Carol I

Here are Dragomir's images (click on the thumbnails for the full-size images).

In principle they should be available at major libraries or regional offices of the National Archives, but unfortunately I do not know anyone who could go and check personally.

As far as I know, there was no Chancery of Orders during the communist years, but all decorations were awarded through decrees which had to be published in Buletinul Oficial, so in theory that could be a starting point for looking for names. You could also try to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see whether they kept records of awards to foreigners (but they are very slow to answer).

It's a 32-centimetre long ivory baton with gold, diamond and enamel ornaments. I'll look if I have some better photos. I could try to scale down the images. Contact me privately.

They are usually very slow in answering, but you could try to give them a call. On the page with the contact details there is a public relations department "pentru eliberarea de acte privind drepturi ale cetăţenilor rom?ni şi străini" (for releasing documents regarding the rights of Romanian and foreign citizens). Their phone numbers are: direct +40-21-313-92-95 or extensions 10379 and 10337 through the switchboard +40-21-303-70-80. Good luck!

Quite. :(

Unfortunately I cannot tell. I looked for it and I found one on eBay right now. Maybe you could ask the seller all these questions. This is stated in the book description and appears in the photos posted by the seller.

Could Todor Petrov's book "Bulgarian orders and medals" be the reference you are looking for? It appears quite often on eBay.

Another database identifies this marshal baton as being offered to King Carol II. Carol II made Alexander of Yugoslavia a marshal of the Romanian Army in 1933 so it is quite possible that he was made in turn marshal of the Yugoslav Army. Is there any confirmation of this promotion in the Yugoslav sources?

Brass pin? I guess it's olive oil.

That was the Normandie-Niemen squadron.

Prussia - Marshal - 1909 (King Carol I of Romania - MNIR exhibition)

Prussia - Marshal - 1909 (King Carol I of Romania - MNIR exhibition)

Romania - Marshal - 1930s (Marshal Alexandru Averescu - MNIR exhibition)

I do not think it would work on the water-based variety.

Take a look in the thread entitled Order of the Star of the Romania for a link to an article (in Romanian ) with a first attempt to categorise the types of this order.

See posting no. 14 for a link to an article (in Romanian ) with a first attempt to count the number of awards.

Here are some recent eBay auctions to give you an idea about the prices of the commander's cross. Intact badge with ribbon - 311 EUR http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=360140128227 Damaged badge with ribbon - 256 USD http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=330306773156

They appear now and then on the market, but quite common they are not.

You're welcome. The lion (or lynx) head is indeed an Austrian mark for 0.750 silver.

You're welcome, Igor.

"AF" is the mark of an unidentified Austrian maker. Take a look in the topic entitled Unknown (Austrian?) hallmarks.

It's the badge of the graduates of the National Defense University.

The inscription on the back says: Major P. Cristescu Deputy-chief of the general staff 8th Division 1936

"Number 12" might be a Romanian. The cap badge resembles the emblem of Frontul Renaşterii Naţionale (The National Renaissance Front) which would put the photo between February 1938 and September 1940. See below a badge of the National Renaissance Front.