes; lower image = obverse, (from Balie, Isaac 1988, pg 112).

I have not yet seen the illustration on page 112 of the book on the history of Genadendal, Western Cape Province of South Africa, by Dr. Isaac Bali, the former Director of the Genadendal Mission Museum (Balie, Isaac, 1988. Die Geskiedenis van Genadendal, 1788-1988. Perskor, ISBN: 10:0628032358; ISBN 13: 9780628032355) that numis mentions in his post here of 27 March, 2021. Dr. Balie notes this is the H. Ferara medal. I came across a short narrative on a Facebook post of 1 July, 2014 of the Genadendal Mission Museum, titled: "A Precious War Medal", probably by Isaac Balie (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714531638605241&set=a.173747499350327). One of the illustrations on this page is a low-resolution image of the obverse of the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry, and it is identified as that named to Hendrik Ferara (or Fareira). This photo is probably from page 112 of Balie, Isaac, 1988. Die Geskiedenis van Genadendal, 1788-1988. Perskor. This photo is the same as that which I previously posted as the 1st photo in my post here of April 26, 2022, from: Simons, Phillida Brooke, 1998. The Life and Works of Charles Bell. Fernwod Press, Vlaeberg (the image in the Simons 1998 volume is slightly higher-resolution) on page 5 [Contents] and in a lower-resolution image on page 90 at the beginning of Chapter 6). Low-resolution image of the obverse of the Hendrik Farer (Fareira) Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry 1851 from the Facebook page of 1 July, 2014 of the Genadendal Mission Museum, titled: "A Precious War Medal (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714531638605241&set=a.173747499350327). I do not yet know whether the Balie 1988 volume also includes a photo of the reverse of this medal. Above is the photo I posted on 26 April, 2022 that is a slightly better-resolution version of the same photo as above. This illustration comes from pg. 5 of: Simons, Phillida Brooke, 1998. The Life and Works of Charles Bell. Fernwod Press, Vlaeberg. This publication does not identify the source of this photo nor that it is the H. Ferara medal. Below is a personal narrative, probably of Dr. Isaac Balie, that is an interesting story about finding the Hendrik Ferara (or Fareira) medal: "...In this article, I want to tell the story of how a unique war medal, awarded by governor Sir Harry Smith, was discovered, almost 30 years ago." "During my years of research, I read about how the Cape governor, 1850, Sir Harry Smith was caught in little Fort Cox, not far from King William's Town, by the start of the 8th Frontier War. Attempts were made by a relief column to get through the encircling Zulu warriors, but they were unsuccessful; and at last, in his usual dashing way, took an escort of Cape Mounted Riflemen, and successfully rode the gauntlet to King William's Town. The gallant acts performed by these men who came to his rescue, made a deep impression on the governor. He decided to show his high regard for these men by having silver medals struck and presented to them - many of them Genadendal soldiers ! The historical significance is that they were the first medals ever worn by South African war veterans." "What happened to these medals; and are they hidden somewhere in cupboards or drawers, I asked myself. Then one day I came across archival documentation that said that Hendrik Ferara, Johannes Jass and Lodewyk Kleinhans were three of these soldiers who fought under the banner of the Cape Mounted Riflemen at the Eastern Frontier. Out of my own genealogical research, I knew that Hendrik Ferara (Fareira) was my great-grandmother’s brother. This made me more desperate to deepen my research. I set myself the task of interviewing most senior citizens of the local community during the early 70's. After some time an elderly uncle of mine gave me the last hope when he mentioned that he was told that a German bishop collected medals during the early 20th century and took them with him to Germany, but the bishop also took some photographs of these precious decorations.- to my surprise my uncle showed me a photograph of the Ferara medal, but sadly the actual medal landed in the hands of a Genadendal constable, John West, of Irish decent. No one could give further information about West, until I published a book on Genadendal’s history in 1988 and the photographic image (on page 112 ) shows the Farara medal. Later that year I met the grandson of constable West, a farmer in the area, who told me that he was in possession of the medal and that he was prepared to hand it over to me." (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714531638605241&set=a.173747499350327). Parts of the history of the Ferara medal also are recounted on pg. 241 of Dr. F. K. Mitchell's 1955 article ( Mitchell, F. K., 1955. Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry: 1955. African Notes and News (Africana Aantekeninge En Nuis), Vol XI, No. 7 (June 1955), pp. 236-242. Africana Society, Africana Museum, City of Johannesburg (printed by Cape Times Limited, Johannesburg):), reproduced on this thread in full in my post of 23 March, 2021.

