Yankee

Who wore these please?

Hello Anybody know if there is a book that would give a list of recipients & their actions on winning the Al Valore. Thanks for any help in advance. Sincerely Yankee

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2008/post-2110-1226894051.jpgCentennial Long Service Decoration

Hi Alex Those are really great close ups. fascinating to see all those foreign markings on one order. Never knew the Romanian Crown order could be made in gold, suppose it was a private purchase. The Bulgarian Bravery order also of French make has a lozenge on obverse side of flame.

Hi Alex Thanks for posting the Romanian Crown's. Always interesting to see how the foreign made differs. I'll try to dig up a scan of a Bulgarian military order also made by a French firm and you can certainly see the change from the Bulgarian/Austrian design. Interesting to note that the French produced a lot of insignia for Eastern Europe. Sincerely Yankee

It would seem the Russian orders had never to be returned or if so the monarchy never enforced it, explains why so much floating around and never see modified/refurbished. Fascinating to learn how some countries eagerly chase down their recipients orders as soon as the holder dies. Thanks Sincerely Yankee

Hi Pavel Thanks for those neat far far away auction sites. Luckily able to get my wife to translate. The Best single collection to have gone on the block I feel was the Foerster, sold through Sothebys in 99. This guy had a really good eye.... Sincerely Yankee

Hi Veteran I certainly agree what a neat forum this is to be allowed to help one another gain knowledge, from all over the world. I have seen a few of the old sale catalogs from the 60's & early 70's and they were next to nothing & the orders were of extreme rarity. Sad to not have been born sooner but not too early. Have you noticed where Russian orders from the early-mid 19th century are turning up all over auctions. Where have all the early-mid 19th century Austrian orders gone? Is it just because the Austrian Monarchy was so stingy & cheap that they didn't bother to hand out so much awards to their citizens. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Pavel What is the web address of "K" auction house. As for the decline in buying due primarily from nose dive in oil which Russia's economy is based on. Perhaps things will return to normalllllllllll for us collectors price wise. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Veteran I suspected it was of Continental design being out of the ordinary or just simply a fake which are being flooded these days with the very high prices in the Russian market. I've seen more Russian orders in the last 3 years then I have in nearly two decades With proof of the Eagle head & catalog from 19th century certainly an old example. As for value hard to say since it is Continental manufacture probably a fraction of what a Russian made example would be, still plenty to buy a small car. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Veteran The St.Stanislas that you have pictured I'm not so sure that it is an orginal example. True where the tips of the wings touch one another that is the sure way of dating such pieces as being early. However your example shows the lower part of the Eagle not totally inserted into the center ( Talon very visible on red cross enamel ). Alex's has pictured an excellent old example. Also notice his raised wreath around the center is enamel compared to your flat painted version. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Josef Congratulations on such a neat decoration. First time to have ever seen one. It looks to be amber, I suppose the shell over a 150 years would get considerably darker. Always thought they'd be more of a green-yellow color. Thanks for posting that beautiful piece. Sincerely Brian

Hi Kjell I'm absolutely floored in what you have stated. To ever find a MP 44 is a real stroke of good luck & expect to pay 15,000 or better for one in fine condition. The MP 40's also extremely rare and bring 8000 & up. To have one in a collection would be the jewel in the crown to any collection. A decent conditioned luger with orginal finish & matching numbers would fetch over two thousand in your country only a fraction I suppose. As I understand after the demise of the DDR the German machine guns became abundant to the west. I would have thought the DDR military would have used Soviet made & destroyed all Nazi material. Shocking that so many were melted for nails I hope they stoped doing that, certainly they'd do better selling to collectors. One must live in Norway to ever build such a collection for in the States it is illegal unless you get special license from law enforcement. One can easily buy a fake but thats no fun... Sincerely Brian Sincerely Brian

Hi Kjell What a fantastic assault rifle you have shown . Only once I have seen a stutmgewehr at a local gun show and that was for display purposes only. IN the States they are extremely difficult to find as I believe you need to have special license to obtain such a weapon for they can be used as automatic. In Europe are these guns & MP 40's common to find? Are the shows in Norway filled with these weapons & not so costly? Enjoyed seeing your sturmgewehr, always nice to view an orginal... Thanks Sincerely Brian

Hi Charles Mostly private purchase given by their comrades. There might be examples of the owner placing the dedication himself but that can be difficult to tell. There are some known MVK's in precious stones given out by the Emperor himself.

Hi Steve Good point, back then it was a different mind set I suppose. I used a 10 X loop on the ring and feel fairly certain it is a "we". The W is very clear, letter "e" 95% certain unless it is a small number "8" Were there many makers for the cross? If you can post a scan of the letters we on the 1st class Iron Cross then I can compare the two to be 100% certain.

Hi Brian really greattttt foto Many kind thanks for your pictures and explaination. I was fascinated to see an inscription on the Iron Cross itself. Is this the recipient having done this or from his comrades as a remembrance of their esteem?

Glade to know there are others with the same mark. After reading some of the threads amazed that some have gone into the business of making copies of 1914 thought only that was reserved for the 1813 & 1870 issues. I'm not so sure if the case is for the cross. The inscription reads more or less " In remembrance of Germanys great time" which is a bit odd. I don't think war is a great time... Is this normal for cases to read or only with this maker. I do not collect the Iron Cross, received as an extra piece so whatever info is greatly appreciated. Thanks Yankee

An interesting example of one given in time of peace

Dear Gentlemen Can any member provide some info on the maker of this cross. There are two letters on the ring "we" or "WG" The interior of the case has a dedication of some sort but no maker and the outside is a small black printed crown on a gray background. Thanks for any help Sincerely Yankee