922F

Cannot determine whether things between unknown neck cross arms are swords or the foliate device found between St. Anne cross arms. They seem to be the same size in all visible angles so I plunked for St. Anne [also because it is on the list!].

Congratulations on assembling this group of rare decorations! Thank you for posting these images and information. The McKay collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. U.S.A. contains a Grand Cross and a Grand Commander set of this Order. I saw them in the early 1970's; the Grand Cross star had an inscription on the reverse but I cannot recall whether it related to the maker or to an individual.

At neck may be: Kaiserlich Russischer St. Annenorden 2. Klasse [based on devices between cross arms] Last on bar: Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse des Königlich Schwedischen Schwertordens

Thanks to all for contributions and work on this thread!

Thank you! I like your https://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/mm03.htm work very much as you explain the 2003 changes! Antonio--Have you information about the Spanish corona virus cross decoration?

Thank you!

Like one of these?

Ervin, could you please describe the appearance of the medal? Did the example that you saw have a ribbon and, if so, what color?

Great work Emmanuel -- any idea of manufacturer?

Excellent post, Patout; thank you for exposing the history of this remarkable soldier!

J. Swire reports the decoration in his article on Albanian awards in the Near East Yearbook; probably the 1931-32 edition. Artan Lame's Albanian Medals, Volume 1 cites establishment via Law of 14/05/1930 & Regulation of 24/11/1930. Lame writes that this was a project and doubts whether any examples or trial pieces exist. Filip Rrumullku's Dekorimet provides more detailed information, including establishment document images. In search of an image [project design or actual medal itself] of this item since 1966, I asked Swire and messrs Bertrand & Gardino [makers of Albanian awards in the 1930s] as well as other students without results. Mario Battstella, an Italian journalist and Skenderbeg Yilli holder, and Edith Durham [British champion of Albania] are the only people I've ever heard about as being possible recipients but I've not be able to verify either. [Durham's biographies do not mention such an award.] Never able to discover much about Battstella at all. Might say the same for the elusive or ephemeral Medal for Meritorious Service for the Royal Gendarmerie--Law of January 14, 1936. In that case, not even a suggestion of potential awardees!

Sincere thanks! Do you know where the insignia are manufactured? The overall format seems to have some elements in common with the [royal] BESA Order.

Somehow just saw this post--Thank you Antonio. Any more information on this award?

WONDERFUL!!

Yes, 1812, we all hope that you will remain healthy and happy! And for those sincerely interested in discovering an absolutely phantasmagorial Austro-Liberian link I highly recommend John Biggens' study Tomorrow the World: In which Cadet Otto Prohaska Carries the Habsburg Empire's Civilizing Mission to the Entirely Unreceptive Peoples of Africa and Oceania