There is a 1 page listing of an unnamed Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry in the South African National War Museum: Medal Catalogue (Catalogue of Military Orders, Decorations and Medals Displayed in the Medal Section of the South African National War Museum, Johannesburgh). 28 November, 1959, Johannesburgh (offset printing (?) copy of typescript manuscript). Reference No. 134 lists the Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry 1851 from the R. E. Hunt Collection, in Exhibit 1, Case 7. There is a very brief description of the unofficial status of this award, the battle at Fort Cox, breakout through the Kaffir lines, and context of Sir Harry Smith's awarding of this medal. There is a physical description of the obverse and reverse designs, and the ribbon. Some notes about Dr. F. K. Mitchell's information about die variation is mentioned (from: Mitchell, F. K., 1955. Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry. African Notes and News [Africana Aantekeninge En Nuis], Vol XI, No. 7 [June 1955], pp. 236-242. Africana Society, Africana Museum, City of Johannesburg [printed by Cape Times Limited, Johannesburg], that article is reproduced in full here in may post of 23 March, 2021). The Catalogue description incorrectly identifies "Hopkins " as the name of the designer of the medal, although it actually was created by Charles Davidson Bell in 1851. F. K. Mitchell in his 1955 (pp. 237, 239) article attributes the dies to Hopkins as the local (less skilled) die-sinker for this medal in Cape Town. Thomas B. Hopkins is identified as the engraver of 2 silver items in the biography of Charles Davidson Bell (Simons, Phillida Brooke, 1998. The Life and Works of Charles Davidson Bell, Fernwod Press, Vlaeberg, pp. 118, 120). The Medal Catalogue notes oddly that the obverse is unnamed, although it is the reverse with the space for post-award naming. The Catalogue notes that the reverse "shows a distinct crack in the die". F. K. Mitchell (1955: pg. 238) lists this medal as #12 on the roster of examples he has personally examined (pp. 237-238), describing it as an: "Unnamed medal in the Hunt Collection, S.A. War Museum, Johannesburg". On pg. 239 Mitchell notes that this example has a cracked reverse die, that he assigns to having been made with what he designated as "die number 2" (not a temporal order of the dies, simply a list of at least 2 different obverse dies and 6 different reverse dies he distinguished in the medal examples he studied and the 1 obverse die and 4 reverse dies in the collection of the South African Museum, Cape Town). There is no illustration of this medal in the Catalogue. This is one of the unnamed silver medals described on page 175 (S. 3. [WM]) of the City of Johannesburg Africana Museum's: Military Medals of South African Interest: An Exhibition of the Collections in the Africana Museum and the South African National War Museum, Johannesburg, Augmented by Special Loans, 22 July-10 August 1957, a typed manuscript made in Johannesburg, 1957, on pp. 174-176. I included that text in my post here of 30 January, 2021. That exhibit catalogue lists 6 Sir Harry Smith medals in the 1957 exhibit: 3 from the Africana Museum (1 unnamed silver, 1 unnamed bronze presumed to be a trial strike without claw or suspender, 1 named to Frs. Meades C.M.R.); the 1 unnamed silver medal from the War Museum; and 2 lent by F. K. Mitchell (1 unnamed silver, 1 named to J. Hassall).

The U.S. Dept. of State, Diplomatic Security Service published a short article featuring a brief discussion of the original 1917 design badge for the Special Agents’ Division. Unfortunately, some of the information in this article is quite incorrect. However, it does provide a high-resolution image of one of the later restrikes of this badge, identifies dates for three subsequent badge designs, and includes a good-resolution piece of artwork about the recently issued special commemorative badge that is based on the design of the original 1917 badge. This information and four of the photos I'm including here comes from a 15 May, 2023 article on the DSS website titled “Today’s DSS special agent badge – a long and circuitous history” (https://www.state.gov/todays-dss-special-agent-badge-a-long-and-circuitous-history/). Above is a high-resolution image of a restrike with a less-detailed adaptation of the original 1917-design of the U.S. Department of State Special Agents' Division badge from the 15 May 2023 DSS article. This photo (and the 5-7th photos in this post) is by the U.S. Department of State. No copyright is identified on these photos indicating that both the information on the State Department website and these photos are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed without permission. This photo has probably been used in several illustrations by the DSS about their history (as shown in several of my previous posts: 2nd photo in the post of 25 March 2017; 2nd photo in my post of 24 March, 2021; and in the post of 18 August 2022). As all of the other images are much lower-resolution, I cannot assuredly link it to the other photos used in composite montages showing the temporal sequence of badges used by the Special Agents’ Division and the subsequent Diplomatic Security Service. The above image is unfortunately identified as an example of the “original silver 1916 badge allegedly designed by Tiffanys [sic.]”