922F

The useful table posted by Japan X provides a nearly complete guide to manufacturers & portrait styles. A number of references describe portraits associated with individual manufacturers, besides the one illustrated. The Order of Saint Sava, a paperback pamphlet published in January, 1971 by Philip Meyn Weber, is another though without colored illustrations. Some centers are hand-painted, some are hand embellished transfers, and late ones may be transfers

You are most certainly welcome. Many have benefited from your posts so a pleasure to 'repay' somewhat.

Arms displayed on Papal award case lids usually indicate Pope reigning when award granted. Arms on this case lid belong to Benedict XV (Giacomo della Chiesa, 1914-1922). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_armorial seems useful in identify Papal arms. Tanfani and Bertarelli marked their products with letters that indicate metals used. Capital "A" means silver [as on your badge wreath] and capital "O" means gold. Sometimes crosses may be gold and suspensions silver and quite rarely vice versa. Sectional crosses, as your's seems to be, often are gold. Look closely at enamel damage on the reverse central medallion. Examination may reveal whether underlying metal is silver gilt or gold.

Bob, You struck it rich!! Congratulations

Beautiful groups!!

Most likely would be Russo-Japanese War Commemorative Medal - ribbon to indistinct to confirm. Japan awarded 'Honorary' campaign medals for that conflict to both Japanese subjects and foreigners as reported elsewhere in these pages.

Gentlemen, The 1946/7, 192 page, 500 copy, edition exists in French as well as Arabic. Implication appears that 500 copies printed in each language but not clear. It is titled simply Protocole, published under authority of the Grand Chamberlain, Abdel Latif Talaat, and printed at the National Printery in Cairo. Copies of 1946/7 French and Arabic versions at the Library of Congress in Washington [seen in 1973 and 1994], the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris [seen in 1977] and reported in French at the British Library, London. A French edition [formerly?] held by the French Foreign Ministry could not be located in 2004. Would suppose that other national libraries and possibly foreign ministries may have copies. I've seen only one Arabic [copy found by Rusty] and two French 1946/7 editions for sale since about 1980. 1946/7 contents include, in addition to those Owain reports, everything from seating arrangements at state dinners to flag specifications.

Totally agree!!!

Beautiful Telge piece; at least the corpus remains. Is star body white gold or platinum?

Numis, To read full JOMSA articles, you may go to the OMSA website and select the JOMSA issue containing the article you wish to read. Searching by title yields only the first pages relating to the article.

Thank you, CMBerry, for the sash info/pix! Looks like the DHM example above has a very badly faded sash...

Are sash yellow stripes of a somewhat metallic appearance?

Bulgarian WW I service commemorative medals could be awarded to Central Power countries' military & civil personnel [usually upon application & payment of a small fee] involved in the war effort regardless of war theatre [Denkov & Petrov]. Some Hungarian authorities [Konyvkiado] cite similar provisions. Perhaps Austria offered the same opportunity. Thus, these commemorative likely were available to any qualified veteran who asked & paid for them.

Tifes makes a very good case here!

Images of later [?] manufacture Order of Sobhuza II Grand Counselor set, possibly same Asian maker as Emmanuel's unidentified pinback, follow below. Not including the rings, the gold plated metal badge measures about 60 X 33 mm., gilt & silvered star about 60 mm. diameter, Sash 102 mm. wide about 160 cm. long in total. Badge & Star with blank flat reverse; star has pin to attach it to clothing. 'Soft' enamel. Miniature ribbon ties badge to sash. No obvious maker or other marks.

Thank you Nick for this valuable information

Some updates to this thread follow: TAMMARO of Montevideo, Uruguay [www.casatammaro.com] manufactures type 2 insignia for the Order. Uruguayan nationals may receive the Order for special services to the country and the world in general. Such recipients include people in the medical, sports, education, and scientific fields as well as....political figures! Images of an apparent commander insignia follow. A blue exterior case with white satin inner lid and blue plush interior base accompanies the award. Could not ascertain measurements.

Flags may represent shipping company house or, as Peter opines, yacht club flag. Elements of stars similar to 4 point compass rose & anchors suggest maritime connection with "R" indicating name of organization.

Excellent [judging by Gardino's plaque on the star reverse] post 1946 set. There may be a hallmark on the badge ribbon ring or on the edge of a badge arm. Replacement inner case pads may be available from Guccione, Roma. Contact them in Italian for best response. GMIC posts discuss Gardino-Cranvanzola manufacturing transition periods. J. Jacob's Court Jewelers Of The World reports useful information on the subject as well.

There are/were many lodges scattered around North Africa and the Middle East. Some Masonic pieces from Egypt & Lebanon were on French exay a few months ago. May also appear on UK and US elay too. Some lodges exist in other places like Micronesia, Japan, Liberia, and so on.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Agree with Sal & Graf, as usual! Grand Cross badge should measure in the 55-59 mm by 105-115 mm range. Workmanship/appearance of this example suggests Stange, St. Louis, Mo, U.S.A. origin [thick, non-tapered or striated 'loop' for ribbon [cravat] attachment, very thin connecting rings between cross and trophy of arms, plus trophy of arms rather 'flat' appearance]. Would guess 2000's manufacture. Similar neck badges offered at about US$200 sometimes including case & ribbon on e*ay.

Point of my post above being that persons associated with so-called 'self-styled' awards wore the type of cross pictured in post one above. Presumably, birds of a feather stick together. Or, if you prefer, this item may well be ‘awarded’ by a ‘self-styled’ knightly or chivalric organization. Eagle iconography not linked with ‘main stream’ St. Lazarus or San Luigi or Lippe insignia either.

Persons associated with the late Prince Ernst August of Lippe's Society of the Rose, the San Luigi Orders, the Order of St. Lazarus in the U.S.A., the Royal Yugoslav Order of St. John, and comparable organizations wore similar crosses in the 1970's-80's. I do not recall the exact format--the eagle may have had two heads then? Do not recall the name of the troupe that used this particular cross or post-2000 images of individuals wearing it. Photos appearing in publications issued by the above named entities and the Augustan Society [do not have at hand now] illustrate this item and an analogous neck cross as worn at comradely events. This perhaps suggests that the insignia represents membership in a 'private' society. Some such groups choose Insignia quite similar to state decorations...

The Belgian Foreign Ministry publishes annual [sometimes biannual or quarterly] lists of consuls and diplomats accredited to the Kingdom. I am not sure when this practice began but saw an 1835 or '36 copy at the Albertine/Albertina [National Library] in the early 1990's. The Foreign Ministry probably would be another likely research prospect. Good luck!