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Yes, there seems to be a 'blot' on the uppermost star ray in the image suggesting the Savoyard eagle on the Crown Order stars you kindly posted. Is this Italo Balbo? He looks familiar but cannot remember Balbo wearing his moustache in this style. I know that Balbo eventually held grand crosses of the Crown, Colonial Star and Maurice & Lazarus among his many decorations.

Looks like Crown of Italy sash under his officer's blue sash--thus, star could be Italian Crown. A 'blot' seems apparent on upper star ray which may be the eagle of Savoy as on Italian Crown GC star. Seems to be an Italian Colonial Order of the Star GC star beneath; cannot venture positive opinion on other star [maybe Sts. Maurice & Lazarus Grand Officer star?].

Heartily endorse/echo W McSwiggans' comment; would have posted same sentiment had I seen this earlier!! The individuals helping Mrs. L merit highest praise for their selfless efforts and dedication to preserving Rick's legacy plus enabling a wider spectrum of fellow enthusiasts to acquire pieces from his collection! I am very well aware of other collections 'sold locally' in which results beggared historical research/item availability aspects and financial benefit to survivors.

Saw a note on server change affecting posts during a specific period yesterday......

Hello Graf, Perhaps eBay 321659834982 is another 'upgrade'--note the peeling/damaged red enamel above St.... in central front motto. Another lst class on neck ribbon!! Gustav Tammann built an outstanding collection from the early 1970s until about 2007 sold by UBS in November 2008. The catalog is now used as reference work. He had two original first class St Alexander with swords sets awarded to German generals in 1916-7 sold in that auction but his first class swords on ring set presented to an Austrian general was sold or traded before that auction. Kassia was an eBay seller from Bulgaria no longer active....some say with bad high grade things for sale. Any chance to see an image of the grouping you saved? I am always interested in seeing such wonderful things.

Looks like the Air Crew Europe Star is a copy: Note difference in George VI monogram numeral [there should be no break at the top of "VI" -- compare with 39/45 Star]. See http://www.rogersstudy.co.uk/medals/ww2_stars/identifying_fakes/identifying_fakes.html for more details. Would expect that 39/45 Star, Defense & War medals, given relative availability/cost and their appearance, are genuine.

Are the Crosses silver? Some old copies were made in silver and so marked.

What a find! Looks like fakers took a rest before recommencing their efforts. Hope that you didn't get burned too badly and happy that you had the part to restore the badge. Looks like a snap connector for attaching badge to the sash?? About 3-4 years ago Kassia & friends had 3 or 4 lst class sets with swords on ring...at least one sold by a French dealer [name unknown to me] to a British dealer in the Midlands who passed it on to some 'lucky' person. The star of that set may have been good but badge looked bad + no sash or case. Some of these sets had infulae between the crown and cross and some did not-- ''rare variations'!! In my experience, before fakers started [maybe about 2009?] such sets appeared on the foreign [non-Bulgaria] market very infrequently, maybe one in 15 years, usually ex-Germany. Just remember 2 or 3 with swords on ring in Klenau lists in the 1970s-80s, later resold about 2007 -- one may have been in G. Tammann's collection but sold or traded off before UBS auction [2008]. Same for St Alexander lst class with swords in middle--Tammann had 2 bought via Klenau. These were sold via UBS. Kassia had several of them without sashes or cases 3-4 years ago.

Yes, if 3 pips on epaulette, he's a captain. Cannot read script on reverse. Also has what appear to be a Military Bravery Order 4th class 2nd division + a St. Alexander Order knight with swords without crown.

Peter, you're on right track, this is one of Nawab General Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi of Bahawalpur's ribbon groups. It lacks representation of his British Imperial Order ribbons as well as his other Indian Princely State, Iraqi, Lebanese, Egyptian, Italian, and additional foreign decoration ribbons. Just found http://www.militaria.co.uk/medal_ribbons.asp?CatName=INDIA&SubCatName=INDIAN%20STATE%20FORCES%20-%20BAHAWALPUR&parentid=1931&catid=2126 [ Jeremy Tenniswood 36 St Botolph's Street, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7EA, UK • Tel: +44 (0)1206 368787 Email: info@militaria.co.uk] offering BAHAWALPUR NORTH WEST FRONTIER MEDAL 1914-19 medal ribbon plus a couple of other Bahawalpur medal ribbons.

Hugh, Sequence of Bahawal Orders/medals [plus having ALL of them!], UK WW I and II medals and UK coronations yields a strong hint--I'd like to give our Pakistani colleague first crack as he probably will be shocked and delighted to see this.

Paul [email kap73p@aol.com] has some Bahawal ribbons for sale including the Bahawal-Pak alliance medal and WW II medal; do not believe he has Northwest Frontier but may be worth asking. Spink's denied having any Bahawal ribbon from 1979 on but it seems the North UK dealer got some from them. I have sought Imtiaz-i-Sutlej, Imtiaz-i-Haroonia and Imtiaz-i-Abasia ribbon for about 35 years with very little success; if anyone finds a source, please let me know. The Bahawalphur Museum had an excellent display of almost all State Decorations gifted by the Nawab in about 1960. In the mid 1980s, the Nawab gifted additional duplicates, ribbon and cases there. I understand the museum sold some of these when they had large quantities, mainly ribbons. Qureshi and Kasbati's Medals Catalog of Pakistan [Karachi, 2009] is another useful reference for Bahawalphur. Thread readers may enjoy this 'famous chest' -- needless to say that an equal or greater number of awards received by this person are NOT represented hereon!!!