. As noted, this is a photo of a restrike not an original badge, the original badges were not made of silver but probably of nickel alloy, and the persistent rumor that Tiffany & Co. made the original badges has no evidence to support it. Inquiries with Tiffany & Co. have produced negative results about their possibly having created the initial dies, any restrikes (although I have been unable to see any photos of the reverse of most restrikes), and there is no Tiffany maker’s marks reported on the reverse of any restrike. This is a very good image of this particular restrike, showing an identifiable scratch to the left of the upper curve of the “S” in the knotted calligraphic central “US” and possible unique minor flaws in the dark blue enamel. My feeling, unsupported by any hard data, is that this is one of the later forms of restrike created for the DSS. I am only basing this on a single photo of a restrike with black enamel (see below, an image I have posted here before) that shows underlying texture within the “US” that is lacking on all other restrikes I have been able to see in photos. Presumably, the statement that this restrike badge is silver is related to a silver mark on the reverse. High-resolution image of a restrike showing the texture visible underneath the black enamel within the “US” (best visible in the lower left of the “U” and the lower tail of the “S” to the left of it, and less visible in the upper left curve of the “S”) that replicates the texture seen within the “US” of the two known original badges. Note that neither of those original badges has any enamel. Unlike the above example from the DSS brief news story (and other lower-resolution images of restrikes), this example only has enamel within the knotted “US” and nowhere else on the badge. Subsequent restrikes (if my inference that a slightly more elaborate restrike of this design is potentially earlier than later versions lacking this additional detail) do not exhibit this texturing. The engraving of this badge is finer than that seen on all other photos of (later?) restrikes. However, as I remarked in my post here of 25 March, 2017 the engraving of this restrike is not as fine as seen on the original Special Agents’ Division badges. As I have previously noted, the first restrikes were probably authorized to be issued in 1989 for the bicentennial celebration of the 1789 ratification of the U.S. Constitution and establishment of the U.S. Department of State. Subsequent restrikes were created probably as special gifts for diplomats, politicians, or even foreign dignitaries. This badge was probably struck by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. This moderate-resolution image of a restrike with blue enamel is similar to the example used by the U.S. DSS in the 15 May, 2023 article to illustrate the design inspired by the original badge. I posted this image as the 1st photo in my post here of 10 May, 2022. This photo comes from a 10 July, 2021 post (#36) by Cobra 6 Actual on the U.S. Militaria Forum (https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/336271-badge-collection-military-government-police-fire/page/2/). Following a correspondence with Cobra 6 Actual, he sent me a couple photos of the reverse (shown in my post of 12 May, 2022) that exhibit the maker’s mark “V.H.B” indicating manufacture by V. H. Blackinton & Co. of Attlelboro Falls, Massachusetts. The reverse of this restrike also is marked “STERL.” indicating sterling silver. I detailed some information from the U.S. federal badge collecting community and enquiries with Blackinton about both the original dies used for the 1917 badge and Blackinton’s subsequent restrike in the 5th paragraph of my post of 24 March, 2021 on this thread. This is the only restrike with a confirmed manufacturer’s mark. Many of the restrikes from ~1989 to more recently have been encased in lucite with a blue backing, obscuring any view of the reverse. Above is a low-resolution image of a restrike with a lighter blue enamel than the other two restrike badges shown above, apparently glued to a mat backing (previously posted here on 20 March, 2021). This example is similar to descriptions of other restrikes that were encased in lucuite. I detailed a first-hand account of another “restrike” removed from its lucite encasement in my 24 March, 2021 post that was found to be cast, not struck, and the less-detailed obverse design was just a vinyl sticker printed with the design. Above is a montage of three U.S. Dept. of State badges from the recent 15 May, 2023 article on the DSS website (by the U.S. Department of State). The same badge photos, at much lower resolution, were part of previous DSS image'simage's of the sequence of Special Agents’ badges used by the U.S. Dept of State in its print and online historical document: History of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the United States Department of State, 2011. Global Publishing Solutions, U.S. Department of State., Figure caption: “Service Badges used by Special Agents (1917-present) and by DS Diplomatic Couriers and DS Security Engineers (present)” shown on the 5th unnumbered page before the preface (https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/176589.pdf). I used a cropped version of that photo showing these same three badges (plus the image of the restrike representing the 1916/1917 design that is probably the first illustration in the 15 May, 2023 DSS article) as the 2nd photo in my post of 25 March, 2017 and illustrated the full figure as the 2nd photo in my post of 24 March, 2021. Neither of those illustrations provided any dates for these badge designs. The current version of this image above does identify the 1920 date of adoption of the second badge design for the Special Agents’ Division, something I have been interested in confirming for some time. Apparently, like most U.S. Federal agencies (with the notable exceptions of the F.B.I., the Secret Service, the A.T.F [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], and the I.R.S. [Internal Revenue Service]) the Dept. of State has not provided good temporal data on their past badge designs. Low-resolution cropped close-up of the1920 badge design from the above grouping (by the U.S. Department of State). It is curious that this badge has a central Seal of the President of the Unites States, rather than the Great Seal of the United States, used by the Department of State. I have not yet found a better illustration of this badge. This same badge, number 305, is