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    Rusty Greaves

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    Everything posted by Rusty Greaves

    1. I came across a listing of awards to Ulrich Friedrich-Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop from the TRACESOFWAR website (https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/91889/Ribbentrop-von-Ulrich-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Joachim.htm). The final award listed for him is the Egyptian Order of Ismail, but no date for this award is provided. Does anyone know whether von Ribbentrop was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of Ismail and possibly the date of that honor? Would there be somewhere that I can check to look for any photos of him wearing this award?
    2. No, the 1st paragraph states that the listed individuals are identified in decrees of award from 26 December, 1940, 17 January, 1941, and from 1 February 1941. The decree also states that some of those named received Knight Class (Caballeros) awards and others the Grand Cordon of the Spanish Order of the Yoke and Arrows. Sorry, it's a bit ambiguous about the date and class of the award to Walther von Brauchitsch.
    3. I posted about these coins on the wrong thread-so here is some additional clutter showing both obverse and reverse of these coins. I saw a news announcement about the 2 coins released today by the U.K.’s Royal Mint with images of King Charles III. To quote the information reported today in Artnet News (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/king-charles-mint-coin-2184321): "The U.K.’s Royal Mint has unveiled an official coin depicting the new monarch, King Charles III. On October 3, the Mint will release a memorial range of £5 and 50p coins to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II. These will also feature a portrait in profile of the king, which will be the public’s first chance to spot his effigy in their spare change. The reverse of the commemorative £5 coin will also feature two new portraits of the late queen designed by John Bergdahl, who specializes in coins. On the reverse of the commemorative 50p coin will be a design from 1953 originally used to celebrate the queen’s coronation. It features four shields decorated with the Royal Arms and emblems of the four nations: a rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a shamrock for Northern Ireland, and a leek for Wales. The king’s likeness was made by the British sculptor Martin Jennings, whose statue of John Betjeman is installed at St. Pancras station and of Philip Larkin at Hull Paragon Interchange station. The portrait was personally approved by Charles.... It is traditional in British coinage that a monarch faces the opposite direction of their predecessor. Therefore, the king will face left on the coin, in the opposite direction of the queen. His head is encircled with a Latin inscription meaning 'King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith.' "
    4. Oops, I accidentally posted here about King Charles III coins. I shifted it to the appropriate thread: "King Chalres III coins" in the "Coins & Commemorative Medallions" thread in the "See ill Interest Section".
    5. I came cross a drawing of the named Sir Harry Smith Medal to J. Hassall in the publication: Irwin, D. Hastings, 1910. War Medals and Decorations: Issued to the British Military and Naval Forces and Allies from 1588 to 1910. 4th Edition. L. Upcott Gill, London. The D. Hastings Irwin volume was cited by F. K. Mitchell in his important 1955 article about the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry. Mitchell cites Plate XVIII (showing a drawing of this medal) in Irwin in his footnote 2 on page 237. He also cites page 464 of the D. Hastings Irwin volume about this medal in that same footnote. The description of the Sir Harry Smith Medal is actually on pg. 466 of the 4th Edition of the Irwin 1910 work, not pg. 464. I have reproduced both the Plate XVIII illustration of the Sir Harry Smith medal and the description of the medal from pg. 466 below. Cropped lower portion of Plate XVIII from D. Hastings Irwin, 1910, War Medals and Decorations: Issued to the British Military and Naval Forces and Allies from 1588 to 1910. 4th Edition. L. Upcott Gill, London. This drawing shows the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry inscribed with the name "J. HASSALL". That medal was owned by F. K. Mitchell when he wrote his 1955 article. Mitchell included a photo of this medal in Plate 1 of his 1955 article (shown below). The image above comes from a digitized copy of the D. Hastings Irwin book from the Internet Archive website (https://archive.org/details/warmedalsdecorat00irwiuoft/mode/2up). This electronic version is from the University of Toronto Library (accessioned 9 January, 1981), after being discarded from the Legislative Library of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, directly east of the Univ. of Toronto. A cropped version of Plate 1 from: 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). This is a photographic image of the Sir Harry Smith Medal marked "J. HASSALL", that Mitchell notes on page 237 of his article was in his personal collection (where he lists known or suspected recipients of this medal). The complete article is reproduced in my post of 23 March, 2021 on this thread. The description of the Sir Harry Smith Medal from pg 466 of the D. Hastings Irwin 1910 volume. This does not add any additional information about the medal. However, it provides another reference on this medal and corrects the footnote reference in F. K. Mitchell's 1955 article that mistakenly cites the description as being on page 464 of the 4th Edition of Irwin's book. The stamp in the upper left corner is from the Legislative Library of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
    6. I have a small amount of information regarding a listed recipient of the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry. I came across an archive in New Zealand with materials about Lt. Edward Lister-Green of the Cape Mountain Rifles, whose engraved Sir Harry Smith Medal is considered by Numis as a bit of an oddity as he was surprised that an officer was awarded this unofficial medal. Low resolution image of the obverse of the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry 1851 attributed to Lt. Edward Lister-Green. From the Online Medals website: http://www.onlinemedals.co.uk/medal-encyclopaedia/pre-ww1-medals/sir-harry-smith’s-medal-gallantry. Low-resolution photo of the reverse of the same (?) Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry from the Online Medals website with Lt. Edward Lister-Green's name engraved on it. I previously included both of these photos of the Edward Lister-Green Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry as the 4th & 5th images in my post of 30 January, 2021 on this thread. The engraved name reads: “Lt. E. L. GREEN.” The Online Medals website identifies the diameter of the medal as 34 mm (most given measurements are the equivalent 1.4 in) and the width of the ribbon as 32 mm. Although not as easy to see as on other examples, note the crack around the "R" and "E" in the word "PRESENTED" from the same die as was used to strike the Thos. Dicks and Paul Arendt medals, as discussed at the end of my post here of 1 May 2022, under the photo of the reverse of the Thos. Dicks medal. Edward Lister-Green was born in Christ Church, Montreal, Canada on 4 March 1827. He married Emily Ogilvie (of Grahamstown, Cape Colony) on 1 June, 1854 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His working career began in 1843 with the Commissariat Department in Nova Scotia. One source suggests he was an ensign in the Cape Mounted Rifles in 1847, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1848. The principal archive in New Zealand with some online catalog information gives his appointment date to the C.M.R. as 1848 and 1849. He was ADC to Major-General Henry Somerset in the Frontier Wars of 1850-1853. He was promoted to Captain in the 5th Regiment of Foot in 1858 and was stationed in India. He returned to England in 1859 and went back to India as Captain of the 77th Foot. Lister-Green was promoted to Major of the 6th Foot in India and China in 1861. He later served in Gibralter and Ireland, and retired from the military in 1864. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1866 after his father’s death, first to Napier and later to Auckland. It appears he was appointed to the Napier Militia in 1868 and 1869. He served as an immigration officer and subsequently as Sheriff in Auckland. He died on 19 April, 1887 in Auckland. Edward Lister-Green (1827-1887) served with the Cape Mounted Rifles and in India, China Corfu, Ireland and settled in New Zealand where he was active in politics. Papers related to his life are housed in the Alexander Turnbull Library collections, of the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington. There is some online catalogue information about the archive collection holdings (https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22367808). There are minimally descriptive listings of papers associated with him (https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23051449?search[i][name_authority_id]=-90289&search[path]=items) that include 3 diaries, testimonials, sketches, manuscripts, correspondence, one map, and certificates from Green’s career. His 1858 diary includes some descriptions of his activities in Cape Province, and a list of articles packed when he returned to England. Lister-Green's 1859 diary records items he packed for his return to India in February 1859. The 1860 diary mostly covers his time in Bombay and China, it lists goods taken to Hong Kong, and a note in the states it includes “list of persons with birth dates (possibly family of Sir Harry and Lady Smith)”. The testimonials and certificates include his appointments to the Cape Mounted Rifles in 1848 and 1849. It is possible to request copies of materials in this archived collection from the library listings of the holdings in this collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library, The National Library of New Zealand in Wellington. Portrait photo of Major Edward Lister-Green in full dress uniform of the 26 Cameronian from the Alexander Turnbull Library, the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington (https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22763726?search%5Bi%5D%5Bname_authority_id%5D=-90289&search%5Bpath%5D=items). This photo is associated with the possible dates between 1867 and 1877, the reference number is 1/4-012895-F. A high-resolution download of this image from the original negative can be obtained from the National Library of New Zealand for an unspecified fee. The above version of this photo is free to share for non-commercial uses, and can be posted on blogs or websites. The following credit is requested to always accompany any use of this image: Mooney, K (Mrs) : Major Edward Lister Green. Ref: 1/4-012895-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22763726.
    7. I am illustrating below a miniature Order of the Nile (Kingdom-era) from an upcoming October 15 auction (Auction 55) by La Galerie Numismatique (Lot 1012), that is listed on the liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/136854420_order-of-the-nile). Here is a high-resolution image of a miniature of the Order of the Nile from an upcoming October 15, 2022 auction by La Galerie Numismatique (Lot 1012). The description gives its measurements as 24 mm x 15 mm and its materials as silver, gilt, and enamel. It appears that the 3-4 central superior rays have been broken off. No photo of the reverse is provided in the auction listing. The form of this example is similar to one I illustrated in the 2nd - 3rd photos of my post of 14 February, 2018 on this thread from a contemporary UK eBay listing. The abbreviated inscription on the central medallion shown above from the La Galerie Numismatique offering is similar to that on the 2018 eBay example shown in my 14 February, 2018 post, but is thicker than on that eBay miniature. The crown is identical to that eBay example. The above mini also resembles an example I illustrated from a Spink auction of 24 July, 2018 (Lot 743) as the image on the viewer’s right in my post here of 22 July, 2018 (archived on the salesroom.com website). The central portion of the rayed embellishment on that Order of the Nile mini from Lot 743 is a bit different and the given measurements are a bit larger (the 2018 Spink example measured 35 mm x 20 mm; and there is a circular configuration of the central portion of the embellishment under the central star). The inscription is similar to the Spink mini, although again, the calligraphy of the inscription of this La Galerie Numismatique example also is much thicker, but still elegant. The crown suspension device seen above also is identical to both the 2018 eBay and Spink examples. This La Galerie Numimatiqie example also appears similar to one that Owain illustrated in the 1st photo of his post of 11 December, 2017 (upper row far right).
