Wild Card

Thank you Oleg, this piece, as I said, has a bit of a personal connection. Danny, I'm having a tough time doing this (reverse) with my scanner, I'm working on it... if this continues, I'll turn to the camera. Please bear with me. Wild Card

Hi Ralph, Who was that pair in post #68 awarded to?

Gentlemen, Not being very learned with regard to precedence of awards, I would like to ask for opinions of this group. It just strikes me that at least some of the awards present should be between the EK and the 25 yr. cross. Any opinions? Thank you. Wild Card

Heiko, Thank you very much for posts #130 and #132. They point up so well a situation that often arises - there is often more to the story than just what we see on the medal bar. Best wishes, Wild Card

Rick, thanks for your post (#127), it explains a lot. Best wishes, Wild Card

Gentlemen, Here is one that I don?t think we?ve seen yet - The 1870/71 Honor Cross for Volunteer Nurses.

Hi Dan, Ironic that you should ask. Eric Ludvigsen, who died a year ago this week, was working on such a table. Exactly what the status of this project was at the time of his death or it?s present location is, I can not say. I may, however, have a better answer on this matter sometime in the future. Best wishes, Wild Card

Another (left) with an example of the ?standard? ribbon.

An example, on the far right.

Gentlemen, Something in Dave Danner?s post (#43) caught my attention as it pertains to something that has puzzled me for years. Specifically, I am referring to the ribbon on the General Honor Decoration (medal, on the far left). Normally the ribbon on this medal has side stripes in a more orange shade of red, like those on Red Eagle decorations. This, for lack of a better term, ?brick red? stripe is so commonly seen on the Hannover Jubilee medals that I am convinced that it was the original issue; but I have never seen anything that would substantiate this. Any ideas out there? Thanks in advance, Wild Card

Heiko, "Here is a beautiful example of the 1895 jubilee clasp for the 25th aniversary of the 70/71 war - very rare!!!". You've certainly got that right, congratulations! Wild Card

Gentlemen, Having spent most of my life in bakeries, when this came along, I just had to... Regards, Wild Card

Hi Paul, You have a good eye. I?ve done some checking and here is what I?ve found. First, there was only one class/grade/type of this decoration, hence only one ribbon. Now, which is the right one? There is not an easy answer as both seem right and yet technically wrong. So, here is what we have. Post #39 seems to be the right composition but wrong color while #41 looks like the right color but wrong composition. On #39, you will see that the red/purple stripe between the yellow and white stripes appears to be a bit narrower than the yellow stripe, while on #41, they appear to be the same width. According to Hessenthal/Schreiber, these stripes should be 3.5 mm (yellow, 2.5 mm (red/purple) and 2.5 mm (white) making the narrower stripe correct. According to Nimmergut?s color chart, #41 would seem correct - the red matches; Hessenthal/Schreiber describes the proper color as zinnoberrot which, as I understand it loosely translates to vermillion. So there it is - I rather side with Hessenthal/Schreiber and #39. Any other opinions out there? Best wishes, Wild Card

David Gregory - Here is the reverse of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar group that you requested. Dave Danner- Be a nitpicker, we need 'em. In recording history, accuracy is paramount. In this cas, I must plead casual ignorance because in my collecting endeavors, I try to avoid "Saxony" (kingdom, duchies, et al.) as there is just too much to it. I wil be more precise in the future. Thanks. Wild Card

David Gregory, thank you very much for your question. Actually this is the W?rttemberg lifesaving ribbon, so the stripes are much yellower (is that a word?), a much brighter yellow, than shown in the picture. I have to check color accuracy much more carefully in the future. Thank you again for making me aware of this situation. Best wishes, Wild Card

Part 2...!!!!!

Now to add to the confusion...

My pleasure, any time.

Gentlemen, Jumping from campaign bars for a moment, I would like to present a group of the period showing a different form.

Glad to, from left to right. W?rttemberg, Order of the W?rttemberg Crown, gold merit medal, 1892. W?rttemberg, Friedrichs Order, merit medal, 1892. W?rttemberg, Silver civil merit medal, Wilhelm II, 1892. W?rttemberg, 1st cl. long service cross for 25 yrs., 1891. Prussia, War Help Cross. Prussia, Cross for General Honor, 1900.

Gentlemen, A Saxon example.

Gentlemen, I present some Wurttemberg medals, not yet shown, gathered together for a group photo.

Hi Chip, Essentially, as I read it, the Centenary medal is the lowest of the Prussian decorations. Hence, everything to the left of it is Prussian and to the right is other German States, then foreign. I hope that other members will feel free to correct or expand on this basic explanation. Thank you, Wild Card

Heiko, That bar (post #19) is truly unique. That double ribbon arrangement makes sense - I?ve got to wonder why it isn?t seen more often. Thanks for sharing. Wild Card

Gentlemen, I feel that I should elaborate on a point made here by Brian, specifically referring to ?...the value today, yesterday, tomorrow...? This can be a real minefield and I speak from some firsthand observations. Establishing present value on ?low end?, frequently sold, items is relatively easy and can be done with reasonable accuracy; but, it seems that as the rarity importance and perceived value increase, so does the ease with which the actual market value can be set. The auctioneer and cosignor are equally pleased when an item sells for three times estimate and no questions are asked. When, however, that rare piece for which everyone had expectations doesn?t sell the questions arise; and when the item finally sells for 50% of what the deceased said it was worth, everyone wonders what happened. Well, simply because the deceased absolutely had to have that piece, he just might have overpaid for it; and simply because he was willing to pay that much for it, there must be someone els out there... anywhere... somebody... please... maybe? I can only advise that both you, fellow collector, and whoever will handle the disposal of your collection have a realistic picture of it?s value and an understanding that anything is worth only what someone else is willing to pay for it. I wish that I could offer an absolute solution to this; but I have seen it happen on a couple of occasions and thought that I should mention it. Best wishes, Wild Card