illustrated in Lucas, Kenneth W., Sr. 1991. Federal Law Enforcement Badges, published by the author, Beltsville, MD, pg. 190 (that page also shows examples of the badges identified in the 15 May, 2023 DSS article as 1950 and 1970 issue badges; and pg. 191 shows an addition example of a 1950 and 1970 badge along with a more recent DSS Special Agent’s badge, the same version shown on the far left in 2nd row [bottom] of the 2nd photo in my post of 24 March, 2021 and on the far right in the image in my post of 18 August, 2022). The dating of the second badge design to 1920 raises an interesting question about the genuine original badge #1. If the new design was issued in 1920, it would potentially weigh the scale in favor of badge #1 having been that of Bill Nye, then first Chief Special Agent, rather than Robert Bannerman's (the second Chief Special Agent). Although of course, nothing precludes a handover of the badge for Bannerman's use for a short period of time before he oversaw the creation of a new design under his administration that lasted through 1940. However, this is the first indication of the re-design of the U.S. Dept. of State Special Agent's badges correlates with Nye's retirement and Bannerman's assumption of the position of Chief Special Agent and implicates the potential use of badge #1 by Bill Nye. The last graphic of interest in this 15 May article is the good-resolution artwork above (by the U.S. Department of State) showing the design of the new "Diplomatic Security Commemorative Badge" (right), a tribute to the original design of the 1917 Special Agents’ Division badge, unveiled on 16 September, 2021 (see my post of 18 January, 2022 and of 20 January, 2022). This illustration also shows the most recent, counterfeit-resistant version of the DSS Special Agent’s badge (left).

I wish to illustrate a maker's mark for C. Massonnet et fils, a Parisian medallist and editor of the mid 19th-early 20th century. I came across this medallist while researching an Egyptian commemorative medal of the last Khedive of Egypt, Abbas Hilmi II, celebrating his return from the haj to Mecca and Al-Medina on 25 January, 1910 and commemorating the anniversary of his coronation on 8 January,1892. This medal was probably struck in 1910, it is gilt bronze, measures 70 mm in diameter, and weighs 121 g. The illustration of the obverse of this medal below (from a recent eBay auction: shows the name "MASSONNET . EDIT ." inside the lower left of the frame around the bust of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II. Charles Massonnet was the scion of this family of late 19th - early 20th century medallists. but this medal was likely executed by one of his sons, perhaps Francis Massonnet. There is minimal information on Massonet Éditeur (designer/engraver), they made prize medals, royal commemoratives, tokens, badges, etc., many engraved by other artists. Forrer has a short bio in his encyclopedic 8 volume set on medallists and engravers in Vol III on page 603 (Forrer, L. (Compiler), 1916. Biographical Dictionary of Medallists: Coin-, Gem-, Seal Engravers, Mint Masters &c., Ancient and Modern, with References to Their Works, B.C. 500-A.D. 1900, Vol III. Spink & Son Ltd., London). The entry in Vol III identifies a short inventory of medals struck between 1856 and 1890. In the 1930 Vol, VIII Supplement, Forrer identifies Francis Massonnet on page 33 and lists a few medals attributed to him between 1881 and 1905. The British Museum lists active dates for Massonnet Editeur as 1878-1910. I have seen images of medals with Massonet Ed./Edit. Éditeur from 1852-1878. There are 3 examples of an 1855 copper token (2.6 cm diameter, 4.7 g) marked on the obverse: “EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE 1855“ and “C. MASSONNET FILS ÉDITEUR”in the collections of the Les Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris (Numéros d’inventaire: NJ11735, NJ11336, and NJ12623). The reverse is marked: “C. MASSONET FILS ÉDITEUR DE MÉDAILLES IMPÉRIALES ÉXÉCUTÉES PAR LE GRAVEUR DU CABINET DE L’EMPEREUR, RUE GUÉNÉGAUD 19” (Paris). The Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris holds a 5 cm diamter, 53.79 g medal marked “MASSONNET. ED.” commemorating the founding of the Choral Society l’Odeon on 2 November in 1852 (Numéro d’inventaire: ND6145) that may have been struck in that year and could represent the earliest museum example of a Massonnet medal. Close-up of the mark "MASSONNET . EDIT ." on the interior of the frame in the lower left portion of the central portrait bust of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II on the obverse of this medal. This particular mark has a very light impression of the "M" in Massonnet. Edge of the medal showing the stamp “BRONZE” for this gilt bronze commemorative medal, the position of the Massonnet maker’s mark is to the right of that stamp. The bronze stamp is located approximately at the 9:15 position (relative to correct orientation of the obverse of the medal, the upper surface in this image) and the Massonnet mark is at the 10:00 position. Close-up of the maker’s mark on the edge of the medal that shows a “C” and “M” on either side of an unspecified middle symbol. The obverse face is upwards in this image.The initials stand for Charles Massonnet. Unlike most French makers' marks that are normally within diamond-shaped cartouches, the Massonnet mark is unusual for using a square as the cartouche outline. The Abbas Hilmi II commemorative medal is the only commemorative medal struck by Massonnet during his reign (1892-1914). No other artist's name appears on this medal, so it is probably entirely the work of Massonnet. No other commemorative medals issued under Abbas Hilmi II were made by Massonnet. I have found only one other medal from Egypt that is marked with the Massonnet Éditeur name. The first photo above is the reverse of the 1869 commemorative medal of Ismaïl Pasha for the Opening of the Suez Canal that is