    8. I recently came across photos of two additional Froment-Meurice made Mixed Courts badges, both offered with cases. I have illustrated both of these badges below. I also have included below images of all of the few other Froment-Meurice cases that I have encountered on auction websites. Above is a moderate-resolution image of a Silver Mixed Courts badge made by Froment-Meurice. This is from an upcoming 15 October, 2022 auction catalog listing by Éditions V. Gadoury (https://www.gadoury.com/en/auction). The catalog images are archived on the CoinArchives website (https://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=5900840&AucID=6751&Lot=225&Val=5eaa847541b755f1fcf3fa6839f0432f) and the NumisBids website (https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=6035&lot=225). The description identifies the badge as silver and measuring 85 x 120 (mm). The height measurement is a bit imprecise as the majority of these badges are identified as being between 85-88 X 115-118 mm (most measured as 115 mm in height). I am unsure whether the photos might show some gold on aspects of the design, suggesting it could be a District Courts badge (i.e., the embroidery border of the mantle appears more gold than the upper folds of the mantle, especially in the next photo below of the badge in the case, but it is hard to discern with the possible silver tarnish). This badge is offered in an associated case marked with Froment-Meurice's name. The reverse is described as bearing a Froment-Meurice maker’s mark, but no photo of the reverse is provided. The description spuriously identifies the well-known goldsmith François-Désiré Froment-Meurice (who died in 1855) with the design of this badge, that was actually designed ~1875 by his son, also a decorated goldsmith, Pierre Henri Émile Froment-Meurice (usually shortened to Émile Froment-Meurice). The calligraphy is consistent with the Froment-Meurice group 1 style that I have previously identified in my post of 6 September, 2021 here. It is especially similar to the example shown in the 3rd photo of that post illustrating the central tablet of a silver badge from a 3 June, 2015 auction by Dreweatts & Bloomsbury, (Lot 175), archived on the-saleroom.com website. The overall workmanship is consistent with the quality of Froment-Meurice badges. The tugra in the Order of Medjidie element is oriented correctly, showing the slight rotation of the tuğ to the right, as seen on several Froment-Meurice badges (see especially the 5th & 6th photos in my post of 7 September, 2021 discussing different orientations of the tugra on badges made by different ateliers). Moderate-resolution image of the Éditions V. Gadoury badge propped in its case. The case is marked “FROMENT-MEURICE 372. RUE ST. HONORÉ PARIS”. This is the address marked on almost all cases for Froment-Meurice badges. However, one eMedals example sold in a Froment-Meurice case is marked “46 RUE D’ANJOU PARIS” that was the mansion in which in which Émile Froment-Meurice and his wife, Rose Tossin de Moncourt lived until its catastrophic collapse on 21 April 1913 that killed them both (see my post of 15 August, 2015 on this thread, and below in this post). The case is notably in excellent condition compared with many examples, except for a dent to the lower right front corner, visible in the photo above of the badge resting propped up in the case. This image also shows well the catch opening mechanism on this case. Moderately-high resolution photo of the obverse of a silver and gold Mixed Courts badge made by Froment-Meurice from a 15 June, 2022 auction by Million, Lot 322 (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). This photo can be enlarged to see some greater detail of this badge's design and execution. The auction description identifies the materials as silver, vermeil, and enamel. The term "vermeil", also known as “silver gilt”, refers to high quality silver (pure or sterling) that is plated with a thin layer of gold, usually by electroplating. This indicates that the Million auction badge is probably a District Court badge. Gold details may be discernible on the rayed embellishment, the fringe of the mantle, the border embroidery of the mantle, the tassels and their cords on the corners of the mantle, the star above the central tablet, the tuğ on each side of the inscribed central tablet, the oak and laurel branches, and the order of Medjidie element. The superior folds of the mantle appear to be contrasting silver (as the photo above of the Gadoury badge in its case visually suggests). There may some additional vermeil on other elements that are hard to distinguish because of the tarnish on this piece (i.e., the central tablet, the rays around the star above the tablet, and the crown; portions commonly gilt on other District Courts' badges). The calligraphy matches that of the Froment-Meurice group 1, as I defined it in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread. The Million example's calligraphy most closely matches that seen on the central tablets of the Heritage World Coin Auctions, Lot 36093 (1st photo in my 6 September, 2021) post) and the Joseph Timmerman’s district Court badge made by Froment-Meurice from a September 2014 auction by Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A.(Lot 1730), archived in the acsearch.com website (2nd photo in that same post discussing variation in calligraphy on these badges). There may be some loss of enamel on some of the alif vertical strokes on the right side of the central tablet. The tuğ on the superior portion of the tughra shows the same slight rotation to the right seen on many (but not all) Froment-Meurice made Mixed Courts badges. The badge measurements are given as 84 mm x 117 mm, and its weight is 167 g. Moderately-high resolution photo of the reverse of the same Mixed Courts badge from the 15 June, 2022 auction by Million (Lot 322) showing the "FROMENT-MEURICE" maker's mark. This can be zoomed for additional detail. Moderately-high resolution photo of the same Mixed Courts badge from the 15 June, 2022 auction by Million (Lot 322) showing the badge in the medal bed of its associated case. This image can be zoomed for slightly better details. The blue color of the case lining is uncommon for the small sample of Froment-Meurice cases I have seen from auction sites. This case, and that from the Clarke Action House example shown below, illustrate some variation from the predominance of maroon silk (on the case lid) & velvet (on the medal bed). This case also identifies the Froment-Meurice workshop address as "372. RUE ST. HONORÉ PARIS”. The Million auction photo shows the same latch mechanism configuration as seen on then Gadoury auction example above. Below are examples the other Froment-Meurice cases I have seen from auction sites to document some variation in their exterior covering and interior lining colors. The single eMedals example with a different address also is illustrated below. Low-resolution image of a silver Mixed Courts badge attributed to Apostolo N. Gennaropoulo (of Greece) in its case. The photos come from a 2014 eBay auction archived on the WorthPoint website https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ottoman-empire-egypt-khedivate-judges-982926374). Not all of the original photos in this listing are still archived on the WorthPoint web record. This badge was offered with a portrait photo of Judge(?) Genarapoulo wearing the court costume of stambouline coat, tarboosh, a bicolored sash, and the Mixed Court badge. I initially illustrated this badge in my post of 1 December, 2016 on this thread, and have periodically illustrated it and other photos from this auction in my posts here. This badge is marked on the reverse with both the name “FROMENT-MEURICE” and the diamond-shaped maker’s mark with the central rose and the name “FROMENT-MEURICE”. This is one of only 3 badges I have encountered with the additional rose maker's mark of Froment-Meurice. The latching mechanism is slightly out-of-focus and the exterior push button release is cropped out in the original image, but it is identical to those shown above for the Gadoury and Million 2022 auction examples. Close-up image of the Froment-Meurice makers mark in gold ink on the upper lid interior's silk lining of the case for the Gennarapoulo badge showing the "372. RUE ST. HONORÉ PARIS” address. Exterior case for the Gennarapoulo badge showing its untextured coating and dark blue color, as well as the form of the catch release push button. Low-resolution image of a silver Froment-Meurice badge resting in the medal bed of its case from a 20 July, 2015 auction (Lot 0235) by Clarke Auction Gallery in Larchmont, NY (USA) that is archived on the LiveAuctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/38904932_silver-froment-meurice-egyptian-badge). This shows the pale blue silk and velvet lining of the case and the same form of latch release mechanism as seen on the other 3 cases shown above. It also illustrates the dark blue color of the exterior of this case. This badge's Lot included 2 photos of an Egyptian Mixed Court official wearing the stambouline coat, tarboosh, and a bicolored sash with the court badge, and an odd medal with a case (possibly a fantasy piece or some kind of private or civilian insignia). This same badge was recently polished and sold in a 19 June, 2022 auction by Helios Auctions (Auction #33), with photos archived on the invaluable.com website (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judges-badge-by-frome-2d040dba00) and on the and on the liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/130336279_a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice). I posted multiple photos from the Helios listing of this badge in my post on this thread of 19 June, 2022. The recent Helios auction listing makes no mention of the associated case, portrait photos, nor the other medal included in the 2015 Clarke Auction Gallery listing. High-resolution closeup image of the Froment-Meurice name and address at 372. rue St. Honoré, Paris on the pale blue silk of the upper case lid lining, from the same Clarke Auction Gallery 2015 listing of this badge. Moderately high-resolution image of a silver Mixed Courts badge resting in the medal bed of a case marked with the name of Froment-Meurice. From a 13 June, 2018 eMedals auction, Item: EG2365 (https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-a-khedivate-badge-of-office-for-the-legal-administration-of-egypt-the-suez-canal). The badge is unmarked (a photo of the reverse is provided in the archived eMedals auction listing) and was assumed to be made by Froment-Meurice. However, my comparison of the calligraphy on the central tablet indicates that it matches that seen on badges made by Rudolf Stobbe of Alexandria not Froment-Meurice. See my discussion of this under the 10th photo in my post of 6 September, 2021 (in the section describing calligraphy of this badge under the subsection heading: "Mixed Court badge alleged to have been made by Froment-Meurice ("associated" with a case marked "Froment-Meurice")". This indicates that either the entire badge was made by the Stobbe workshop (many Stobbe badges are unmarked on the reverse, as is true also for some Froment-Meurice badges) or a possible Froment-Meurice badge has had the central tablet from a Stobbe badge added. The low-resolution images of the obverse of the June 2018 eMedals badge make it difficult to compare the workmanship of this badge with other examples of Stobbe and Froment-Meurice badges. However, one of the photos of the obverse in an oblique orientation does appear to show the tuğ of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie design element in an inverted position (the tuğ pointing downward). This is not seen on any Froment-Meurice badges but is present on all Rudolf Stobbe badges (see below). My conclusion is that this is a Stobbe-made badge combined with an unassociated Froment-Meurice case. The case lining is interesting because it is the only example I have seen that identifies the home address of Froment-Meurice (“46 RUE D’ANJOU PARIS” ), not the usual workshop address at 372. rue St. Honoré. Émile Froment-Meurice retired in 1907 and sold his business workshop and clientele to Georges