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Thanks for discovering and sharing this historical information.

Thank you for this complete study! Especially impressive the President's sash set!

Pin & finish, especially reverse, indicate Coro or similar manufacturer costume jewelry or theatrical piece as most likely identification.

Thank you for this effort!!

Thank you--quite impressive!

Thank you for posting these images!!

Rudolf Souval and/or post-Souval Kai Meyer shops may have manufactued these swords on ring and swords thru center plus extra white stripe ribbon variations, likely post-WW II. Meyer certainly sold them in the 1960's. Carol I's analysis appears to be on point. Other GMIC threads discuss non-statutory Bulgarian St. Alexander swords on ring and swords thru center pieces. Thoughts on these St. Alexanders range from complete fantasies designed for 'advanced collectors [read suckers]' to 'special models' made at request of foreign officers unfamiliar with Bulgarian regulations to unrealized makers' projects to baubbles used for self-promotion via obscure foreign bling. Seem to recall that someone, maybe Charles Pankey, described these Romanian oddities in an OMSA or similar organization article with illustrations from Meyer. I am travelling but will look thru Meyer material late next week with hopes of finding more info.

Schießplatzmeister, I envisioned my comment concerning this Tamara star as more of a satiric remark concerning Frankenstein creations designed to excite and entice the unwary, a topic of this thread. This piece combines a Bulgarian Order of National Merit style grand cross star body with a copy Tamara center [of the same size as recent 75 and 85 mm wide Tamara examples]. It seems of a piece with these recent tinnie or headgear ‘star’ Tamaras that appeared on the market via eb#ay within the past several years. Neither Klietmann nor any other published source nor Rick Research’s work describes any of these ‘varieties’. It has no similarities with H.R.H. Davit Bagrationi's Tamara award insignia. I made the Ferdinand comment as his overweening interest in awards is well documented and this star’s body appears to utilize a Bulgarian format. I doubt that he would have accepted or commissioned such an unprepossessing item! Further, I’m almost positive that neither Georgian Legion ‘authorities’ nor the ‘1922 Paris-based Georgian exile government’ awarded Ferdinand this ‘honor’. Bryansk1959 & VtwinVince correctly attribute this thing as a modern [2018?] fantasy, in my opinion. Again, I intended my remarks to be taken sardonically.

My late dear friend Rick's obsession with the HOLY LADY encourages me to share the attached image in tribute. A ‘recent discovery’ yields even more spectacular deviant insignia ramifications for this unique honor. No, not Georgien Orden der Heiligen Tamara, Bruststern 1.Klasse in übergroßer Ausführung für Generäle!! Certainly much more likely, Czar Ferdinand himself commissioned this example!! The star body design itself tells the story.

Sorry, a bit off topic but related to machinations of old stock parts. ,While on German ebxay, look at the rare Bulgarian star body version of the St Tamara Order, Georgien Orden der Heiligen Tamara, Bruststern 1.Klasse in übergroßer Ausführung für Generäle, 132559811653!! Alle von uns angebotenen Artikel sind zeitgenössische Originale, 100% Garantie!! Surely one of the most rare types!!!

Supporting Graf's insights, I discussed liquidation of Rothe assets on this Forum several years ago. Remember that Rothe made and sold imperial Austrian and imperial Mexican, Italian and German State, Turkish and fantasy Order insignia using original matrixs through the early 1970's. For an additional fee, one could get items made in silver or silver gilt, sometimes even with pre-WW I stamps! Besides order, medal and insignia matrixs sold off, remaining ribbon stock [including to my personal knowledge silk Military Bravery, St. Alexander, Civil Merit, Military Merit, Long Service Cross, WW I Commerative Medal, Arts and Sciences Medal, and Clementine black/blue Bulgarian material] went on the block. Not hard to imagine that other things including any in stock, spare or unfinished items got sold too.

Last ribbon also possibly Romanian Crown knight, type 1932-47. Seems that this ribbon appears on both Orders.

Next to last may be Montenegrian St. Peter of Cetinje....?

Excellent series!

Thank you, Emmanuel, for locating this elusive item. As usual, you graciously share your valuable, esoteric & hard-won information and imagery! Royal Insignia manufactured these decorations, designed by Philip Eagleton, in the early 2000’s. Sharif Ali bin Hussein perused the Order of the Hashemite Crown concept while envisaging restoration of a post-2003 Iraqi kingdom with himself as king. He continues to lead the Iraqi Constitutional Monarchy Movement. An Iraqi Hashemite who survived the 1958 revolution as a two year old, he was King Faisal II‘s first cousin; his maternal grandfather was the last king of Hejaz. However, the ephemeral monarchial restoration campaign evaporated so the Hashemite Crown project dissolved. To date, I cannot confirm that Sharif Ali ever actually used or awarded this Order or that these pieces represent more than just exploratory samples. Yes, Peter, both the star and badge exhibit damage. Several of the star point extremities are bent and the badge lacks several pearls in addition to the bent suspension [note enamel loss to arm under the crown].

Yes, an interesting non-combatant group! Most likely someone active in the German medical profession originally earned these awards. Both the Hungarian [swordless design planchet & different ribbon for non-combat recipients] & the Bulgarian WW I [same design planchet for combatant, non-combat and next-of-kin but different ribbons for each variety] Commemoratives sport non-combatant ribbons and the Hindy lacks swords. Hungarian & Bulgarian value 4-6 times that of a combatant’s as singles. A DRK (German Red Cross) Service Medal recently auctioned for about $350. DRK medal bar position differs from ribbon bar position.

Thank you for sharing this remarkable officer's history and awards!!

Thank you for these additional precious images! The buildings appear to be in near original condition!!

Thank you for sharing this fascinating information!

Very unusual case title variant! Typeface somewhat resembles that of much later Huguenin marked cases.

Last item, a Queen Marie Cross [aka Order of Queen Marie] 2nd class, recognized civil and war time medical work merits and service. The award, established in 1917 in 3 classes, was revised in 1938 with minor cross design changes and addition of gold thread edge stripes to the original solid yellow ribbon. Source: Dr. Klietmann PHALERISTIK RUMANIEN, 1975. Your example appears to be a 2nd class awarded between 1917 and 1938. Of course, prices depend greatly on any number of factors. These may sell in the £75-£100 price range as a single. Miniatures might go for as much as £25-50. You probably have a fair idea of the value of the rest of the group.

Your image depicts French General Denis Mistral who will be appointed general commanding the Foreign Legion in August 2018. His last row of awards includes [left to right] the National Order of Mali, the National Order of Merit of Chad, the National Order [of Merit] of the Ivory Coast, and an award I disremember. All appear to be knight grade honors. He probably will receive a Senegal Order of the Lion commander grade when he leaves his present assignmant as head of French advisory forces in West Africa.

Graf--astounding mini, thank you for posting it! It is only the 4th that I have seen in over 40 years! And a better example than the others too. Seem to be at least one mark on the ring, have you identified it? Somewhere I have an image of an Honorary distinction "For Incentive of Philanthropy" first class set in a case--case lid has only Ferdinand monogram on lid. Maybe for foreign recipient?

Thank you jovenmara for sharing this very important group with us! And, of course, thanks to Nick for his present and earlier work on this award. For reference ease, this thread should note the Turkish Nurse Safiye Hüseyin Elbi with TWM thread also discussing a FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MEDAL recipient in addition to the threads Nick lists earlier.

Several GMIC posts detail various manufacturers and their hallmarks. Not to forget that nowadays Cejalvo of Madrid manufactures Danilo insignia for Nikola II Petrović-Njegoš, Crown Prince of Montenegro. An image of a Cejalvo made star follows below.