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Although image quite blurred, agree with Eddie & Paul. Not at all likely the few other awards having a similar shape/color like Bulgar Civil Merit or Manchukuo Auspicious Clouds. Are the other two gents Italians?

Paul's droll comments always welcome and usually on TARGET!! Laurentius, In my experience, the Rothe firm exclusively made and sold copies that bear their stamps and/or characteristic details themselves. "Job-lotters" could & did buy 10 to 25 exemplars of the same insignia at a discount and then trickle those onto the collector market. These might be somewhat altered by having a different producer’s name or marks [definitely including V. Mayer’s Söhne and Rozet & Fischmeister] engraved or stamped into them, notably Iron Crown and Maria Theresa badges. I do not know whether Ernst secured 'loans' of Rothe dies but would tend to doubt it. Some items credited to him appear to be mules, meaning assembled from either spare parts [of Godet & a few believed Hemmerle and Souval origin, at least] or spare parts married with newly made elements sometimes created from original dies. Outright completely new fabrications attributed to Ernst include Saxon Sidonia, Bavarian Saint Hubert & Maximilian [solid, not hollow, 14k gold] and other insignia supposedly made in Spain, Thailand or elsewhere in Southeast Asia. At one time specialists claimed that he provided the glut of high Thai Orders [Nine Gems, Chula Chom Klao] on the market & indistinguishable from awarded sets in the late 1970’s-early’80’s plus fake first type Thai Orders.

Thank you Komtur for this wonderful information, image and documentation! The Major's bar further confirms that swords affixed to suspension ribbons indicate military division Black Eagle Order awards. A question--the Black Eagle badge seems to be silver so would be an officer's....or 4th class. Maybe the apparent number 4 written in by hand indicates these men received the 4th or officer's class. Or perhaps he got promoted within the Order? May I ask where you found this Inhaber list and whether similar lists for other grades may be found and consulted or copied ? I understood that Dr, Klietmann had compiled a list of persons decorated with the Black Eagle Order which was deposited in a Berlin genealogical society archive after his death. A bar attributed to Lt. Czivisch appeared in an Orderns-Sammlung sale catalog in the early 1950s, maybe 1954. Unfortunately, I do not have that catalog or recall exactly what awards the bar displayed other than a 1914 Iron Cross and maybe an Albert Order. In any case, those catalogs contained no images. J Jacob's book Court Jewelers of the World contains an image of the award bar of Lt. Ryssell. [He is #1 on the list.]

Indeed, my friend!! Ernst could be very pleasant, urbane, and a good host or he could present as a cold b*stard. Most confidence men have Machiavellian ways! He involved himself in other phaleristic concerns [including non-Germanic research] too. Ernst never admitted it but likely got connected to his Thai ‘producers’ when in Bangkok compiling his Thai opus.

Yes, along with access to 'spare' parts from Hemmerle & Rothe [at least] plus excellent Spanish and later Thai, craftsmen in addition to original ribbon stocksi

Really difficult to determine; device appears generic for all grades

Suspension crown off -- note round 'drill holes' in arches, Belgian or Hessian type crown format, Crown distance from cross, & poor detail overall. Where was this piece discovered?

An exceptional bar by any standard! First time I've ever seen the Norwegian medal on a bar. Yes, Denmark-Norway-Sweden existed as a personal union [in brief, states united under a single monarch but with nominal individual national institutions and characteristics] from about the 1390's until about 1523 when Sweden became independent. Denmark 'ceded' Norway to Sweden by terms of the 1814 Treaty of Kiel with Norway then entering into a personal union relationship with Sweden [in spite of serious Norwegian resistance]. Norway gained full independence in 1905 when the Norwegian Parliament dissolved that personal union with Sweden. Great Dane and Christiana most likely describe why the recipient received non-Finnish awards. Besides work during an official visit by police and such, railroad and ship personnel sometimes got this type award in recognition of excellent service or in lieu of a tip.

Thanks for posting these documents!

