922F

BE Crown mounted on an ex-Tony Colson group????

The Manchoukuo Yearbook provided general statistics and described various governmental institutions in Manchukuo. English language editions date from the mid-1930s to 1942--do not recall if it was published regularly. Some editions includes a general description of Manchukuo honors. Seem to remember that they include the number of awards of each Order by grade and nationality of recipient. Obviously, has been years since I examined a copy.

Does anyone know whether the Yearbook also lists of names foreign recipients or whether such lists exist elsewhere?

You might try Paul at KAP73p@aol.com He has a varied stock of ribbons from many countries on offer. He may be away for a few days.

Are the mystery location ribbon 'wings' both silver? Green with red side stripes could be several awards from French Agricultural Merit Order to a possible Italian Republic Merit Order [though for that, red side stripe normally would be narrower]. Botton row with rosettes appears to be French Legion of Honor Grand Croix, light blue w/gold side stripe? Grand Croix [Latvian 3 Stars?], Czechoslovak White Lion Grand Croix. Bottom is probably a Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-45.

You might try Paul at KAP73p@aol.com He has a varied stock of ribbons from many countries on offer.

From Bulgaria: St. Alexander Order Grand Cross [with diamonds?] and swords thru centre and Military Bravery Order 2nd class [neck badge] --- possibly Military Bravery Order lst class [neck & pin back badge] Military Merit Order [grand cross with war decoration] as well.

Cheap at that price....any idea of recipient's name or service?

off topic but too great of an opportunity!!!!

BEWARE AQUAPHIBIANS!

STINGRAY PILOT............CAPTAIN TROY TEMPEST patrols GMIC

[some claim James Garner provided inspiration for the face]

Surface Agent X-2-0 reporting!!!

No special mark if replacement but apparently some recipients substituted republic type for monarchy type insignia/pieces. Also, certainly given before 1910 if monarchy and according to most sources, if republic, after 1917. Possibly substituted for Lion & Sun or Swede Vasa Order -- all green ribbons! .

You might try Paul at KAP73p@aol.com He has a varied stock of ribbons from many countries on offer.

Very interesting bar!! Aviz [Ordem Militar de Avis] appears to be Republican type--royal types had a Sacred Heart suspension device. The republic supposedly abolished all orders, except the Tower & Sword, in late 1910 but restablished some, including Avis, in 1917. Could be this one represents a swap out or 'republicianized' royal award?

Appears there may be marks on suspension ring. You may wish to check for maker or silver fineness indica. Perhaps manufactured by da Costa, Lisbon in 900 silver?

Knight class usually awarded to army captain & equivalent rank persons for Portugese recipients; foreigners may have been bumped up a grade or two for protocol reasons. This Order was/is almost exclusively reserved for military service.

And yes, for centuries up to today small Portugese communities exist in the Bight of Benin area.

Second line of case inner lid "Godet" inscription suggests Mecklenburg. Cross inset format suggets House Order of the Wendish Crown (Hausorden der Wendischen Krone). Various sources list Godet as a supplier of this Order's insignia.

If these indica correct, monogram may be that of one of the Adolf Friedrichs [V for 1904-14 or VI for 1914-1918] of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Quite even ribbon/decoration wear, original Japanese mounting bar, professional sewing/stiching job, field case that fits other exemplars and overall bar format itself---how could anyone doubt this wonderful offering????? Likely a very reasonable price too!

Right hand image above is a miniature--see eb@i [331090920845] for images of a Spink made set. The star seems to have a gold pin!!

Tito preferred surface travel--ship, rail, and automobiles. He traveled on this 1954-55 trip aboard what was in fact his yacht Galeb [seagull] aka The Peace ship--not to be confused with the more recent Japanese Peace Ship organization or their ship. Yugoslav naval support vessels accompanied Galeb for varying portions of the voyage--not clear whether personnel aboard those ships, Yugoslav diplomatic/consular staff assigned to host nations, and host country nationals received the visit medal.

Galeb is described on several websites. Tito had best quality Yugoslav items aboard and quite successfully showcased them on his foreign travels. Over 100 heads-of-state visited Galeb in the course of her official voyages.

Some ex-Galeb personnel served on Yugoslav passenger ships, including Dalmatia and Istra, after Tito's death. These individuals wore their service ribbons or miniatures at gala shipboard events, including the India/Burma visit medal.

See also various utube snips [stills & recreations] concerning Russian cruiser Varyag [1899] famous for heroic action in the pre-Tsushima battle of Chemulpo Bay. Built in USA, owned & fought by Russians & scuttled by her crew rather than surrender, raised by Japanese & added to their navy, returned to Russia during WWI, sent to UK for upgrades, seized by UK during Russian revolution, and sunk [run aground] on her 1920 voyage to Germany for scrapping!