Auger. Auger was a goldsmith-jeweler living in Paris and included the name Froment Meurice ("Auger-Froment Meurice") in his business name for an unspecified time after purchasing the Froment-Meurice atelier (see my discussion in the 1st paragraph of my 15 August, 2019 post, and the last photo in that post showing an example of the Laotian Order of the Million Elephants and White Parasol with the interior case labelled Auger-Froment Meurice). Some of my discussion of this in the 19 September, 2019 post is a bit confusing, but Georges Auger's father (Alphonse Auger) had an atelier located at 54 rue Etienne-Marcel, place des Victoires, Paris at least since ~1890. The label in the Order of the Million Elephants case I illustrated in that 19 September 2029 post uses that address along with the name "AUGER-FROMENT MEURICE". It is unclear how long Auger may have used the 372. rue St. Honoré workshop (as a secondary atelier?) and how or when he disposed of that property. I wonder if the above eMedals case with the address of Froment-Meurice's home (46 rue d'Anjou) might indicate some continued fabrication (or sale of extant stock) of Mixed Courts badges following his retirement and sale of the 372. rue St. Honoré workshop in 1907? As noted above, the mansion at 46 rue d'Anjou collapsed on 21 April, 1913 killing Émile Froment-Meurice and his wife (see below). Photo of the exterior of the Froment-Meurice case offered along with the Stobbe-made Mixed Courts badge from the 2018 eMedals auction (Item: EG2365). This shows the maroon textured paper case covering and the missing catch release button (the interior latch can be seen to be missing in the above photo of the open case). Moderate-resolution image of the obverse of the eMedals badge from the 13 June, 2018 eMedals auction, Item: EG2365. This photo shows two aspects of the badge design that are diagnostic of Stobbe-made badges and confirms that this badge is not associated with the Froment-Meurice case offered in this auction. As discussed in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread, the calligraphy on the central tablet of this badge shows the forward non-parallel orientation of the 5th alif vertical stroke from the right of laam, slanting forward one noktah, is identical to the noted variation seen on all identified (and a couple suspected) Rudolf Stobbe-made badges. At least some of the Wolf Horovitz-made Mixed Courts badges also have inverted tughra. The tuğ are pointing downward (rather than their correct orientation upwards) on the tughra in the Order of Medijie element, clearly indicating Stobbe manufacture of this badge (in my post of 7 September, 2021 discussing variation in the the tughra, I used a slightly lower resolution image from eMedals as the 15th photo in that post-this image can be zoomed to show clearly the inverted orientation of the tuğ in tughra). Front page of Le Petit Parisien from 26 April, 1913 carrying the story of the collapse of Froment-Meurice's mansion at 46 rue d'Anjou, Paris and Émile Froment-Meurice's death. See my post of 15 August, 2019 discussing some aspects of the life, family, and death of Émile Froment-Meurice. Photo of the collapsed Froment-Meurice mansion at 46 rue d'Anjou in Paris. Both the above page from Le Petit Parisien and this contemporary photo of the destroyed mansion come from: https://www.richardjeanjacques.com/2019/02/les-froment-meurice-2-eme-partie-emile.html
    9. Below are images from a 30 July, 2021 auction offering by Spink of 3 Egyptian miniatures executed with very abbreviated forms of their design compared with the design & execution of other examples of these two miniature medals. As I have not seen other examples of these distinctly less-detailed and less-carefully crafted minis, it seems likely that they were uncommon variants of the miniature Order of the Republic and the Republic-era Order of the Nile. These 3 pieces from the 2021 Spink auction are probably the work of a different workshop than those represented by other ateliers' miniatures (that are seldom attributed to particular makers). I have illustrated below a few other examples of miniatures of the two orders represented to show the more common forms of the more-detailed designs of the miniature medals for the of Egyptian Order of the Republic and Order of the Nile medals. Above is a moderate-resolution image from a past Spink auction (Catalogue 21002, Lot 368) that is archived on the Lot-Art website (https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/Egypt-Republic-Order-of-the-Nile-Badge-2-18mm-silver-gilt-and-enamel-Order-of-the-Repub/368-egypt_republic-29.7.21-spink). From L - R: a Republic era Order of the Republic, 1st Class with the rosette and an overly-wide gold braid (probably silver gilt & enamel, medal diameter=19 mm); 2 identical examples of a republic version of the Order of the Nile (silver-gilt & enamel, diameter=18 mm). All of the designs on these are much abbreviated forms on22 these miniatures (see other shown examples below). The photo can be enlarged for some greater drtails. The Order of the Republic is suspended from an incorrect ribbon (see correct ribbons below). The rayed embellishment of this Order of the Republic is much larger, relative to the other design elements, than the 2 previous examples of this mini I have posted on this thread (that I have illustrated below), and has more indistinct "rays" compared with other examples as well. This Spink mini combines the dark blue enamel on the arms of the central design with a ring of lighter blue enamel of an adaptation of the border of the central medallion that includes water symbolism on the full-sized award. These blue arms also are proportionally much shorter than seen on other minis of the Order of the Republic. The designs on each arm are executed with different ornamentation than the other minis and the full-sized versions of this award. The calligraphy in the central red enameled boss medallion also is much more abbreviated than on the other miniatures of the Order of the Republic. The 2 identically-executed Republic period Order of the Nile miniatures exhibit only a schematic version of the form of the central design that represents the union of binding Upper and Lower Egypt together (see example below). These 2 medals are suspended from the correct ribbon, although they lack the lotus suspension device seen on many minis of this Order. The rayed embellishment has a much rounder outline compared with the clearly pentagonal embellishment of other miniatures and the sash badge/neck badges of the full-sized Republic period award (the full-sized breast stars do have a more rounded outline and the doubled ray at each of the 5 corners of the rounded pentagon, as also seen above on each of these 2 minis). The form of the rays and background of the embellisment are based on the design of this element on full-sized pieces and does not resemble the faceted rays on other minis of the Order of the Nile. No manufacturers are identified for these miniatures. Above is an example of a Republic-era Order of the Republic from a 23 November, 2013 auction listing on the Liveauctioneers website, Lot 0214. It is identified as silver gilt, 17 mm in diameter, with original suspension ring, ribbon, & rosette with braid (galon) exhibiting gold on L and silver on R, correct for the Grand Officer Class. Unknown maker. This example was identified as Type II, a variant of the post-1958 designs. I am only minimally familiar with some the variations in the full-sized version of this award, and do not know if miniatures exhibit comparable design/execution variation. I previously illustrated this mini in my post of 23 April, 2018 on this thread. That post includes illustrations of Type I and Type II full-sized awards. Here, the description as Type II probably refers to the dark blue enamel on this piece. Note the distinct individual rays of the embellishment and its smaller size than on the Spink example. The central element surrounding the red enameled central boss has probably been rotated out of its original orientation. While the calligraphy appears to be in the correct orientation, one of the blue-enameled arms should be in the 12:00 position. This mini exhibits the correct ribbon for this medal (unlike the Spink example above from the Lot-Art website). Above is a low-resolution image of another example of a Republic era Order of the Republic miniature with the contrasting light blue enamel on the arms of the central design. The rosette and silver braid (galon) indicates this is the 3rd Class of this award. This is a Type I example with the "lily" (papyrus?) suspension device and the lighter blue color enamel on the decorated 5 arms & the enameled ring round the central medallion. "Length" (including the ribbon)=7.1cm; Height=1.1 cm x width (including suspension)=0.4 cm; Weight=3.48 g. From the Spurlock Museum (https://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/search-collection/details.php?a=1971.15.3234), artifact identification #: 1971.15. 3234. (identified incorrectly in the catalogue as: "Egypt, miniature Victory Star"). Unknown manufacturer. This example also has the correct ribbon. There are 2 other examples of miniature Order of the Republic medals with the same overall format and design as those from the the Spurlock Museum and Liveauctioneers websites, one in gold the other in silver both with incorrect ribbons, in the 2nd photo of my post of 10 November, 2018 on this thread. These 2 minis from a 2014 auction by H. D. Rauch (Lot 4682) have suspension devices in the form of the Republic's Eagles of Salidan, slightly different forms of the decoration within the 5 blue-enameled arms, a different form of the central red enamel bossed central medallion's calligraphic inscription, and a thin line of silver or gold in the blue enameled band surrounding the central medallion. The Liveauctioneers example, Lot 0214, the Spurlock Museum example, #: 1971.15. 3234, both shown above, and the 2 Rauch (Lot 4682) minis represent three different forms of the design execution of miniature Order of the Republic medals, but all much more similar to each other than to the Spink example curated on the Lot-Art website listing for Auction 21002, Lot 368 shown in the first photo of this post. Above is a very high-resolution image of the more normal Republic-era Order of the Nile miniature (silver, partly gilt, 25 mm tall [including with lotus suspension device] x 20 mm wide). This image comes from a former La Galerie Numismatique past auction listing. No manufacturer is identified for this mini. I first included this image (and a discussion of the Ancient Egyptian symbolism on the full-sized and miniature versions of this Republic award) in my post of 7 March, 2018 on this thread. I recently reprised that discussion of the symbolism in a post of 7 April, 2022 in response to a recent thread started by Elmar Lang on 4 April, 2022 featuring a Republic version Grand Cordon example of the Order of the Nile ("Egypt, Republic, Order of the Nile, awarded to Prof. Amintore Fanfane, Former Itlay's Prime Minister", here in the "Middle East & Arab States" section). Note the papyrus-motifs on the suspension device. As discussed in my 7 April post (and previous 2018 post on this thread), the central symbolism is the unification of Upper & Lower Egypt binding lotus and papyrus stems around a form of a symbol for the lungs attached to the trachea, which is the hieroglyphic symbol sema representing "union". Additional examples with the same design seen above are: a 2nd Class mini (rosette & gold & silver braid) on a bar of miniatures in my post of 14 January, 2019; shown as a 1st Class miniature (with rosette and gold braid) on a bar in Owain's post of 8, March 2018; in Owain's post of 10 December 2017; and in the 2nd photo in Owain's post of 12 December, 2017 on this thread. The design in the central medallion of the 2 examples from Spink's Auction 21002, Lot 368, uses only indentations to mark the general position of the lotus and papyrus stems and probably some other components of the sema design element. The Spink image is not high-enough resolution to distinguish if or what kind of treatment of the two figures has been done in those highly stylized central medallion designs.
