Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    922F

    Patron
    • Posts

      1,375
    • Joined

    • Last visited

    • Days Won

      7

    Posts posted by 922F

    1. Order of the Rose aka Order of the Rosy Cross aka Sovereign Order of the Blue Cross; based in Italy and France during 1930's-50's; re-established 1970's-2000?  A private organization organized and offered this award for 'charitable' contributions...  Insignia marketed by at least Alberti and Johnson, both manufacturers with Milan & Rome offices.  This example looks to be 1950's production.  Sometimes similar examples offered in European militaria auctions or dealer's lists under variant names.  Check Internet 'self-styled orders' topic for information/images.   

    2. See: https://www.bienpublic.com/actualite/2014/12/28/la-societe-d-encouragement-au-bien.

       

      Also //gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb32732227j/date  

      http://cths.fr/an/societe.php?id=100697   

       

      Your medals represent honors awarded by a private organization recognizing a desire to value, celebrate the courage, dedication and volunteerism of all those who, on all fronts of society, work for good and sometimes at the risk of their lives.   The group. established in 1862 continues to exist.

       

      Some of this society's decoration series acknowledge financial contributions. 

    3. Another "self-styled" Order supposedly related to, among others, the Holy Orthodox Church of Epirus, the Polish diaspora, the "Archbishop of Ephesus" and the Orthodox Royal Polish Nobiliary Association.   A micro-nation also now claims the Order https://www.reddit.com/r/micronations/comments/wd9duj/onionton_needs_you/.   Insignia with workmanship suggesting the 1930's-'50's exists, usually made in Italy.   It was listed on one of the Vatican's compilations of not recognized Orders, maybe the 1970 edition.

       

      A few of the usual sources for self-styled Orders [Stair Sainty, Caltrop] briefly mention this decoration.  

       

    4. Insignia maybe represents an offshoot of the Holy Order of St. Martin -- the Austrian branch uses [used?] a similar insignia design but less the saint's head in center and with black enamel eagles and a maroon ribbon.   See articles on Self-Styled Orders, by Guy Stair Sainty, & Caltrop's Corner among others.

    5. Rusty, vR received the Grand Cordon. 

       

      Google  [within the rubric]:  The Orders and medals of Joachim von Ribbentrop
      by William C Stump  for an image of most of vR's group including Ismail & expansion of what you've already learned -- don't want to copy here due to potential issues.  Set was owned by Jeff Schramek [spelling?] as late as 2009.  Jeff died some years ago; do not know what happened to the set which he offered for sale for about 5 years before he died at a $5000 price.   Jeff 'believed' award was presented in 1936 or 1938 but never saw any confirmation.  Never saw any images of vR receiving or wearing the award.

    6. oli4vercammen, Guy and Graf previously posted images of excellent and highly desirable insignia; thank you!!

       

      If one searches for 'issued' pieces, please be careful when buying because manufacturers continue producing Royal Order of the Lion and Order of the African Star insignia even today.   [Award generally ended in 1960 although possible if services recognized before Congo's independence].   One presently may purchase them directly via Belgian companies like P. De Greef of Brussels.  At one point in the 1960's-'80's, insignia was available in gold, silver and bronze as desired [different price points, of course].  Modern ribbons [rayon blend] available from the same sources while some ribbon dealers have silk or silk blend in stock.    

       

      Easy giveaways for 'recent' examples are die striking and enamel quality, number of parts used in assembly, 'stoning' of enamel, overall finish and sometimes sloppy assembly.  Formerly, many believed that if the voids between the crown spikes below the crown arches were round [drilled rather than hand cut] or not cut out then the piece was a post-1960 restrike or copy.    Examples made from the 1940's? onwards apparently display both of these markers while some pieces made well after 1960 in silver or gold and perhaps bronze do have hand-cut voids.   