the only other Egyptian medal I have found that was made by Massonnet Edit (from a past eBay auction). This medal is 50 mm in diameter in pewter (It also was struck in bronze). This medal bears the name of “MASSONNET EDITEUR” on the inferior margin of the reverse. The second photo above shows the obverse of this medal with the name “C. TROTIN” on the inferior margin of the design. Charles Trotin was a French 19th century die-sinker and medallist who evidently designed the obverse of this medal, I have not seen other medals where Trotin is the artist collaborating with Massonnet. Trotin was born in 1833 (death date unknown) and active from ~1858-1880s. The obverse design of the 1869 medal of Ismaïl Pasha commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal created by Charles Trotin also was used for another version commemorating the Suez Canal. I do not know which was struck first. The above medal in bronze bears the same reverse design (and signature of “C. TROTIN” on the inferior margin), but on the obverse (probably also by Trotin) it bears a right-facing bust of Victor Emanuel II, King of Italy (“VITTORIO EMANUELE II RE D’ITALIA”), who reigned as King of Italy from March 1861 until his death in January 1878. Charles Trotin has a brief biography on pp. 144-145 in the Forrer, L. (Compiler), 1916. Biographical Dictionary of Medallists: Coin-, Gem-, Seal Engravers, Mint Masters &c., Ancient and Modern, with References to Their Works, B.C. 500-A.D. 1900, Vol VI. Spink & Son Ltd., London. After apprenticing in Falconnet's works in Paris he opened his own shop in 1858. Forrer lists several medals struck between 1875 until at least 1898, and another artist identified as "F. T." (F. Trotin, a son?), also is listed in that Forrer biographical entry for Charles Trotin. Obverse of the Charles Trotin version of the medal commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 but with a bust of Victor Emanuel II, King of Italy as the sculpture on this bronze medal.

I came across this 2nd Class Grand Officer set of the Order of Ismail listed from a recent auction (15 March, 2023) by Apollo Art Dealers Lot 0100, listed on the liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/147126705_rare-order-of-ismail-medal-and-breast-star-by-lattes-and-given-by-king-farouk). The case and the configuration indicate this set was made by J. Lattes, although the inner upper lid left corner satin ribbon that would normally identify “J. Lattes, Cairo” in English is missing. The Arabic inscription on the inner upper lid lining is the Lattes name. The auction photos show that this set is associated with the award brevet and a quite worn case. The description gives the dimension of the case as 240 mm long x 120 mm wide, and weighing 395 g (presumably with the neck ribbon, neck badge, and breast star in the case). The auction description states that the brevet has a date of Hegirah 1357 (AD 1938). The cipher on the outside of the lid is that of King Farouk I. No image of the reverse of the neck badge or breast star are provided to check the date hallmark. The accompanying photos also provide good illustrations of the award brevet and its envelope. The auction description gives the recent provenance of this set as: "Private London collection of F. A., formerly acquired on the UK and International art market; 1970s-2020". The 2nd Class Order of Ismail neck badge and breast star in their well-worn case. The illustration of the obverse of the neck badge show the common form of engraving on the gold floral elements on the blue enamel arms of the star, and the wreath configuration is that typical of most Lattes-made wreaths (the non-Bichay design, workmanship, and materials). The obverse of the breast star also exhibits normal engraving on the gold floral elements of the blue enameled star arms and a wreath configuration that is the standard form for the 2nd Class star. Both indicate manufacture by Lattes, consistent with the form of the case and its’ labelling. Also note the finger hole in the medal bed at the inferior margin of the breast str to lift it out of the case. Exterior presentation case lid of the Apollo Art Dealers 2nd Class Order of Ismail with the Arabic number 2 indicating this is the Grand Officer Class of this award.. Interior of the case lid showing the lack of a Lattes satin ribbon in the upper left corner. Envelope for the award brevet. The auction listing identifies the recipient of this award as Shukri Swear, general of internal security. Award brevet, showing the embossed stamp of the Order of Ismail in the lower right of the first page. I have seen this embossing on some brevets for this Order (see the illustration of the Dwight D. Eisenhower example shown in the 5th photo of my post of 15 October, 2019 on this thread, and a translation of that brevet is shown in the 6th photo of that post; ), and for Order of the Nile examples, but not for all brevets (see the illustration of the brevet for a 2nd Class Order of Ismail awarded to the Italian Physician Dr. Giovanni Quirico, shown as the 6th photo in my post of 14 November, 2017 on this thread; the brevet for Dr. J. Ferguson Lee's 2nd Class Order of Ismail also may lack this embossed stamp of the award's breast star design, shown as the 7th and 8th photos in my post of 23 September, 2021 on this thread). Detail of the top of the brevet showing the embossed Coat of Arms of King Farouk I (the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Egypt, adopted by royal decree on 10 December, 1923; and was replaced by the Eagle of Saladin on 29 June, 1953). Detailed close-up of the lower portion of the award brevet showing the embossed stamp of the Order of Ismail breast star design in the lower left, along with the award document envelope. The auction description notes that the brevet is signed by the "head of the Royal Court", probably the Chief of the Royal Cabinet, who may have been Ali Maher Pasha (appointed 20 October, 1937).