    10. I don't have any new images of the Sir Harry Smith medal, but am adding a couple of minor bits of information. First, a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle has recently been made that shows the obverse of the Paul Arendt example of the Sir Harry Smith medal from the National Army Museum. Image of the jigsaw puzzle of the Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry 1851 made by Media Storehouse (https://www.mediastorehouse.co.uk/fine-art-finder/artists/british-school/sir-harry-smith-medal-gallantry-1851-25057834.html?prodid=80438&epik=dj0yJnU9NWpGbGVtQXpGSmxVdk8xOVFaVkx4VEFrZHA0YVc1YzImcD0wJm49OHI5N1dxWGVhd2N2djQwRzI3dW10QSZ0PUFBQUFBR01IMXNn). This company apparently has created several puzzles from medal images (they have sold photographic prints of the obverse of this medal for some time). As noted, the Paul Arendt medal is in the collection of the National Army Museum (UK), the Global Role gallery, NAM accession Number: NAM.1986-12-31-1 (https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1986-12-31-1+). Unfortunately only the obverse is part of the puzzle image. This puzzle is probably much easier to put together than numises research project sorting out the various historical complexities of information about this medal, engraving variations, the number of dies, their possible sequence, and tracking down the many missing puzzle pieces about the locations of examples of the medal as well as the ~31 partially-known recipients. Below is a map of the eastern frontier of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope that shows the location on of Fort Cox (just to the lower left of the beginning of the labelling: "QUEEN ADELAIDE'S PROVINCE") where the conflict occurred that resulted in the creation of Sir Harry Smith's privately instituted award for bravery following the siege of Fort Cox in December, 1850 at the beginning of the 8th Cape Frontier War. From: Smith, Sir Henry (Harry) George Wakelyn, 1903. The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith, Baronet of Aliwol, on the Sutlej, G.C.B. Edited and with supplementary chapters by George Charles Moore Smith. Chapter XLIX (Supplementary): page 620. Archived on the UPENN Digital Library (https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hsmith/autobiography/peninsular.html) From: Smith, Sir Henry (Harry) George Wakelyn, 1903. The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith, Baronet of Aliwol, on the Sutlej, G.C.B. Edited and with supplementary chapters by George Charles Moore Smith. Chapter XLIX (Supplementary): page 620. Archived on the UPENN Digital Library (https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hsmith/autobiography/peninsular.html). A detailed description of the background and conflict is provided in Chapter XLIX of this online volume. Some additional information is provided in my post here of 23 March 2021 on page 236 and the illustration CAPE MOUNTED RIFLEMEN, KAFFIR WAR 1850." BY "H. M." I.E. HENRY MARTENS in the important Mitchell article reference: 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)
    11. Here is a new higher-resolution illustration of the historical sequence of badges used by the U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents from what appears to be a relatively new U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security history of the Diplomatic Security Service website that is an abbreviated form of some of their other online historical narratives. The links within this webpage go to the older more detailed website (https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DS100Then-Now_forWebOnly-1.pdf). The badges shown are the same as those in the 2nd illustration of my 24 March, 2021 post here, from page 6 of the online pdf document History of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the United States Department of State, printed October 2011, Global Publishing Solutions, First Edition. (https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/176589.pdf). A high-resolution montage of the historical sequence of service badges from 1917-present. This image can be zoomed for additional details. Unfortunately the overlapping image obscures details of all but the most recent DSS Special Agent badge. Also, the various Dept. of State and DSS websites do not identify years that each badge design was in use. As with other versions of this historical sequence, the original 1917 badge design is represented by a restrike, not an actual original badge. The 3rd badge form the right is the badge for a Dept. of Diplomatic Service Engineer. The 2nd from the right is for a Dept. of State Diplomatic Courier. I believe that all 3 badges on the right are current badge styles. From: https://www.state.gov/history-of-dss/.
    12. Museums would never deface an item with such a stamped marking, and if it was for exhibition that marking defeats the idea of showing it. I am not a collector, so my knowledge is highly imperfect. However, I would think this must be a marking by the mint or the military for an example that was not intended to be awarded.
    13. Although this is not the Medal for Meritorious Acts as Jack started this thread to identify and discuss, I found a recent eBay studio portrait photo of a military officer wearing what appears to be the Medal for Devotion. As these 3 medals (Meritorious Acts, Devotion, and Benevolence) have been discussed here I thought I would add this image. Many photos that might show one of these 3 medals (mostly of Palace staff during events where the focus of photos are the royals or their guests) can be difficult to distinguish which of these contemporaneous medals (especially that for Meritorious acts and Devotion that have the same attachment to the suspension bars) it may depict. The photo below from a current eBay offering appears to show the appropriately-sized royal shield surrounded by decorative calligraphy, and the correct form of attachment to the suspension bar indicating it is most likely the obverse of Medal of Devotion. The officer also wears the 4th Class Officer Order of the Nile. The portrait is stamped in the lower right with the name of "STUDIO VART CAIRO" (one of the many Armenian-owned photographic studios in Egypt in the early 20th century). The size of this photo is 18 x 12 cm. From: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314082809430?hash=item4920cb5656:g:7-0AAOSwd7li29H3
    14. The same grouped “set” identified as a 1st Class Grand Cordon of the Order of Ismail that was recently sold in a 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige is on offer in an auction (Item: W6784) ending tomorrow (28 July) on eMedals (https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-grand-cross-set-in-gold-by-j-lattes-c-1925). In my post here of 24 May, 2022 I noted that the Zeige offering is probably not a set as the elaborate engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms of the breast star are not present on the sash badge being offered. Unlike the Zeige offering, the eMedals description provides some measurements. The sash badge measures 61.4 mm wide x 82.8 mm tall (inclusive of the crown and suspension ring) and weighs 46.9 g. The date hallmark on the reverse reads “A” = 1925-1926. The breast star measures 80.5 mm wide x 82.4 mm tall and weighs 116.7 g. The Egyptian date hallmark on the breast star is “Y” = 1923-1924. Tarnish and fingerprints on the reverse of the breast star are identical in the photos on the Zeige and eMedals listings. I will not elaborate on my discussion of the mixture of these 2 forms of the Order of Ismail insignia that I think do not represent an associated set that I discussed in my 24 May post. I will comment that there appears to be some slight damage to the enamel of the wreath of the sash badge compared with its condition in the photos in the Zeige auction. There is a small flake of enamel visibly missing in one of the high-resolution images eMedals provides that is not visible in the photos on the Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige listing or the high-resolution images archived on the saleroom.com website. The lower crack on that missing piece of green enamel is visible in the Zeige photo of the sash badge, but the missing flake of enamel in the eMedals close-up of the wreath was still in place on the Zeige image. High resolution close-up image of the wreath of the sash badge in this grouping showing clearly a missing flake of green enamel in the lower left panel of the wreath. From the eMedals 28 July, 2022 auction listing (Item: W6784). Cropped enlargement of the same sash badge from the photographs included in 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige archived on the saleroom.com website showing details of the wreath (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/auktionshaus-carsten-zeige/catalogue-id-srauktionsh10012/lot-5aa63c15-e9e3-4c06-a6f1-ae7c00e6d400). A small crack is visible in the enamel of the middle of the same lower left panel of the wreath emanating from one of the larger gold fruit dots. However, the enamel appears to be intact in this photograph. This image is cropped from the photo that I included as the 3rd photo in my post here of 24 May, 2022. Below I am including the other photos from the eMedals listing of this alleged set. All of the images below can be zoomed for at least some additional details. Several of these provide additional documentation, especially of the breast star with its unusual engraving that is seen on only 2 other breast stars and one neck badge (that neck badge is associated with one of those more elaborately engraved breast stars, a 2nd Class Grand Officer Class example). I posted images of those other pieces and a discussion of the strikingly different engraving in my post of 31 January, 2020 that, at the time, appeared anomalous to me. I also included images of those other examples in my 24 May post here as well. Image of the eMedals auction offering of this group that I consider to be a mismatched "set". A more detailed view of the 2 insignia, the breast star is slightly out-of-focus. The contrast in the forms of the wreaths of the sash badge and breast star (that I discussed in my 24 May, 2022 post) are quite apparent in this image. The alleged "set" in the case The exterior case lid that is a genuine Lattes case for a 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail (the interior labeling identifies J. Lattes). The sash badge attached to the sash, showing pinking of the decorative bow and ends of the sash. The sash badge may be an authentic 1st Class badge, however it is uncertain because of the combination with the anomalous breast star. Obverse of the sash badge from the eMedals listing. Reverse of the sash badge. Close-up detail of the "LATTES" name and Egyptian hallmark on the sash badge. Note the "A" date hallmark = 1925-1926. The form of the "LATTES" name inside of a rectangular frame is quite unusual, I have not seen this form on any other sash badges nor on other 2nd or 3rd Class neck badges of the Order of Ismail (and have not yet checked other Lattes-made awards). Close-up view of the crown in the eMedals listing indicating that there is no enamel loss to any of the red enamel jewel elements as seemed to be apparent to me in the Zeige photographs (probably just light reflection). This also shows the same staining seen on the arches of the crown shown in the Zeige listing. Obverse of the breast star showing well the uncommon more-detailed engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. It also shows well the different form of the wreath that I have most often seen on Bichay-made pieces, but also on one of the other breast stars and the one neck badge that also exhibit this more elaborate engraving of the star arms but are marked "LATTES" (discussed in my 24 May post here). Oblique view of the obverse of the breast star. Reverse of the breast str showing the identical patters of tarnish, the fingerprint marks, ands the scratches on the lower left reveres of the gold star arms as seen on the Zeige auction listing (compare with the 6th illustration in my 24 May post here). The form of the distal position of the tunic pin also is unusual (but seen on some other examples) and identical to that of the Zeige example. Oblique view of the reverse of this same breast star.