    7. Update on first type insignia [with repeat of Nick's earlier contributions]:

       

      Instituted on 21 March 1984 by Decreto N° 117/984, HONORES. CONDECORACION DE LA ORDEN DE LA REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY awarded to foreigners only in recognition of meritorious acts or extraordinary contributions to the country or in reciprocity.  By statute 6 classes:  Collar, Grand Cross, Sash for Ladies, Commander, Officer and Knight.  Abolished on 6 March 1985 by "Ley Nº 15.738 ACTOS LEGISLATIVOS DICTADOS POR EL CONSEJO DE ESTADO" so award availability less than one year & probably only one batch of insignia made only by Cejalvo, Madrid.   Decree texts may be located via the web.

       

      A Uruguayan source reports first awards in May 1984 and last award in February, 1985.  No idea of how many pieces produced or awarded but this information  possibly available by search of archives.   Due to international unpopularity of Uruguay's government at the time, not widely bestowed. 

       

    8. Yeman Arab Republic   Order of el-Marib made by Bichay, Cairo, silver/gilt/enamel officer or knight grade, first type insignia.   Type 1 ribbon reported as  blue/yellow edge stripes outer narrow red border and/or  red/ narrow white edge stripes/wider black borders.  Sometimes seen on ribbon similar to Egypt Republic Order first type.

    9. Great commander badge!  Looks to be gold; if so may have mark on edge of arm or suspension. 

       

      Several Italian vendors sell ready made cravat [neck] ribbons or you can buy ribbon from them & make your own.   You may even find old silk cravats on auction sites.  Search  Nastro da commendatore dell'ordine della stella coloniale d'Italia.   

       

      Width of most originals in 40 - 44 mm range with ribbon ties in correct color distribution as neck ribbon or in solid red.  Some so-called replacement ribbon widths used for cravats measure 35-39 mm widths.  Be sure to specify exactly what you want to buy with the vendor and verify what you receive.

       

      Ribbon for the 2011-present version of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, Stella della solidarietà italiana, appears basically the same as the ordine della stella coloniale d'Italia.

    10. Number 13---Visible legs & body obverse design, right side, resembles a first type [WW I] Médaille de la Reconnaissance française on incorrect ribbon.   Perhaps an uniface bronze example? 

       

      Award criteria for that medal, however, normally excluded bestowal on military personnel though military personnel like Marshal Marie-Pierre Kœnig received it.  

    11. Does material concerning  SOMALILAND [1991-present, a non-recognized state, territory mostly the former State of Somaliland earlier known as British Somaliland, capital, Hargeysa] merit a separate thread?   Apparently, the entity recently awarded medals to nationals for superior service.  Poor images [from https://www.govsomaliland.org/] herewith suggest that obverse features the national flag.

      Somaliland President Presents Medals of Honor to 4 Military Graduates.jpg

    12. You should determine whether it is silver gilt or bronze gilt as that affects price.  Appears to be a mark on the suspension lug; check the ribbon cravat loop and edges of arms as well.   Maybe a maker's mark too--usually Bertrand or Paris Mint.   There're a couple of discussions regarding French mark/punch ID on GMIC threads and Internet.  Case lid interior may have identifying cartouche or stamp indicating award or case maker.  Good luck with your sale!

    13. Given other awards preceding our unknown, perhaps represents a private society [as opposed to a national] decoration.  Life ring suspension looks similar to several French regional life-saving awards and the Ottoman Donanma Lane of 1912 [acknowledging Navy development contributions both intrinsic & financial].

    14. 8 hours ago, 922F said:

      One with figure "8" design described as:   8th Corps Veteran Badge or {p. 92, American Society Medals, Bishop & Elliot, 2002} 8th Corps Society Medal.  Society founded in Manila after city fell to U.S. forces  in September, 1898 to commemorate Eighth Corps U.S. Army service during Spanish American War and later during the so-called Philippine Insurrection.  These usually do not have ribbons {when they do, a red/white/blue in vertical stripes attributed} and there appears to be an augmentation suspended from the "8" device of General Rogers' badge.  This group had at least four insignia variations.   Not to be confused with Society of the Army of the Philippines insignia.

       

      Cursory review of texts did not reveal identification for other award.  Given context, the other item probably represents membership in another veterans' group.

       

    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.