I found a highe-resolution image of the Froment-Meurice made District Court badge in its case that I previously illustrated as the 5th photo in my post of 22September, 2022. This image comes from an archived on the Drouot.com website (https://drouot.com/en/l/18392233-insigne-de-juge-de-tribunal-mixte-par-froment-meurice-france). This listing did not include the images of the obverse and reverse of this badge that were illustrated separately in the Millon website where I originally found the illustrations of this badge as Lot 322 of a 15 June, 2022 auction (https://www.millon.com/catalogue/vente1688-manuscrits-arts-dorient-et-de-linde-juin-et-juin/lot322-insigne-de-juge-de-tribunal-mixte-par-froment-meurice). I illustrated the separate photos of the obverse and revere as the 3rd and 4th photos in my 22 September, 2022 post. Photos from this auction also are archived on La Gazette Drouot (https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/18392233-insigne-de-juge-de-tribunal-mixte-par-froment-meurice). Above is a better-resolution photo of this District Court gold and silver badge from a 15 June, 2022 auction (Lot 322) than the photo I included in my 22 September, 2022 post along with two other photos of this badge. As noted in that post, the calligraphy matches what I have termed Froment-Meurice group 2 style. I am uncertain whether Millon or Drouot were the auction houses that sold this badge. As noted, the badge with the same description and Lot # are listed on both of their sites. The original, uncropped version of the above photo on Drouot (https://drouot.com/en/l/18392233-insigne-de-juge-de-tribunal-mixte-par-froment-meurice-france) does have a watermark in the upper right reading: "M Auction", suggesting Millon is the source auction. This photo can be zoomed for some additional detail lacking in the posted 22 September, 2022 version.

Below are exceptionally very high-resolution images of the obverse of a 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail from an upcoming 23 May, 2023 auction (Lot 137) by Bonhams (https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28300/lot/137/a-first-class-set-of-the-imperial-egyptian-order-of-ismail-by-lattes-of-cairo-egypt-1928-92/). The superbly detailed photos of the obverse are from a listing for this auction on the saleroom (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bonhams/catalogue-id-bonham10591/lot-053d8132-6e23-486e-91ed-aff900f4bc1e). No images of the reverse are on the saleroom listing. The Bonhams listing does also have very high-resolution photos of the reverse of both the sash badge and breast star. The same auction description on both listings correctly identifies the class of this award and the date range from the date hallmark “C” as 1928-1929. The description only provides dimension for the breast star as 8.3 cm in diameter and the weight as 162.5 g. The diameter indicates the breast star is a 1st class award. The listed provenance for this set is given as a previous Bonhams auction of 21 April, 1999, Islamic Works of Art, Lot 314, originating from a private UK collection. I could download much higher-resolution photos of the obverse from the saleroom auction listing than how they appear here. Very high-resolution photo of the obverse of the 1st Class Order of Ismail sash badge. This image can be enlarged for significantly excellent detail of this award. The lighting of this image (and of the breast star below) is particularly good to show the design and execution of the wreath and details of the engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. The engraving of the floral elements on the star arms are essentially the same as on the breast star, exhibiting 3 lateral marks in the most distal flowers and a single terminal mark; 4 marks in each of the paired central flowers, with the most distal 2 marks oriented within the most lateral and medial petals. There is some slight, uncentered offset in the orientation of these marks on the most distal single flowers of the 2 lateral star arms (thiose on the most superior arm and the 2 lower arms are well centered in the distal flowers). The engraving marks on the sash badge appear to have been made with a finer engraving tool than those on the arms of larger breast star. The mark for the Cairo assay office is visible on the connection between the upper str arm and the crown suspension device. All three assay marks are probably present here, but as usual, only the first hallmark is visible. High-resolution image of the reverse of this same 1st Class sash badge showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark and the Egyptian Cairo office assay marks for 18 carat gold, with the date hallmark “C” for 1928-1929. This image comes from the Bonhams listing for this item, and is slightly lower resolution than the image of the obverse from the saleroom. In addition to the three hallmarks below the LATTES name (the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold; the ibis mark for Egyptian-made gold; and the date hallmark “C”), the reverse of the crown is marked with the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold and the reverse of the suspension loop has all three Egyptian hallmarks. These are the usual locations for these hallmarks. Very high-resolution photo of the obverse of the 1st Class Order of Ismail breast star from the saleroom listing of this 23 May, 2023 auction. As with the obverse of the sash badge, this photo can be enlarged for stunning detail of the star design and execution. Again, notably this photo shows exceptionally well the wreath element and engraving of