    15. I have found an example of the Mixed Courts judicial badge that matches the very idiosyncratic calligraphy on the British Museum's Mixed Courts badge that I illustrated on this thread in my post of 6 November, 2020. This badge matching the British Museum badge's calligraphy is shown in the first and second photos below. The British Museum badge (Registration Number: 2009,4007.754; Asset Number 748897001; shown & described in my post on this thread of 5 November, 2020) exhibits calligraphy that matches no other Mixed Courts badge I have found previously an online images (principally from online auction sites). The obverse of the British Museum silver example is illustrated as the 3rd photo in this post for comparison with the image of the gold Mixed Court badge illustrated in the first photo here. This recently-found badge with the matching calligraphy comes from a highly controversial collection whose owners have recently been prosecuted in Egypt for illegal possession of this hoard of jewelry, artwork, and more ancient antiquities. Moderate-resolution image of a Mixed Courts' badge with calligraphy that matches the very unusual form of the inscription seen on the British Museum holding (principally in the form & placement of the diacritical marks). There is no photo of the reverse of this badge. This photo comes from a Twitter post by Essam Abdelhamid (@essamabdelhami7) on 8 June, 2021 (https://mobile.twitter.com/essamabdelhami7/status/1402353219922235392/photo/1). This photo on Essam Abdelhamid's Twitter post derives from one of a couple other sources that included a watermark on the photo of the badge. Note that this badge appears to be gold (gilt? I have not been able to see the Egyptian assay marks on the other example of an Appeals Court badge in the photo of the reverse that is not high enough- resolution to read the hallmarks), indicating it is a badge of the Appeals Court. The only other gold Appeals Court badge that I have encountered is an example made by Wolf Horovitz that was shown in an illustration on Flickr until early 2017, although that image no longer appears there, and I have not yet found an original source for the photo of that unique gold (Appeals Court) example (I first illustrated the obverse & reverse of the Horovitz Appeals Court badge as the 4th & 5th photos in my post of 24 March, 2017 on this thread). There is some obvious visible damage to the enamel of the calligraphic inscription and a small, square area of discoloration around the lowermost right diacritical mark. An image from a posting by the family of Judge Ahmed Abdul-Fattah Hassan (https://besraha.com/17780/انفراد-موقع-بصراحة-ينشر-50-صورة-من-داخل-شقة-الزمالك-الشهيرة) illustrating this Appeals Court badge along with some of the other medals in the collection. The badge may be resting on its case. Several other photos in this post show other jewelry and paintings found in the Zamalek apartment in Cairo of Judge Ahmed Abdul-Fattah Hassan. Unfortunately, no image of the reverse of this badge is available, and there is still no information about the manufacturer of this badge, that also should be the maker of the British Museum example. However, the image above shows the Mixed Courts badge resting on a square background that is likely the case for this badge and may be marked inside with a manufacturer’s name. The provenience of this Appeals Court badge is from an extensive collection of valuable jewelry, artworks, and antiquities that created a scandalous set of news stories when inadvertently discovered in May 2021. It was reported as a secret hoard in an apartment in the Zamalek area of Cairo owned by Ahmed Abdul-Fattah Hassan and his family. Judge Hassan was a Counselor at the Kuwaiti Court of Cassation and former Vice-President of the Egyptian State Council. The family attributes much of the collection to items collected legitimately by Ahmed Abdul-Fattah Hassan and inherited from his father, Pasha Ahmed Abdul-Fattah Hassan, Minister of Interior during the reign of King Farouk I. The Egyptian government considers the extensive collection of valuable jewelry, painting, and Ancient Egyptian artifacts to violate it’s inheritance laws (not reporting a valuable inheritance within a prescribed period, presumably for taxation purposes), and has prosecuted Judge Hassan and his wife for “trafficking in antiquities”. A series of sensational news stories have followed the discovery and litigation of the family for what has been termed the infamous “Zamalek apartment treasures" (i.e., Arabic language news stories:https://www.mobtada.com/egypt/1056049/صور-تحف-ومجوهرات-مبتدا-يكشف-كنوز-شقة-الزمالك-الثمينة, from 7 June, 2021; https://www.dostor.org/3474472, from 8 June, 2021; https://www.albawaba.com/ar/أخبار/كشف-أسرار-كنوز-شقة-الزمالك-المثيرة-للجدل-صور-1432480, from 9 June, 2021; https://www.elwatannews.com/journalist/محمد-سعيد-الشماع-وبسمة-عبد-الستار, from 25 May, 2022; and English-language news stories: https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/06/14/cairo-court-announces-3-decisions-in-zamalek-apartment-case/, from 14 June, 2021; https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2021-06-17-the-holdings-of-thutmose--hatshepsut-and-abd-al-malik-bin-marwan---the-treasure-of-zamalek-is-causing-an-uproar-in-egypt.BkgwAYm_iO.htm, from 16 June, 2021; https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1233/459409/Egypt/Courts--Law/Egyptian-judge-faces-trial-for-illegal-possession-.aspx, from 2 February, 2022; and https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2022-02-17-the-accused-judge-accused-the-inventory-committee-of-“stealing-rare-antiques-”-egypt-bans-publication-in-the-“zamalek-apartment”-case.By_HoDCoyc.html, from 17 February, 2022). Judge Ahmed Abdel-Fattah Hassan, the former Vice President of the State Council and technical advisor to the President of the Constitutional Court of the State of Kuwait, and his wife were each sentenced on 18 June, 2022 to 5 years in prison and fines of 1 million Egyptian pounds (US $53,000) each (https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/468176/Egypt/Zamalek-apartment-antiquities-trading-couple-sente.aspx). Image of the obverse of the British Museum Mixed Court badge (Registration number: 2009,4007.754; and Asset Number, for non-commercial research use, is 748897001; this image is copyrighted by The Trustees of the British Museum, but may be reproduced only for non-commercial uses), for comparison of the calligraphy with the first photo in this post showing the calligraphy on the "Zamalek apartment" example (from: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_2009-4007-754). This silver badge from the British Museum and the gold badge from the "Zamalek apartment" legal case are the only examples I have seen with this form of the calligraphic inscription, and were presumably made by the same as-yet-unidentified jeweler.
    16. Chris, The scale in the first photo of the obverse indicates a diameter of ~78 mm
    17. Owain sent me a link to a 19 June, 2022 auction by Helios Auctions (Auction #33), on the invaluable.com website that included a silver Froment-Meurice Mixed Court badge (Lot 43). The 5th photo included here is cropped from a copyrighted image by Invaluable LLC. (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judges-badge-by-frome-2d040dba00). I could not download most of the high-resolution images from the invaluable.com website. However I could download them from the liveauctioneers.com website. The 1st-4th and 8th photos come from the same listing of this Helios Auctions badge that are archived on the live auctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/130336279_a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice). High-resolution image of the obverse of this silver Froment-Meurice made badge from today's auction by Helios Auctions (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/130336279_a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice). The photo can be enlarged for greater detail. This example is in excellent condition. The auction description is mostly accurate and provides measurements (12.2 cm x 9.2 cm [4 13/16 x 3 5/8 in] and weight (168 g [5.9 oz]). The calligraphy of this badge most closely matches that seen on some of the badges I have previously identified as Group 2 in my discussion of 6 September, 2021 on this thread (5th-9th photos). Some aspects of the diacritical marks on this Helios Auction example are slightly different from those on almost all of those I illustrated as Group 2 Froment-Meurice calligraphy (for example, the badge illustrated above in my most recent post of 17 June, 2022 here on this thread). However, it appears to be an exact match for the calligraphy seen on the a silver badge made by Froment-Meurice from photos of a July 2015 auction by Clarke Auction Gallery offering, Lot 0235, archived on the liveauctioneers.com website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/38904932_silver-froment-meurice-egyptian-badge) that is the 9th photo in my 6 September 2021 post (also included as the 6th image in this post) discussing variation in the calligraphy of the central tablets of these badges . In fact, scratches on the reverse of this Helios Auctions badge make me certain that it is the same badge as was offered in that July 2015 Clarke Auction Gallery, Lot 0235 listing (see the last 2 images below in this post). High-resolution image of the middle and superior margin of this same silver Mixed Courts badge from the Helios Auctions listing. This image also can be zoomed for greater details. High-resolution photo (that can be enlarged) of the middle and inferior margin of this silver badge from the Helios Auctions sale today. Zoomed, the image shows the correct orientation of the tugra on the Order of Medjidie with the tuğs rotated slightly to the right (~30 degrees) as seen on most other Froment-Meurice badges. High-resolution image of the reverse of this same silver Mixed Courts badge from today's Helios Auctions offering. This image of the reverse from the archived listing of this badge on the liveauctioneers.com website shows the "FROMENT-MEURICE" maker's name. Cropped close-up of the central tablet inscription of the Helios Auctions example. Compare the calligraphy with that of the Clarke Auction Gallery example from their July 2015 auction, shown below. Also note in the above image the slight rotation to the right of the 3 tuğs at the superior portions of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie. This is seen on most Froment-Meurice examples (see the 5th-10th photos in my post of on this thread showing and discussing the orientations of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie across different makers of this Mixed Courts badge). Low-resolution cropped image of the central tablet calligraphy of the Clarke Auction Gallery example from their July 2015 auction (Lot 0235) archived on the liveauctioneers.com website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/38904932_silver-froment-meurice-egyptian-badge). This badge was offered in a Froment-Meurice case with 2 illustrations of an Egyptian judge or court official wearing the Mixed Courts costume of the stambouline coat, a bicolored sash with a badge attached, and the tarboosh, as well as another other unidentified medal. I illustrated this badge and all of the associated materials in this lot in my post of 22 January, 2019. In fact, I believe that a set of scratches on the reverse underneath the name "FROMENT-MEURICE" on this Clarke Auction Gallery badge matches precisely those seen on the reverse on the Helios Auctions offering (see the 2 photos below), indicating these are the same badge. Above is a close-up image of the "FROMENT-MEURICE" name on the reverse of the Clarke Auction Gallery July 2015 auction from the archived listing on live auctioneers.com (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/38904932_silver-froment-meurice-egyptian-badge). Note the configuration of the 7 scratches below the makers name, between the two rivets, and at the level of the upper portion of the 2 rivets (especially the two sets of double scratches in the middle). Compared with an enlarged view of the same area on the Helios Auctions example (by zooming the image below) this same set of 7 scratches is present on the reverse of the badge that was auctioned today by Helios Auctions. High resolution close-up image of the "FROMENT-MEURICE " name on the reverse of the Helios Auction badge (from the archived listing of this badge on the liveauciotneers.com website [https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/130336279_a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice). When this image is enlarged, there are 7 scratches visible below the middle of the "FROMENT-MEURICE" name just parallel with the uppermost portion of the 2 rivets. The configuration of these scratches exactly matches those seen on the previous photo of the reverse of the badge from the July 2015 Clarke Auction Gallery offering. Note especially the 2 sets of double scratches that are the upper and lower 3rd-4th set of scratches from the left side, that match exactly those seen in the above Clarke Auction Gallery image. Additionally, the "FROMENT-MEURICE" name (when enlarged) shows the same die wear or incompleteness of portions of the stamped name as seen on the struck impression visible in the photo of the Clarke Auction Gallery example. Also of interest is the different positions of the rivets on the above photo compared with the photo from the liveactioneers.com archive of the Clarke Auction Gallery in the previous photo. It appear that some reconditioning has been done to this badge, possibly to tighten these rivets (perhaps resulting in the curved scratch above the left side rivet) in addition to the significant cleaning and polishing evident in the photos from the Helios Auctions listing.
