Wild Card

...not to mention the several Imperial Russian decorations that can sometimes creep into German groups.

Hi Doug, Unfortunately, the scans show the picture (and reverse) as complete as it is. It would appear that for whatever reason, the picture has been cropped and when this was done, material/information on the reverse was chopped. Thinking that, when compared to most HSU?s, this fellow has a rather different appearance and air about him, I hoped that someone might just recognize him. Whenever I thumb through the Great Encyclopedias, I try to keep him in mind and maybe someday... Thank you for your time and effort Doug. I promise that if the mystery is ever solved, I will certainly let you know. Best wishes, Wild Card

Back.

Front.

Hi Doug, Is there any chance that you might be able to identify the fellow pictured below? I do not think that the writing on the back of the picture holds the answer; but maybe the face is familiar? Thank you in advance, Wild Card

Gentlemen, Let me make sure that I am understanding this situation correctly. It appears, or is possible, that this Lenin Order and some other pieces listed on Igor?s website were, in fact, on consignment. As such the prices set on these pieces were set by the consignor (plus, no doubt, a commission) and not by Igor. Second is just a comment. If Dave?s observation ?That's the problem with dropping lots of money on rare awards... the market to resell them becomes very, very thin...? - holds, then I say good! Hopefully this will deter speculators and ?investors? to the benefit of the collecting community. Best wishes, Wild Card

Nice going Chuck! I saw a couple of PPSh?s over there. Had a Tokarev - gave it to one of my men. Had a beautiful Russian RPD - gave it to a Captain to throw a court marshal case against one of my men (the military judicial system prevailed, he walked, he was a great man, best in my platoon - worth the price); but that?s a long story. All I kept was a Chinese AK. Anyway, nice going on the quiz, it?s your turn now. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Dave, I really never gave it much thought, but you?re right. Now you?ve got me wondering. Do you know what the rgulations were with regard to wearing the Bavarian MVM if one had both the gold and silver? I?m not sure. Also we have seen examples of multiple Bavaria MVK?s on bars - I never could figure that one out either. And then, there?s the Red Eagle. At least, I hope, that this group answers the W?rttemberg question correctly. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Stogie, A good point - I have an example of that type of situation at the extreme which I will post sometime in the future. Regarding this case though, there are two things which come into play: 1. There is a foreign order (the name escapes me at the moment) that does use the proper cornflower blue ribbon. A ?top end? supplier, such as Godet, would have it. 2. The dark blue Prussian long service ribbon, while not exactly correct but readily available, would have been an excellent substitute. Oh, well... we?ll never know. Best wishes, Wild Card

A little different.

Hi Ralph, That is really a nice little medal. I have never seen one with this kind of ?se. It has long struck me as odd that considering the number of these medals issued, the miniatures of them seem relatively rare. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Dolf, Why not? If they can buy one of our largest oil companies (Getty)... It is unfortunate for collectors and historians of modest financial means that this has happened in our area of collecting interest. In the past stamp, coin and art collecting worlds were similarly corrupted when corporations started ?investing? in their areas of interest. Having been to a few auctions where ?New Russians? were bidding, I can tell you that the only limit is ego. I suspect that they have raised even more havoc in the Imperial Russian area (any opinions out there?); and I know that they are a factor with regard to the very high end Third Reich price inflation. I wish that I could close on an optimistic note; but I really don?t see any change; at least not in the near future. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Ed, The dealer's web page is spelled out in post #1 and his first name is in poast #6 all of which I think leaves little doubt... Best wishes, Wild Card

Gentlemen, we have a winner! All the good stuff is going homex

Gentlemen, A question more appropriate here than in the ?Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz? thread. What city in the world has the most billionaires? Wild Card

Gentlemen, The post which started this thread shows a Bavarian MVO officer?s cross. That example is of the second type (with flames between the arms). For comparison, I would like to show an example of the first type - compliments of Admiral Reinhard Scheer. Best wishes, Wild Card

Ribbon examole.

Hi Dave, Really incredible material, and family history, that your friend has there. While I am in awe of it all, I must disagree with a minor point raised here. Your friend is correct in that for some inexplicable reason the ribbon on the W?rttemberg MMO badges went from the familiar yellow with black stripes to blue at some point (I am not sure exactly when) in the 1800?s to 1914, and then back to the yellow and black; but the blue was not that of the Friedrich Order; but rather a dark or cornflower blue. An example is shown below As I said, incredible - thanks for sharing. Best wishes, Wild Card

I agree. Wild Card

Daniel Krause, I am astounded I do not know how you managed to make this identification. This bar was previously owned by a collector, now deceased, who was very talented in researching and identifying groups and bars; but he had given up on this one. I simply thought that it could not be done; and for that reason, when I presented it, I did not even ask if it could be identified. You went beyond the call and I thank you very much. Best wishes, Wild Card

Reverse detail.

Gentlemen, Thank you all for your comments and questions. Stogieman, your analysis of ribbons #?s 4, 5 and 6 certainly puts a different spin on it. Christophe, as I said before, bars and groups are not my strength; but my guess is that the crown device is there to differentiate between the Prussian Crown Order and the W?rttemberg Friedrich Order. This is, of course, an unofficial ?add on?; but I think that we would agree that since this bar does not conform to regulations, so why not? Bob Hunter, yes, these square nuts are fastening the swords on the Philip and Ernestine ribbons. Because it is covered by the ribbon,I can not tell how the crown device is fastened; but the Lippe swords are secured by a wooden peg through the eyelet - I will post a picture of it which also shows the nut on the Ernestine swords, below. Rick Research, as always, your input is invaluable. The first thing that appeals to me is the possibility of #4 being a St. Vladimir. While we encounter St. Annas. Stanislaus? and even George's (on older groups, I do not think that I have ever seen a St. Vladimir on an Imperial German group. I agree with your date/period of 1880 -95 (no oakleaves on the EK or Centenary medal); and the seemingly haphazard sequence is really frustrating. Again, thank you for your interest and input. If I should find out who this belongs to, the answer will be posted. Best wishes, Wild Card

If he is who I think he is, he was born in 1904, died in 1964 and ultimately received three Hero of Socialist Labor stars; but since I can not accurately say what he did, I will not give it away. Have fun gentlemen - Wild Card

Reverse.

Obverse.