the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. As noted for the sash badge, the engraving of the floral elements on the breast star appears to have been made with a larger implement, the wedge-shaped cuts on the most distal flowers and the two paired middle flowers are distinctly more sharp from those same design marks on the sash badge. This photo provides the best image of the placement of the gold laurel fruit dots in the wreath of any image I have included here, and shows the distinctive difference in their placement compared with the 2nd Class Grand Officer breast star's wreath. The wreaths on this star and the sash badge are the "classic" J. Lattes form that I have contrasted with wreaths that have different forms of the leaves, fruit dots, green enamel, and the gold and red enamel bands that I feel may be associated with work by Tewfik Bichay. High-resolution image of the reverse of this same 1st Class breast star. The “LATTES” bame slightly obscured by the closed tunic pin. The three Egyptian silver hallmarks are in one of the 2 most common locations, parallel with the central longest ray of the embellishment at the approximate 4:00 position. The marks read (from closest to the central boss outward toward the end of the log embellishment ray: Cairo office assay for 900 silver (90%); the cat hallmark for Egyptian made silver (1916-1949); and the date hallmark “C” for 1928-1929. The agreement of both date hallmarks strongly indicates the best probability that these are from an associated set.

The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) has informed me that their better-quality image of the U.S. Dept of State Special Agents' Division original 1917 design badge #1 is within the public domain and they have kindly provided clear and high-resolution photos of the obverse and reverse of this badge. I was requested by DSS to watermark the images. Above is a good high-resolution image of the obverse of the original 1917-design U.S. Department of State Special Agents’ Division badge #1 that would have been issued either to the first Chief Special Agent Joseph M. “Bill” Nye or the second Chief Special Agent Robert C. Bannerman, or possibly passed from Nye to Bannerman in 1920. Both the above and below images of badge #1 are courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). This photo, and that below of the reverse, can be zoomed for additional details. This badge is currently being “refurbished” (probably cleaned and encased in lucite) for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service and will eventually be displayed in the planned lobby space of the intended upcoming renovations to DSS headquarters (the National Museum of American Diplomacy, in Washington, D.C.: https://diplomacy.state.gov). Reverse of badge #1, showing the inscription borne only by the two known original U.S. Department of State Special Agent’s Division badges. All restrikes lack this inscription. The only inscription I have seen on one of the restrikes is shown in my post of 12 May, 2022 on this thread. That restrike is marked “V.H.B. STERL”, for V. H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. of Attleboro Falls, MA, who made some of the restrikes, and indicates it is made of sterling silver, unlike the original badges that as I have noted were nickel or nickel-plated. Most restrikes apparently were encased in lucite with a blue base so that any reverse inscriptions are obscured. As far as anyone in either the collecting community or the U.S. Department of State knows, only badge #1 and badge #12 are still extant. No other examples of any of these badges have come to light. I also am happy to illustrate here below, again, the only other known surviving example of this very rare Special Agent’s badge, #12, that probably came out of the New York office of Bill Nye’s original staff of agents. I have illustrated badge #12 several times on this thread, but I want to include this example again in this post with the good photos of badge #1. Obverse of badge #12 Reverse of badge #12. I am still researching whether it is possible to determine who was issued badge #12, probably among the first Special Agents in the New York City office.

I found another use of the original 1917 design US Dept of State Special Agents’ Division badge (DSS always identifies this as the 1916 design, although the first offices were opened in 1917 and Bill Nye served from 1917-1920). An adaptation of the 1917 design was used for the 75th anniversary of the Special Agents’ Division that is now the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) in 1991. Above is a coffee mug that was recently offered on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/384220117767) that is embossed with a gold version of the original Special Agents’ Division badge. I have not seen any other use of this symbol for the 75th anniversary recognition. I included two differently colored uses of a very abbreviated stylized form of the original Special Agents’ Division badge used as part of the 100th anniversary of the DSS in my post on this thread of 24 March, 2021. Above is a cropped close-up of the badge design on the 75th anniversary coffee mug. The design is more detailed than the version used for the 100th anniversary banners on the DSS website (that also was used as a logo in various portions of past versions of the DSS website’s historical document celebrating a century of the US Dept of State DSS: Then & Now: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DS100Then-Now_forWebOnly-1.pdf), but much less detailed than the design created for the more recent DSS tumbler (shown in my post here of 19 May, 2022).