Paul, Peter II awarded Royal Yugoslav Orders in exile up to October, 1970, the month before his death. Often he used third class St. Savas but granted Orders of the Crown, White Eagle and Star of Karageorge up to Grand Cross grade as well. Reportedly Peter II awarded the Order of Saint Prince Lazar to his son Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia, in 1963. Peter created several distinctions in exile including the well-known Royal War Cross 1941-45 and a Knight Bachelor honor. Possibly he instituted other awards. Crown Prince Alexander may have bestowed the Order of Saint Prince Lazar upon his son Peter, Hereditary Prince of Yugoslavia in 1997/8. Alexander currently awards the Orders of St. Sava, White Eagle and Star of Karageorge. Press releases announce and a ‘Royal Gazette’ publishes such accolades. I have no information on Alexander’s use of the Order of the Crown, the Knight Bachelor title & insignia or the Royal War Cross 1941-45.

Andreas is much more expert and is very willing to help -- www.medalnet.net -- ask him. The English name for this award is the Order of the Zähringer Lion (ZLO). Older ZLOs may have punch marks on the extruded ring or loop at the top of the cross, which is broader than yours. Some of that type may have marks on the ribbon suspension loop/ring [a split jump ring like yours] above the cross ring. Most later pieces have a narrow top of cross ring [like yours] without any space for marks although some are reported with a mark on the lower cross arm edge. Some badges have closed ribbon rings rather that split jump rings.

Looks like badge is gold or silver gilt so knight first class with swords.

Bulgarian MMO = Bulgarian Military Merit Order [correctly by statute, National Order of Merit, Military Division but generally known in Bulgaria as Орден за Военна Заслуга or Order of Military Merit]. Bulgarian MBO = Bulgarian Military Bravery Order [correctly by statute, Order of Bravery-Орден за Храброст].

Certainly a curious item!

Price depends on what you are willing to pay and/or how long you are willing to wait for it. Anywhere from 275 euros --with damage, no case--to 450 euros with case. Look on French eBay [https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Ordre du Mérite combattant&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684] and French dealers' sites. One with enamel damage to motto ring & one star point sold several years ago at a U.S. auction for about $200 including commission but not delivery.

Ed Haynes wrote a comprehensive study of Afghani awards in 2016. Perhaps you could contact him for further details. Another place to start -- auction catalog of G. Tammann's collection [UBS 2008]. Tammann also wrote an exhaustive study of the entire range of Afghan awards but I do not know where one can find copies. Tammann himself seems not to be involved with Orders study since 2006 or 7. A 1998 Russian language monograph briefly mentions the Order but is largely worthless in terms of information or illustrations. General sources like Werlich or Stair Sainty & Heydel-Mankoo offer few images or information.

After 1936, the Bulgarian MMO comprised 6 enameled classes + 2 unenameled crosses. Grand Cross, First Class, [both with sash, badge & 8 point star but differing details like star body format & sash width and color dimensions to distinguish grade difference], Grand Officer [neck badge, cravat & 4 point star], Commander, Officer & Knight + 2 unenameled crosses. All could be awarded after 1916 with KD [an enameled laurel/oak wreath applied around the obverse center]. This KD appurtenance appeared only for the Order grades NOT the unenameled crosses. Officer, Knight, & unenameled crosses used the Military Bravery ribbon rather than the MMO ribbon to demonstrate KD entitlement. One 'grade' of the unenameled crosses had a suspension crown & the other did not. As sometimes typical, wiki's entry is faulty--the actual grade illustrated as Grand Cross on the site you linked [2nd image below] is a First Class with KD insignia set. Images of a GC with KD insignia set follow Silver cross without crown but with MBO ribbon signifying KD award

Generally, a bow at the Bulgarian sash juncture would suggest a Grand Cross, lack of a bow = 1st class--I cannot distinguish what's there. If the painter accurately portrayed the sash, dimensions & stripe widths = lst class. A-H awards on bar = Iron Crown, Merit Cross/Verdienstkreuz with and another without KD, & rest too much for my eyes.

