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James,

King Kamehemeha III's star format (latest photo) looks more like the badge McNamara had than the painting depiction but suppose that's to be expected. However, I notice that the breast badge worn by King Kamehemeha IV (earlier posted photo) appears to have a crown suspension (McNamara's did not) and either a side-to-side striped ribbon or bars?

When rereading my Oct 31 post, I see that I said I had copied the 1978 Medcalf book illustrations. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. I believe that the 1894 National Guard medal had a crown suspension but none of the others shown did--the photos were different sizes and not especially clear.

James,

Medcalf & Russell's Hawaiian medals list is useful in that it provides a bare bones outline but, like yourself, I find it unsatisfying. It could well be incomplete or inaccurate. Very likely, Medcalf didn't have any definite info so simply listed what he found. One might expect additional royal "event" commemorative medals, for example. Another perhaps obvious royal Hawaiian medallic incident/opportunity could be the "exploration-colonization" voyages to the South Pacific.

I do not recall whether Medcalf & Russell discuss the Order of the Crown & Cross (but think I would have noted that). Perhaps someone with access to Medcalf's 1978 book could clarify?

Either Gary Krug or Bill Koonce had an example of a supposed Crown & Cross badge that eventually got to Bob McNamara. The badge resembled a no crown type royal Order of Cambodia badge with more pronounced rays and a sunburst in the center. It was small, maybe 3 cm. wide & looked hand-made. The ribbon loop was not movable and fixed to the reverse--it had no ribbon. This description tracks with the color picture you posted. I did not see it in McNamara's collection after about 1992-3. G. Tammann bought a lot of Bob's stuff but there's no Hawaiian in the UBS catalog.

McNamara told me that Medcalf owned a coin shop in Hawaii and ran across a stash of Hawaiian insignia while working in the basement of the royal palace in the 1960s. A nearby box had some of the order chancery records. These formed the basis for Medcalf's work.

Since you know the Bishop museum, you've probably visited the palace. Formerly (thru early-mid '90s) there were several order insignia on display in the king's office and in the throne room. Don't know if they're still there but seem to remember a table medal amongst the display--maybe one of the agricultural society items.

Cheers

Donald Medcalf and Ronald Russell authored Hawaiian Money, published in 1978. This book includes descriptions of nine royal Hawaiian medals (pp. 89-90) and illustrates 4 of them. It is not clear if all were state awards or whether all could be worn officially. All apparently could be worn from ribbons.

Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal 1850

King David Kalakaua election medal 1874 (diamond shape)--red, white, blue ribbon

Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal 1882

King Kalakaua I coronation medal 1882 (crowned 9 [sic!] years after his election)

Kalakaua & Kapiolani Medal 1884 for their 10th anniversary (presented & sold)

King Kalakaua Jubilee medal 1886 blue ribbon (presented & sold)

King Kalakaua I Jubilee medal 1886 different inscription (presented & sold)

National Guard medal (royal) 1894

Holo Hana Cross No date-includes a fire chief trumpet 2 red, 2 yellow stripes.

I transcribed this info from a copy of the book held in the OMSA library in the mid-1980s but did copy the illustrations. The book also illustrates royal Hawaiian Order insignia, provides a generally held to be accurate number of awards of each class of most Orders, and offers price estimates.

Try Werlich for photos. Merica and a couple of other generalist books show photos. Megan probably has some too.

Gordon Medcalf (?) published a booklet containing illustrations and very complete info in the 1960s-70s. The OMSA library has a copy.

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin......what did you have to do to get past the little old ladies so you could take those pictures!!!!?????

Wonderful to see them tho!!!! THANKS!!!!

Amazing medal, couldn't be in better hands! Repeat visits pay off!!

For those who don't know what Kawass (or Cavass) men are, they act as combination way clearers or honor escorts/guards employed (or, formerly, owned) by specific authorities from government officials to powerful families, from religious leaders to consular & diplomatic officers. This profession probably originated in pre-Ottoman or Ottoman days, when other methods of clearing paths through narrow, crowded streets were ineffective. Kawassmen used their batons and strength to clear the way.

Kawass work/activity has largely died out ( among the Jerusalem consular corps in the mid 1970s, only the British and French consul generals still used them). The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalam still has several. It is impressive to see them leading a procession through narrow Old City streets, usually with the Kawassman heading the procession followed by two honor guards then, depending on visitor rank, the guest flanked by either two or four honor guards. Two honor guards follow the guest. For senior guests, a junior Kawassman follows the guard procession. Kawassmen have staffs or batons (the length, up to about two meters, depends on visitor and Kwassman rank) which they hold vertically and slowly wave from side to side in an arc clearing the path. Traditionally, their processions have the right of way over everyone, including police. To honor important people the procession encounters, the lead Kawassman will either stop waving his staff or deviate slightly from the center of the road.

First group, second row unknown (black/blue strips with one star) may be the Italian Army long command medal.

First group, bottom row unknown (red w/white/gray side stripes and one crown) could represent a Yugoslav White Eagle officer. If so, given other context, it might likely be an King Peter exile award. Another award with similar ribbon is the Czech White Lion Order but stripes would be unquestionably white. Neither of these two, however, would customarily use a crown on ribbon distinctive device.

Second group, last place (red/black/red with crown) may be an ephemeral award. The color combination fits with the Congolese Order of Merit (1959) but a rosette, not a crown, would distinguish the officer grade. Belgium's Yser medal/cross --not a likely candidate here--has a similar ribbon too.

3rd Class:

Thank you Megan--These are most likely Bichay of Cairo made pieces with reverses similar to the style of Egyptian royal Nile order insignia. Often the center will have an Arabic Bichay mark and sometimes Egyptian silver fineness marks appear on the reverse badge body. I have not seen the flat dull green enamel type (the neck badge) before-- the brighter hue with metal work visable underneath is more typical. I

I can?t provide you with this information. This is a pic i keeep on my files. I heve one (knigt with ribbon) and don?t have any jewelwers mark.

Miguel

Thanks!

Hello Hipnos,

Thank you for posting the star and documents. Is the reverse of your star marked? Besides Medina, Celjavo may have made this Order in Spain.

Ahem:

Why don't you use those scans and write a quick BDOS article 9as well as posting it herein)?

Any chance there was an EK2 list as well?

A EK2 list for Jutland might confirm Captain Langsdorff's {Graf Spee} EK2 award for that battle reported at Nationmaster.com

Wonderful photo of Langsdorff and the Spanish naval officers! Seems Spaniards got German Eagles and Germans, Mehudias.

My impression is that the Langsdorff funeral cushion neck cross is a civil division Hungarian Regency Merit Order commander. The ribbon appears to be a solid color. Doubt it is an Italian Crown commander for that reason, lack of devices between cross arms and straight edge cross arms. While a Sts. Maurice/Lazarus would have a solid color ribbon, there are no devices in the cross arms or trifoil cross ends; Italian Military Merit not applicable for same reasons. Roman Eagle established in 1942.

Following the coming to power of the Nazis, Langsdorff {EK II Battle of Jutland, EK I subsequent minesweeper service} requested duty at sea in 1934 but was instead appointed to the Interior Ministry. That assignment could result in foreign awards like a civil Hungarian Merit commander.

In 1936 and 1937, on board the new Admiral Graf Spee while on the staff of Admiral Bohen, Langsdorff participated in the German support of the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War. This may explain his Mehduia.

{Langsdorff bio data from Nationmaster.com}

Ricardo,

Thank you for this wonderful information! This clarifies and expands our knowledge immensely. I have not yet had a chance to look in Trost, Gritzner or Acovic but will report what they said next week.