Welcome Omar! Where are these two medals displayed?

I previously posted a low-resolution image of a 4th Class Officer Order of Ismail breast badge with an odd replacement crown suspension device of non-Lattes workmanship as the 2nd photo in my post of 25 February, 2019 on this thread. The photo of that badge was cropped from a set of 13 medals in a 4 December, 1991 auction by Buckland Dix & Wood, Lot 219 (the A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection) that were awarded to Colonel B. H. S. Romilly, Scots Guards and Egyptian Army Camel Corps, brother-in-law to Winston Churchill (https://archive.org/details/auctionofordersd00buck_1/page/8/mode/2up). I recently found a higher-resolution image of this same set of medals that is archived on the Noonans Mayfair website from a subsequent 6 July, 2004 auction, Lot No. 824 (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/101819/?keywords=Order+of+ismail&discipline=&category=&date_on=&date_start=&date_end=&lot_no=).This 4th Class Order of Ismail badge had the crown suspension replaced with a much less-detailed version. I discussed the differences in the execution of this this crown in my 25 February, 2019 post (evident in the better quality photo below), but only had the much lower-resolution Buckland Dix & Wood auction image to compare with a bona fide Lattes crown element. Above is a higher resolution image of the 4th Class Order of Ismail breast badge of Colonel Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly, Scots Guards and Egyptian Army Camel Corps. In addition to the replacement crown suspension device, the wreath on this badge is not oriented correctly. The lowermost panel of the wreath with 6 gold dot laurel fruits is rotated to the 11:00 instead of the 6:00 position. The resolution is not good enough to determine whether the wreath is of standard Lattes configuration or if there is a possibility that it is the Bichay form of the wreath. The gold and red enamel bands may be thinner and less regular than on most Lattes wreaths, at least on other classes of the Order of Ismail. I cannot see whether the leaves resemble the workmanship of Bichay or Lattes. However, one of the better quality auction photos of a 4th Class Officer’s breast badge (the 1st photo in my post of 8 July, 2020 when I was still mistakenly calling the 4th Class a “Knight’s” badge, and some of the other mod-low resolution images in that post) clearly shows Lattes-type leaves and green enamel that also seems to how thinner and more variable gold and red enamel bands on the wreath. Above is the higher resolution image of the complete 2004 Noonans Mayfair Lot 824 offering. This set of Boer War D.S.O. medals (from both the Buckland Dix & Wood 1991 auction [Lot 291] and the 2004 Noonans Mayfair Lot 824 listing) includes: a 3rd Class Commander Order of the Nile neck badge and ribbon; a 4th Class breast badge of the Order of Osmanieh; the 4th Class Order of Ismail; a Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908 with 2 clasps: Talodi and Nyima, unnamed as issued; and a Khedive’s Sudan 1910-21 with2 clasps: S. Kordofan 1910 and Mandal, unnamed as issued. Additionally, the set includes: a Distinguished Service Order, V.R; a Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 with 5 clasps:Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Belfast (Lieut., Scots Gds.); a King’s South Africa 1901-02 with 2 clasps: South Africa 1901, and South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Scots Gds.); a 1914-15 Star (Major, S. Gds.); a British War and a Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); a 1935 Jubilee medal; and a 1937 Coronation medal. The Buckland Dix & Wood Upfill-Brown Collection 1991 auction catalogue entry for Lot 219 includes a brief biographical sketch of Colonel B. H. S. Romilly on pp. 72-73. The July 2004 Noonans Mayfair auction listing for Lot 824 also includes a similar bio of Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly. Above is a higher-resolution cropped image of the crown on the Colonel B. H. S. Romilly 4th Class Officer Order of Ismail. Order. This photo can be enlarged slightly for comparison with the normal crown suspension configuration below. The differences in this crown from all other examples I have seen are clearly evident, indicating a low-quality replacement of the original crown suspension element. Unlike the February 2019 Buckland Dix & Wood auction description, the 6 July, 2004 Lot 824 sale archived on the Noonans Mayfair website recognized this anomaly: “the suspension device probably a replacement”. I also previously posted this high-resolution image of the crown suspension device on a 3rd Class Commander’s neck badge from an April 2017 auction by Bukowskis for comparison with the crown on the Colonel B. H. S. Romilly 4th Class award (from: https://www.bukowskis.com/en/lots/906427-the-order-of-ismail-nischan-al-ismail-22k-gold-lattes-in-kairo-1928-1928-weight-ca-47-g).