    18. Above is a high-resolution image of a Mixed Court badge form an Arabic language Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1888017644632861&set=-العدل-أساس-الملك-الصفحة-الرسمية-لموقع-الملك-فاروق-الاول-فاروق-مصر). This photo can be zoomed for additional detail. The minimal amount of text associated with this badge provides a translation of motto, but no additional information. There is no description of this badge nor any images of the reverse. The calligraphy of the central tablet matches what I assigned to Froment-Meurice Group 2 badges, as defined in my post of 6 September, 2021 (5th-10th photos). The workmanship is consistent with the very high-quality execution seen on Froment-Meurice badges. The tugra is oriented correctly (as on all Froment-Meurice-made badges), and the tugs are angled slightly to the right, as seen on the example from 10 March, 2021 auction by Ader of Paris, Lot 227 shown as the 9th photo in my post of 7 September, 2021. The general color in the photo appears very gold, but I do not think this is an Appeals Court badge. It is probably a gold and silver District Courts badge. The upper draping and the lateral folds of the mantle appear to be silver (showing what looks like a different color than the gold seen on the cords with tassels at the upper corners of the mantle, the border design on the lateral mantle folds, and the fringe) with gilt design on the borders & fringe. These color differences can be seen better when the image is enlarged. The tablet shows many deep parallel scratches at the superior end that are associated with damage to the enamel. There are a few other areas of lesser enamel loss on the central tablet as well.
    19. I wrote to Hamdy Charmy, the gentleman whose photo of a Mixed Court badge I included as the 1st photo in my post here of 27 May, 2022. That image on Facebook showed a Mixed Court badge resting on its case (blocking any view of the maker’s mark on the inside of the upper lid) and a commemorative medal for the 50th anniversary of the institution of the adapted French legal code to the National Courts. He was kind enough to send me 4 additional photos that identified the maker of this badge and he told me the badge belonged to his grandfather. His photos show that this badge was made by Wolf Horovitz. I noted in my post of 27 May, 2022 that the workmanship of this badge resembled that of Horovitz or Stobbe. However, the form of the calligraphy on the central tablet inscription is unlike that on any other of the very few examples of any of the Horivitz-made badges (a miniscule sample size of 2) that I have been able to find on the internet (see the cropped images comparing the Charmy badge and of a late 2018-early 2019 eBay example that are attached as the final 2 photos in this post). Above is a high-resolution image of the reverse of Mr. Charmy’s grandfather’s badge. This can be enlarged for a more detailed view of the Horovitz name and the Egyptian silver hallmarks. It shows the “H…VITZ” of the name “HOROVITZ” name visible under the tunic pin and the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks (left-right: the Alexandria assay office’s mark for 900 silver, the cat indicting Egyptian-made silver between 1916-1946; and the “I” date hallmark that denotes an assay date of 1934-1935. Inside of the case associated with this Mixed Courts badge showing the name and address for Wolf Horovitz. The style of this labelling is the same as that seen in the case of the example from a late 2018 eBay auction offering (shown in the 4th photo of my post of 1 December, 2018 on this thread). Unfocused image of the Charmy Horovitz badge. Although this is not a great image, it does show well the silver and gold coloration of this badge. In my previous post I was unsure whether this might be a silver badge or a silver and gold District Court badge. The image shows gilt on the rayed embellishment, the fringe of the mantle, the tasseled cords at the upper corners of the mantle, the Order of Medjidie element, probably the superior end of each of the tugs, the central inscribed tablet, the star above the tablet, and the crown. Although the image of this badge in my post here of 27 May, 2022 shows better detail of the badge, the above image clearly shows the gilt ornamentation, identifying this as a District Courts badge (Cairo, Alexandria, or Mansourah). High-resolution photo of the medal accompanying this badge, the 50th anniversary commemorative medal celebrating the introduction of the French legal code into use in the National Courts (also formerly called the “Native” or “Indigenous” Courts until the term “National” was substituted for those other identifiers). This image can be enlarged for better details. The name visible on the inner lid is that of Tewfik Bichay. Cropped image of the calligraphy on the central tablet of the Hamdi Charmy badge. This image can be zoomed for greater detail. All of the diacritical marks on the tablet above are different than those on other Horivitz badges (see below). There is no indication that the form of the inscription suggests any replacement with a tablet from a different maker. This example has unique calligraphy compared with all of the internet images I have seen and those volunteered by collectors (for other identified and the 4 currently unidentified manufacturers of this badge). The different calligraphy on this piece compared with the 2 other identified Horovitz badges indicates the use of another die, but probably only for the tablet element on this example of Horovitz’s workmanship. I see no glaring differences in the other badge elements (these are 3-piece constructions; the rayed embellishment, the mantle and its design components, and the tablet with the motto). Compare the calligraphy on the Charmy badge with the above image of the late 2018-early 2019 eBay Horovitz silver badge (https://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPT-KING-FAROUK-SILVER-GILT-ENAMEL-JUDGE-BADGE-IN-ORIGINAL-CASE-XXX-RARE-/223282793829; this link is no longer active). This image of the eBay badge shows approximately the same portion of the obverse as the previous photo of the Charmy badge. Note the upside-down orientation of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie design element. Other than the differences in the tablet calligraphy, the workmanship and overall design is identical between these badges. Note especially the very light relief of the inner surface of the mantle, the low-relief of the crossed laurel and oak branches and their leaves and fruit (compared with Froment-Meurice), and the execution of the Order of Medjidie and the crescent and star surmounting it. This badge has a date hallmark of “N” = an assay date of 1938-1939. Horovitz was a skilled jeweler, and his versions of the Froment-Meurice designs are outstanding among the other local, principally Alexandrian, ateliers.
    20. You are most welcome Bill. It's a pleasure to get some interest in what has been fun research on a very rare badge. I found the good quality photo of the later restrike by Cobra 6 Actual on USMF, that spurred me to put some of these images and info on U.S. Militaria Forum. A DSS Agent I have corresponded with about this badge encouraged me to check that Forum a few years ago, but the 10 July 2021 post of the restrike was the first info I found relevant to the original 1917 design badge on that website. Rusty
    21. Here is an illustration of the medal that Owain showed in his post here of 28 May, 2022 from pg 337 of Volume 2 of the 1937 publication of the civil codes: I Al-Kitab al-dhahabi l’il-mahakim al-ahliya, 1883-1933. Al-Matba’a al-Amiriyya bu Bulaq. As noted above the book is apparerntky usually transliterated into English as: The Golden Book of Civil Courts 1883-1933, and was published by the Government press (Amiri Press) in Bulaq. There may be a description of this medal somewhere in the text of Vol. 2, but I have not yet found it. This image can be zoomed for some additional details. The ribbon shown in the illustration exhibits 2 colors, and although it is problematic to identify those colors, they are consistent with the ribbon image in the photo of the Mixed Courts badge shown above in my post of 26 May 2022. I would suggest that current information may favor a ribbon with red on the right and green on the left. Several parts of the text prior to page 337 discuss two of the non-Mixed Courts, the Tribunaux Indigénes (Indigenous or Native Courts) or the Tribunaux Nationaux (the National Courts). I do not know much about some of the distinctions between these two courts, but it appears that the adaptation of the French legal coders also were incorporated into these courts as they changed from the previous Shari'ah Courts. I also am uncertain of some of the dynamics of the roles of Shari'ah Courts (that did address cases involving both Muslims and non-Muslims) and the Milla Courts (religious courts for non-Muslims). The National Courts addressed the interests of the State at large, and did employ law adapted from French law and precedents. The Mixed Courts of course oversaw the business of foreigners living and working in Egypt. These various Court systems of Egypt were not unified until 1952 (although the Mixed Courts was dissolved in 1949). It appears that the medal Owain illustrates is associated with the incorporation of French legal codes into the National Courts, and this commemoration is not associated with events and functions of the Mixed Courts. This is page 333 of the 1937 publication I Al-Kitab al-dhahabi l’il-mahakim al-ahliya, 1883-1933, Vol 2. Al-Matba’a al-Amiriyya bu Bulaq. The members of this committee may be wearing the medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Courts. The image can be zoomed for some detail, but it is not high-enough resolution to be certain what medals these men are wearing. Each man appears to wear an oval badge in the superior position (the insignia of committee members as shown above?). However, the details of whether the medal below that is round or has some projections and its ribbon colors are uncertain because of pixilation of the image at higher magnification. The man seated in the front row 2nd from the viewer's left may show a bicolored ribbon, with the darker color on the viewer's right(? - as may the man seated in the front row 5th from the right and the man standing in the back row 2nd from the right). Mostly the context of this image suggests the committee members could be wearing the insignia shown in the first photo of this post. An image of well-known Egyptians attending a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Courts. This comes from page 343 of the 1937, I Al-Kitab al-dhahabi l’il-mahakim al-ahliya, 1883-1933, Vol 2. Al-Matba’a al-Amiriyya bu Bulaq. The man on the far left (Salib Samy Bey, Minister of War) appears is wearing a medal I cannot distinguish but probably is wearing the oval insignia of committee members as shown in the plate above detailing the medals. The man in front 2nd from the right (Ahmed Aly Pasha, Minister of Justice) shows his medals better, but they are still unclear to me. The ribbon on his medal appear to represent alternating dark & light stripes. This image can be zoomed for just bit more detail. Again the context makes it possible that these are the two medals shown in the plate above, but it is far from clear in this photo. Above is a key to some of the persons shown in the previous photo portrait. This comes from page 341 of the 1937 I Al-Kitab al-dhahabi l’il-mahakim al-ahliya, 1883-1933. Al-Matba’a al-Amiriyya bu Bulaq.