First image pieces, neck badge on left and top row last piece gross appearance similar to republican Rwandan Order of Peace badges [originally made in Belgium by Fisch?]. Lowest row, seem to have English language 'mottos'.

On Paul's correct identification of the second image---Zambian authorities claim that Cleave designed the new award system and made the insignia.

Even Mr. Nicholas [mid-'90s] at Government House did not have all of the awards illustrated in gongz images! A true tour-de-force! Sincere thanks!!

Returning to Dragomir's original query.......Little wonder, after seeing these images, that the Order of the Dolphin design posted by Stange would represent, by most standards, a major upgrade in overall appearance and ease of differentiation among Bajan awards. However, perhaps the government in power in the 1980s did not want to have expensive/'overly ostentatious' appearing awards for either political or financial reasons. And, if Stange management's implication was that the design was offered in the 1990s and not taken up for whatever reasons is accurate, apparently there was not a desire to 'upgrade' the honors system then.

Thank you all for your continuing efforts!!!

A brilliant mini group! Expect that Nick correctly identified the long service award.

Does anyone know if full size or mini copies of the Saxon Kriegs-Verdienst-Kreuz, created by Friedrich August in 1915, have been made?

Thanks mcdermp. I visited Barbados some years ago and called at Government House on a similar mission. Was able to see some law/regulation documents and insignia but not permitted to copy [phostat or scan] information or make images of the awards. Does Mr. Nicholas still manage decorations issues at Government House? Does Fattorini of Birmingham now supply the insignia?

Barbados authorities do not mention an Order of the Dolphin or any projected honor of that name.

However, P. Eagleton designed the Order of the Dolphin of Barbados insignia as well as the Jordanian Order of an Nahda star revision [note motto ring difference] and Ethiopian Order of Solomon star revision illustrated on Stange's current website. In the mid-2000s, a Stange director wrote that these insignia were produced on speculation but that no contract resulted.

The company's website implies that it supplies decorations to both Jordan and the exile Ethiopian imperial claimant's organization as well as the king of Rwanda and Queen Elizabeth II [probably as Sovereign of Barbados]. Another company, BEZANT perhaps associated with Stange and/or Eagleton, could have been involved in these or similar efforts.

Stange holds a well-earned reputation as a quality jewelery maker. It is unclear whether the Orders insignia was actually produced in Stange's St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. workshops or in Singapore or China.

Stange certainly made Order of the Holy Sepulcher insignia [at least neck and sash badges] apparently from the 1980s for a U.S. branch of the Order. Their mark is a gothic type-face, or sometimes courier type-face, letter 'S' stamped into the trophy of arms suspension reverse. Several of these badges appeared on eB*y during the past 1-3 years. The company continues to advertize jewelery related to the Order of the Holy Sepulcher -- uncertain whether it continues to make Order insignia.

It is likely that either Stange or BEZANT produced examples of royal Rwandan Order of the Lion and Order of the Drum stars. These relatively low quality insignia have clutch back or jewelery-type pins, are light weight, and have spotty cold enamel.

The first decoration on this bar appears to be the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur [French National Order of the Legion of Honor], officier [officer] grade.

Order of the Jordanian Falcon -- Perhaps a Worth International [bahamas] project?

According to a June 2007 dated Royal Families Worldwide report available via [http://www.jaffnaroyalfamily.org/contentfiles/Image/edition1_royal_families_worldwide_newsletter.pdf ], P. Eagleton designed the Order of the Jordanian Falcon insignia imaged above. The last two pages of this newsletter contain an interview with Eagleton describing the award and several new Jordanian honors. The report includes images of several new honors.

Mark, Your note above refers to a different Vatican decoration, the Benemerenti Medal. See Cardinale & Bander Van Duren's various published work concerning this distinction as well as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benemerenti_medal. and http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=648

During years designated as a Holy Year/Jubilee, the Vatican sometimes creates special awards. Most sources do not provide useful information on these distinctions.

The cross image that you originally posted is for a specific, limited scope 'Holy Year' decoration usually awarded for special services during that time. A similar in purpose award was created and used for the 1950 Holy/Jubilee year [image below].

Herbert Thurston's The Holy Year of the Jubilee [st. Louis, 1900--likely available on line at http://books.google.com] provides a good overview of Holy/Jubilee year 1900 activity and events. Do not remember if Thurston describes the cross you first posted.

Hope this clarifies matters.