#2 Bulgarian Military Merit First Class or GC star [lack of painting detail makes determination difficult - looks to be first class based on sash appearance], without war decoration #3 A-H Franz Josef Order officer #4 Looks like Croat shield surrounded by "U" [Ustasha symbol] surmounted by an eagle? Some sort of air force or staff badge? Must check a reference book. Except for "U" somewhat similar to A-H Devil's Division badge. At 2nd button hole, maybe a so-called Croatian Commemorative Badge, 1942-3, signifying service in the Croatian Army for over 1 year including six months or more at the front.

Bob, Intriguing box--is the motto ring hard or soft enamel?

Agree with your IDs, IDs follow, those without ? relatively positive IDs others, best guess: #5 Austro-Hungarian [A-H] Leopold Order apparently with war decoration of lower class #7 A-H Merit Cross Verdienstkreuz? #8 A-H Signum Laudis [Military Medal of Merit--class?]? #9 The (General) War Service Medal 1873 #10 A-H Balkan Mobilisation Cross 1912-1913 #13 4 point star Bulgarian Natioinal Order Military Division Grand Officer w/o war decoration aka Military Merit Order post 1936 3rd class

Rusty, Responding to your comments---Around 1925 the Pahlavi Dynasty restructured the Qajar Dynasty's Order of the Sun & Lion [1808] and renamed it the Order of Homayoun [Humayun]. Iran used this version until the Shah’s overthrow in 1979. Officer and knight badges usually look like the image you posted with officers’ badges having a ribbon rosette. Belgian Order of Leopold II insignia indicates military division for officers and knights by crossed swords attached to the ribbon not between the suspension crown & top of cross. Leopold II officer & knight badges with the crossed swords between the cross and suspension crown [as well as commander badges with swords fastened to the cravat suspension loop] do exist but they are NOT statutory--either fantasy collector pieces or one off individual confections. So yes, this one represents the civil division. The piece worn in the image is most likely a so-called 2nd type with lion in center & motto inscription in French only. Belgium authorized conferment of Leopold II 3rd type insignia, with motto in both French and Flemish, by 1951 statute change. Besides VE III's 1933 visit, Egyptians had many opportunities to receive Italian honors. Occasions like diplomatic or administrative exchanges, naval & commercial ship visits, international fairs, and similar instances afforded possibilities for prospective awards. I suppose an argument could be made that 5th class Homayoun, 4th or 5th class Leopold II, and 5th class Italian Crown awards would be appropriate for junior level officers up to army captain or vice consul and similar ranks. On closer inspection, I agree that it looks like a photographic ‘speck’ between the Homayoun and Leopold II badges.

Great images, Rusty. Officer appears to wear Ismail, Nile, either Egyptian Medal for Meritorious Actions or Medal of Devotion, Khedive's Sudan Medal, Iranian Order of Homayoun [Humayun], Belgian Order of Leopold II, and Italian Crown. Maybe something in between Khedive's Sudan Medal & Humayun---or just a hint of a button? Unknown whether VE III awarded Italian Crown in exile, but most likely not according to his biographers... Many Egyptians received Italian Crown Orders in the 1930's-40's. The Egyptian [Royal] Gazette listed national and foreign decorations approved for wear by individuals but I do not know where copies are located. Formerly Georgetown & American Universities in D.C. had microfilm copies but I have not reviewed those since the 1970's. The Library of Congress had both hard copies and microfiche copies I saw in the 1980's.

Suspect, given other Order grades, that St. Joseph type ribbon intended to represent Sovereign Order of Malta – Ordine pro Merito Melitensi, Commander Cross with Swords . See Orders of Knighthood, Awards and the Holy See, by H.E. Cardinale and Peter Bander-van Duren, 3rd ed. 1985.

Thank you for finding and posting this highly useful information!!! Do you know whether Royal Insignia [Singapore] manufactures the items? Interesting language bifurcation displayed on this Commonwealth member's awards.