    22. Wow Owain, I'm impressed you could just whip out one of these medals! Thanks for adding this identification and information on the inscription. The best I can figure out regarding the dates 1883-1933 is that the translated French legal codes was complete and implemented in 1883, about a year after the British invasion. The 1933 date just recognizes the 50th anniversary of the implementation of the Golden Book of Civil Codes. Do you know if the translation of "National Court" is likely to mean both the Mixed Courts and the Indigenous Courts, or just one of those court systems?
    23. Below is an image of a Mixed Courts badge from a May 28, 2020 post on the Facebook page of Charmy Photography (https://www.facebook.com/H.Charmyphotography/photos/pb.100063747398706.-2207520000../1694086190745364/?type=3). This image is copyrighted by Hamdy Charmy. It is too bad that the maker's name on the inside of the case is not shown, this appears to represent a different and currently unidentified manufacturer of these badges. In addition to the 4 unknown makers evident from my examination of the calligraphy of the central tablet inscriptions and orientation of the tugra, there is a good probability the badge illustrated below represents the work of a 5th, as yet unidentified maker of these Mixed Courts badges. This is a high-resolution image of a Mixed Courts badge in a case with another "judicial medal" resting at the lower left edge of the case that I have never seen before. This image can be zoomed for additional details. There is no information accompanying this image. The medal has a motto above the scales of justice that is what is represented in the stylized calligraphy on the badge inscription tablet meaning "Justice is the Foundation of Kingship/Governance". The calligraphy on this medal is similar to the calligraphic form of this motto written within Egyptian courtrooms and on the front of the Courthouse in downtown Cairo: “العدل أساسالملك”; “aleadl 'asas almalk”. I am a bit uncertain about what what the dates to either side of the scales of justice indicate (am I reading them correctly as 1933 on the left and 1883 on the right?). The dates 1883-1933 are apparently the bracketing dates of the Golden Civil Code, a translation from French into Arabic that established the penal and civil codes used in the Mixed Courts. The 1883 date appears to identify the introduction of the initial translation and codification of the French legal codes for use by the Mixed Courts, but I do not know what the 1933 date refers to. The 2 volumes describing these codes (l-Kitab al-dhahabi lil-mahakim al-ahliyya, 1883-1933 [The Golden Book for the Native Courts, 1883-1933] were published in 1937. I am uncertain why this reference translates this title in relation to the Native Courts, while the article mostly discusses the use of these codes in the Mixed Courts (on page 31 and in note 43 of: Esmeir, Samera, 2015. On the coloniality of modern law, Critical Analysis of Law 2 (1):19-41). I also do not know what is written on either side of the Khedival coat of arms. The green and red ribbon reminds me of the ribbon on the Ottoman Medal of Imtiyaz Medal (Imtiyaz Madalyasi), in gold and silver (I illustrated a couple examples of this medal and portraits showing them worn by Khedive Abbas Hilmi II in my post of 14 November, 2021 on the thread "Egyptian Khedive commemorative medal question" that I stated on 11 November, 2016 here in the "Middle East & Arab States" section). This Mixed Court badge is either silver (used by the Parquet and worn by a number of court officials of the Mixed Courts who were not judges) or it may be a gold and silver badge of District Court judges. It is a bit unclear whether some discoloration is tarnish or gilt ornamentation. The tablet calligraphy does not match any of the examples I illustrated in my post of 6 September, 2021 looking at variation in the execution of this motto. Several of the diacritical marks are unique compared with all other examples as is the sweep of the lower calligraphic stroke on the lower left that is not seen on any other tablet I have found in online photos. The workmanship closely resembles that of Horowitz or Stobbe, but the calligraphy is distinctly different from the few examples I have been able to find of their badges. The tugra on the Order of Medjidie element at the inferior margin of the mantle is oriented upside-down, as noted in my post of 2 September, 2021 discussing the variable orientation of this design element across different makers. Low-resolution image of the cover of the 263 page 1st volume (there were 2 volumes) of what is usually called in English: Golden Book of Civil Codes 1883-1933, showing those same dates on the cover that are on the "judicial medal" in the case with the Mixed Courts badge. This comes from the noor-book.com website (https://www.noor-book.com/en/ebook-الكتاب-الذهبي-للمحاكم-الاهليه-1883-1933-م-المجلد-الاول-pdf#google_vignette). The book description on the website (in Arabic) reads: "The Golden Book of Civil Courts 1883-1933 AD. The first part - the Amiri Press in Bulaq -1937. A book that talks about the history of the judiciary in Egypt, which includes the names and pictures of all the chiefs of the courts and lawyers from the beginning of the court during the period 1883-1933 AD." Vol 2 is 356 pages.
    24. Owain recently alerted me to an auction sale of a “set” of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail. He also helped me with the high-resolution images from that offering. This example comes from a 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige (https://www.zeige.com/vorschau/41.pdf), archived as high-resolution images on the Saleroom.com website (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/auktionshaus-carsten-zeige/catalogue-id-srauktionsh10012/lot-5aa63c15-e9e3-4c06-a6f1-ae7c00e6d400). High-resolution image of this alleged 1st Class Grand Cordon "set" of the Order of Ismail from a May 2022 auction by Carsten Zeige in a case showing sash, sash badge, and breast star. All of the images from the archived Saleroom listing of the 21 May Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige auction can be zoomed for additional details. This auction lot is presented as though it represents a “set" of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail with the sash and case. The sash badge is identified as weighing 47.0 g, but the weight of the breast star is not given and no dimensions are given for either of the insignia. Photos clearly show the Lattes maker's marks on the reverse (also noted in the description) of each piece and the 3 Egyptian hallmarks for gold (on the sash badge) and silver of the breast star. However, the two pieces have different Egyptian date hallmarks (the sash badge has the “A”= 1925-1926 and the breast star is marked “Y” = 1923-1924.).The engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms on the breast star are completely unlike those on the sash badge. This form of more elaborate engraving can be seen in photos of two other breast stars and one sash badge that is associated with one of those breast stars. I posted images of those pieces and a discussion of the strikingly different engraving in my post of 31 January, 2020 that, at the time, appeared anomalous to me. However, with a 4th example surfacing (3 breast stars and one neck badge) it seems this may have been an elaboration, possibly available either for special customers or individuals willing to pay for the extra engraving. The photos in this post represent all of the examples that I have encountered from online auction listings that show this more elaborate engraving (and the three, other than the Carsten Zeige example, that I have previously illustrated on this thread). Another interesting anomaly of all of these pieces is that they have wreaths that are unlike the normal Lattes configuration. Three of these insignia, including the Carsten Zeige piece, have wreaths that are identical to those encountered on Tewfik Bichay-made examples of the Order of Ismail. The Fritz Rudolf Künker example has an unusual form of the wreath not seen on any other Order of Ismail I have encountered. The Carsten Zeige 1st Class breast star, the 2nd Class neck badge and breast star from the three 2013 La Galerie Numismatique auctions archived on the Liveauctioneers.com website, and the Fritz Rudolf Künker 30 January, 2020 auction (331, Lot 1074) (30 January, 2020), Lot 1074 breast star interestingly are marked “LATTES”, but exhibit forms of the wreath unlike the vast majority of Lattes-made insignia. As the chief craftsman for the Lattes workshop, perhaps Tewfik Bichay was tasked to do the specialized custom engraving seen on these 3 breast stars and one neck badge, assembling them with a form of the wreath that later featured on pieces under his own maker’s mark. No pieces marked with Tewfik Bichay’s mark exhibit this unusual engraving, they all exhibit the forms of engraving of the gold floral elements quite similar to that seen on almost all Lattes-made awards (except those shown here). A slightly closer view of the regalia in this Carsten Zeige recent auction offering displayed in the case. Above is a very high-resolution image of the sash badge of this alleged set from the recent Carsten Zeige auction. The configuration is the normal design for Lattes workmanship. The wreath has the correct number & distribution of laurel fruit dots in the wreath as seen on other Lattes sash badges, 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges. The wreath is the correct size for Lattes pieces. The form of the leaves and thickness of the green enamel also is consistent with the design and execution seen on almost all Lattes made Order of Ismail regalia. I have detailed in several entries on this thread a couple examples of either sash badges or neck badges marked “LATTES” that appear to have the Bichay form of the wreath. I do not know if this was a contemporary substitution for the usual, slightly smaller and differently constructed “Lattes-style” of the wreath if that was unavailable or a possible recent repair using the different “Bichay-made” wreaths. If the use of an alternative wreath was an occasional practice at Maison Lattes, such a use of a different wreath was extremely uncommon, although all of these unusually engraved examples have forms of wreaths that are principally found on Tewfik Bichay-made reaglia. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms of the Zeige sash badge is within the normal variation seen on most Lattes-made sash and neck badges. The engraving on this neck badge exhibits 3 lateral marks on the most distal flower of each arm with a single central engraving mark in the central petal. The 2 paired central flowers show 3 lateral marks and a single distal and a single distal mark generally oriented with longer medial petal of each flower. The engraving in the stems & leaves also is typical of all Lattes pieces. The Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold is visible on the attachment from the most superior arm to the crown suspension device. There is some loss or damage to at least 2 of the red enamel “jewel” ornaments on the crown’s headband. As noted, the lack of the same form of engraving as seen on the breast star offered with this sash and sash badge and the slightly later assay date for this piece suggests a high probability that they are not an associated set but a combined grouping. Reverse of the same sash badge showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark above the 3 Egyptian hallmarks (L-R: the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold; the ibis mark for Egyptian-made gold; and the “A” date hallmark for 1925-1926. The same 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks are visible on the reverse of the suspension loop that attaches to the sash. No hallmarks are present on the reverse of the crown as seen on some examples. Above is a very high-resolution image of the breast star offered with the sash, sash badge, and case in this Lot 241 listing from the recent 21 May, 2022 Carsten Zeige auction. This image is not oriented vertically because the image in the original Carsten Zeige catalog illustration and the Saleroom version is shown incorrectly with the inferior margin of the star pointing to the 11:00 o’clock position. It is unlikely that the central boss has been rotated. The images of the star in the medal bed of the case shows it in the correct orientation (and it would be fit into the cut outs for the tunic pin and other clips). Also the image of the reverse shows the Lattes mark in the correct position with the tunic pin oriented correctly. This piece exhibits much more elaborate engraving on the gold floral decorations on the gold and blue enamel star arms than most examples of the Order of Ismail. I have only seen this form of engraving on 2 other examples of Order of Ismail breast stars and one neck badge (all illustrated below). One of those examples is a 2nd Class Grand Officer neck badge with breast star that both exhibit the same more complex