I cannot make out the Bulgarian language before/following his name in Bulgarian script indicating his status/profession--might be Major..Stefan Mislory..Royal Hungarian Army?? Date 1935 -- Perhaps awarded as a protocol decoration during a conference. The St. Alexander badge without swords [combat or non-combat service] equals civil merit so most likely not war related.

Onufri of Tirana published Filip Rrumbullaku's Dekorimet in 2010, copies still may be available from publisher. Saw a copy for sale at an OMSA convention 2-3 years ago for about $75. Book contains much more documentation from original sources than any other readily available materials seen to date. Albanian language text makes it very difficult for those non conversant with the language. However, some portions are easily comprehensible no matter which languages you know. While graphics do not come near Lame in quality or sharpness, it depicts, among other illustrations, the only image of the Order of Bravery 3rd class neck badge [all other sources incorrectly show the Medal of Bravery as the Order's 3rd class] in the literature, 296 pages including lists of some persons decorated with various awards. It describes awards from 1914 through 1998. The emedals item displays the most usually encountered Medal of Bravery damage -- also seen on Scanderbeg officer badges --- bent flagstaff spear points. Looks like only one of you piece's is slightly bent. As to the post #37 star....these"variants" seem to first appear in the 1970s, often in Klenau auctions or Charles Lusted sale lists, and later offered by other dealers including Ernst Blass. Some say Blass 'commissioned' them. Most often of the 1940-43 pattern but sometimes Zogist pattern and usually with blue enamel medallion centers. Lame illustrates one of these 1940 pattern, vol I, pp. 162-3. They are usually silver plated or gilt thin metal with no maker or metal fineness marks and crude hinges/pins. Sometimes seen in 65 mm. or 74-76 mm. diameter [so-called Grand Officer] but more often in 85 mm. diameter. Badges of similar workmanship and material exist, probably from the same sources. Usually very poor and sometimes 'flaking' off gilding or silvering overall and enamels slightly off in color. Similar production quality BESA Order insignia appear on the market as well [Lame illustrates such a type BESA Grand Cross set]. Never saw any period photo image of these 'design variants' so suspect they are fakes made for the collector market. I would be happy to be corrected on this point.

Bob, Congratulations on your beautiful Medal for Bravery, 3rd class!!! A well designed and struck, very rare medal indeed!! Know of fewer than ten of these currently extant in collections. You are correct, P. Turin designed this [1928-29] while working at A. Bertrand, Paris, according to both Klietmann and Lame. Rrumbullaku does not identify the designer or maker. Lame appears confused over ribbons--yours has a correct ribbon according to most examples seen and Rrumbullaku. No idea of the number of these actually awarded, Statute limited eligibility to 1000 in total but seriously doubt whether more than 50-100 ever officially bestowed. Thies sold a second class Bravery Medal on wrong ribbon some years ago--think it went for about 800 euros? Again, congratulations!!

Bob--Have your winnings arrived? Always interested to see new beauties!

Idris I received a KBE in 1946 and a GCBE directly from Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 at which time he presented her with one of the few [likely less than 7 awarded] Grand Collars of the Order of Idris I. The 'republican' regime confiscated most of Idris' possessions including some decorations. The Libyan [Royal] Gazette published lists of subjects authorized to accept and wear foreign decorations; seem to recall a number of CBEs. The British Library has [had in 1979] most copies of that Gazette [published in English as well as Arabic!] so a search for Libyan subject Order of the British Empire recipients could be possible.

Looks like someone crudely removed the tips of major star rays....c.f. http://munzeo.com/coin/serbia-order-takovo-grand-cross-20218928 Will check on motto; believe a similar one is illustrated somewhere. Perhaps described as language error by die maker/worker unfamiliar with Serbian text.

Thank you for posting these wonderful images! Especially the veterans...

Very similar Military Merit Grand Cross and Grand Officer stars appeared 2-3 years ago, as Graf reports. Recent sales included one of these fake Grand Commander stars with a blundered/unreadable mark on the pin.

Image to small for my tired eyes to be sure of anything. Bulgarian St. Alex cmdr w/swords at neck.

Great Ensemble!! Thanks for sharing, Nick!

Quite interesting "chest", as Nick says. 2nd from right, judging by form & oval central medallion, likely either a Cambodian Royal Order or a Dragon of Annam--suspension too washed out for me to determine which. Wonder what's under the Dannebrog commander.

Blue ribbon w/crown follows war-time/military awards--thus, maybe Yugoslav Crown Order? Perhaps commander grade? Crown devices shown in several 'popular' reference works as distinguishing marks of grade within the Yugoslav Crown Order with same usage as Italian royal system. If so, a gilt crown indicates commander grade. March '39-April '41 time frame? But Sudatenland, Memel, Iron Crescent, Hungarian & Bulgarian WW I commems ribbon order suggests something else missing or perhaps this is a second part of a ribbon group?

Excellent overview! Thank you for your fine effort!