engraving (shown as the 4th photo below). I am assuming that those insignia probably represent a true associated set with the same form of unusual engraving on both elements of the insignia. I have discussed the unique components of the engraving of the two similar pieces in the first part of my post of 31 January, 2020 here on this thread. Given that the La Galerie Numismatique neck badge and breast star both have the same more detailed engraving, I suspect this Carsten Zeige offering combines a normally configured Lattes sash badge that could be from another set (or a neck badge from either a 2nd or 3rd Class award) with this specially ornamented breast star. I also infer that the differences in dates may also suggest that these 2 pieces are not an associated set. It is, of course, possible that hallmarking of a sash badge (“A”=1925-26) could have happened just after the beginning of 1925 while the hallmarking of the breast star (“Y”=1923-1924) could have been done at the end of 1924 and they might be contemporaneous. However, because there is an extant example of a breast star and neck badge that both share the same more elaborate engraving, and the slight dating difference in the Zeige insignia, I think there is a very strong probability that the Carsten Zeige offering is not an original set, but pieces combined for sale as a more valuable boxed 1st Class “set”. As noted on all the other examples with this more detailed engraving, the wreath on the above piece is not a Lattes configuration. It is identical to Tewfik Bichay-made wreaths for 1st Class breast stars, but not Lattes made 1st or even 2nd Class stars. The configuration of the laurel fruit dots is identical to that those shown on the breast star I illustrated as the 8th photo in my post of 31 January 2020 on this thread, that is a Tewfik Bichay-made 1st Class star from a fall 2014 auction by Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel (https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/58396). The gold and red enamel bands of this wreath also exhibit the thinner width, with a slightly irregular outline as seen on Bichay wreaths but not on unquestionable Lattes ones. The leaves of the wreath also exhibit the longer, thinner, configuration, showing less prominent veins, with thinner green enamel that contrasts with Lattes wreath elements. The set of 2nd Class neck badge and breast star with the similar more-detailed engraving from the 2013 La Galerie Numismatiqie auctions also appear to show Bichay-made wreaths on both regalia elements that also are marked “LATTES” on their reverse. High-resolution photo of the reverse of the same Zeige breast star showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark (although only “LA…S” is visible) and the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks in the usual location, the longest ray to the viewer’s right of the central long inferior ray (from top-bottom: the Cairo assay office mark for 900 silver, the cat hallmark for Egyptian-made silver before 1946; and the date hallmark “Y”=1923-1924). It is of course possible that some pieces coming out of the Lattes workshop had wreaths that resemble those on pieces made and marked with Tewfik Bichay’s name, perhaps Bichay was making some of those in the form that would eventually characterize his own later work when he took over the Lattes workshop. However, 1925 seems a bit early for the suspected changeover, that likely occurred sometime either in the late 1920s or in the early-mid 1930s (given that Lattes pieces with later data hallmarks than 1925 are common). The earliest Order of Ismail marked with Bichay's name that I have seen in 1929. Owain has suggested that comparing date hallmarks on other awards (where good photos or reliable descriptions can identify those date hallmarks) that shift from being made by Lattes to Bichay-made would be the most productive day to try and bracket this change. The Order of the Nile would likely be a good Order to sample as many more were distributed than other Orders and they are quite common in auction offerings. Image of the obverse of a 2nd Class Grand Officer set of the Order of Ismail with identical detailed anomalous engraving to the breast star in the Lot 241 offering by Carsten Zeige. More detailed images of the engraving on each of the neck badge and breast star are shown below. This comes from a flickr image on Hassan Kamal-Kelisi Morali’s flickr site (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelisli/8844318688/). He notes that the images and measurements come from an auction listing on La Galerie Numismatique, although the link provided is now a dead end. The Liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Order of Ismail&page=1&pageSize=24&sort=-relevance&status=archive) archives 3 past listings for this set from past La Galerie Numismatique auction listings (Lot 0185 of 3 March 2013; Lot 0442 of 23 June, 2013; & Lot 0300 of 20 September, 2013). The same 4 images presented here are part of each of the La Galerie Numimatique listings (archived on the Liveautioneers.com website). Those auction descriptions provide the measurement of the neck badge as 60 mm and its weight as 48.6 g. The breast star is 70 mm in diameter and weighs 81.25 g, and is identified (correctly with that dimension of the breast star) as a Grand Officer set. The description does not identify any maker’s marks. However, photos of the reverse are provided in each of these 2013 archived auction listings on the Liveauctioneers website that show the “LATTES” name on the reverse of both the neck badge and breasts star. In this case, the same unusual engraving on both the neck badge and breast star supports the likelihood that it is an associated set (unlike the recent Carsten Zeige "set" where the sash badge does not show any of the more elaborate engraving seen on the breast star). As noted previously on this thread, this image is one of the most commonly re-used photos used for illustrating the Order of Ismail. I did not notice for a significant period of time that this image shows a very anomalous engraving configuration on this award. Photo of the reverse of the same set of neck badge and breast star showing the “LATTES” makers marks. This image is not high-enough resolution to read either the gold date hallmarks on the neck badge or the silver hallmarks on the breast star. This and the following 2 images detailing the obverse of the neck badge and breast star also come from each of the 2013 La Galerie Numismatique auction offerings of this set that are archived on the Liveauctioneers website. Above is a high-resolution image of the same neck badge from the La Galerie Numismatique 2013 auctions showing well the engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel arms of the star. This photo can be zoomed for some additional details of the engraving and the wreath. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms is almost identical to the form of the engraving on the associated breast star. The only difference is that the neck badge does not have any engraving within the stems of the two paired central flowers on each arm that originate in a shared round point. The other parts of this engraving are nearly identical to that on the Carsten Zeige auction example. The wreath on this piece is not the typical work of Lattes workshop but is identical to those made by Tewfik Bichay. First, it is slightly larger than normal Lattes wreaths, covering some of the gold margin around the central medallion. The gold and red enamel bands appear thinner, more wavy (less regular) than those on Lattes pieces. The configuration of the laurel fruit dots also does not match their placement on Lattes pieces, but matches those on Tewfik Bichay-made insignia. Again, the form of the leaves and thinner green enamel is a characteristic of Bichay-made wreath elements, it is not at all the usual form of Lattes wreaths. I have seen a couple examples of sash or neck badges that appear to me to be Lattes medals (marked) apparently refit with Bichay-made wreaths that show this same covering of the gold margin around the central medallion, and this same very different pattern of laurel fruit dots, the red bands around the wreath, and the different forms of the leaves and the thinner green enamel. Given the predominance of the normal Lattes made wreaths, the use of the different configuration wreath (seen on all marked Bichay regalia) is infrequent enough that it does not appear to be part of the normal variation in the Lattes workshop manufacture of these pieces. Above is a high-resolution image of the breast star from this same 2nd Class set of insignia from the La Galerie Numismatique auctions with the comparable unique form of engraving. This can be enlarged for more details. This comes from a flickr image on Hassan Kamal-Kelisi Morali’s flickr site and is identified as measuring 70 mm in diameter, and weighing 81.25 g. The dimension identifies the size as that of a 2nd Class Grand Officer breast star. I previously illustrated and described the engraving on this breast star as the second photo in my post of 31 January, 2020 on this thread. The engraving of the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel arms is essentially identical to that on the recent Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige example detailed in the 5th photo above and to that seen on the Fritz Rudolf Künker Auction 331, Lot 1074 example shown below. The configuration of fruit dots on the wreath of the above star are consistent with Bichay-made 2nd Class pieces, not the vast majority of pieces marked “LATTES”. Very high-resolution image of the obverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker Auction 331 (30 January, 2020), Lot 1074 example (https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/251846). This is identified as a Grand Cordon breast star (the size, given as 82.0 X 80.5 cm, which is the dimension of the 1st Class breast star). This high resolution image first alerted me to the existence of a few examples of the Order of Ismail with distinctly more elaborate engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. The engraving pattern on the gold floral decorations of the 5 gold & enamel arms of the star is clearly quite different from most Lattes or Bichay examples. The date hallmark of “Y” is visible in the images provided on the Fritz Rudolf Künker description, indicating an assay date of 1923-1924. I illustrated this as the first photo in my post of 31 January, 2020 and discussed the unusual engraving and wreath configuration. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the star arms is almost identical to that on the Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige example and the 2nd Class neck badge and breast star from the 2013 La Galerie Numismatic auction piece. The wreath on this piece does not match either Lattes or Bichay forms seen on other 1st Class breast stars. The number and placement of the gold laurel fruit dots is distinctly different than any other Lattes or Bichay wreaths. The form of the leaves, the thinner and less even gold and red enamel bands around the wreath all looks more like Bichay's work, but the overall design and execution are unique to this piece. Reverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker 1st Class breast star showing the presence the "LATTES" maker's mark and the position of the 3 Egyptian hallmarks on the the longest ray to the viewer’s right of the central longest inferior ray (the same location as on Carsten Zeige piece, this is the most common position for these hallmarks on breast stars). Cropped images of the "LATTES" name on the central boss of the reverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker breast star. On the right are the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks (stamped in the same location as this on the Carsten Zeige star): L-R: Cairo assay office mark for 900 silver; the cat hallmark indicating Egyptian-made silver before 1946; and the date hallmark "Y"=1923-1924.
    25. As part of my documentation of the use of the original 1917 U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents' Division badges' design, here is another use of the iconography adapted by the current U.S. Dept. of State Diplomatic Security Service. Although not a badge (as there are still only 2 currently know original authentic examples of the 1917-design badge), this contributes to examples I have illustrated here of the continued importance of this original design to the modern DSS. This is an image of the 20 oz. tumbler available from the DSSAA online shop (https://dssaa.org/store-back-end/ols/products/new-stainless-steal-tumbler). This uses a very good adaptation of the original 1917 badge design for this Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent logo. The emblem is based on the form of the design used on the restrikes of the original badge (compare with the 1st photo in my post of 25 March, 2017 and the 1st image in my post of 10 May, 2022), modified for the DSS. Cheers!
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