922F

You may visit:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...l%3Den%26sa%3DN

Here you will see many useful Wied images, including several seldom seen very clear images of him wearing the Black Eagle Order sash and star. I do not remember if that site has an unretouched version of the one you originally displayed but, if not, do other Google image searchs and you wil see it--this image also appears on several postcard sites and the New Contemporary Magazine, May 1914 issue.

Jeff and Dragomir are correct---this heavily retouched photo is incorrect (except for the face) in all respects--even the uniform collar. The original photo this "was enhanced" from shows him wearing a Johanniter at throat & cloth star. Other awards are simply negative retouches. Check the royalty website for an incomplete list of Wilhelm's awards.

Absolutely Fantastic!!!!

These unidentified ribbons still haunt me. 5.1 and 9.3 seem especially familiar---5.1 by position should be Arab (or Middle Eastern) and 9.3 "foreign" . Yet, 5.1 is the same as San Marino St. Agatha. 9.3 resembles several South American ribbons and maybe a Malaysian or two. None of these make obvious sense. 9.2 (blue with yellow side stripes to edge) seems a likely Pahlavi based on color value and stripe width and [dare I posit it?] geographic proximity. Didn't the Shah host a couple of OPEC meetings in the '70s? He also tried to line up support for Yemani royalists . But then a Pahlavi for Nimery might be a bit much. Other blue/yellow possibles could include a Lux Adolfe Nassau? Doubt that!

A possibility that I do not associate with Nimery but who knows..... Religious or "ephemeral" awards from Orthodox or Coptic churches or "independent Orders"? There is/was an Orthodox St. Basil Order with a blue bordered with yellow ribbon. It is well known that Idi Amin & Bokassa accepted these sorts of decorations and wore them often. Presidents Bongo, Tolbert, Doe, and others as well as King Hassan were given such things. A St. Dennis of Zante was presented to Eisenhower. I know a St. Lazarus was offered to King Hussein in the mid-1970s but do not know if he accepted it.

Well, well, well......Row 7.1 as an Egyptian Military Duty Medal----that was my initial reaction but it seemed a strange place and, given the site-position, odd. May well be. [Certainly not a Messina Earthquake!] Isn't there a Syrian award with a similar green/white ribbon?

Suspect that 9.2 is a Pahlavi. The unfortunate orange/red color combination is sometimes seen with a couple of Burundi awards that may now be obsolete .... Order of the 3 Stars and Order of the Sword aka Order of Military Merit. Doubt the group has replication and ribbon width of 5.3 and 9.4 seems to differ.

Suspect this array omits a few awards. He did have at least an Liberian African Redemption--maybe the Liberian Pioneer Order is another candidate for the green ribbon? [Would believe Senegal as well.] N had at least one training in the U.S. & a U.S. Army milattache who served in Cairo in the '70s "arranged" U.S. Legions of Merit for some of his 'old boys'. He had a commander of the Legion of Honor besides Somali, FRG and Italian decorations at least as well. I wonder if 9.1 (light blue?) is a Black Star of Benin or Brazilian Southern Cross?

OMSA ribbon bank has Belgian & Italian ribbon; check Belgian & Italian eBay for devices.

Holger,

I have been traveling and just saw your post. Terrific bar; could you show us the reverse, please?

Douglas Russell authored a book entitled THE ORDERS, DECORATONS AND MEDALS OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL. I do not remember the publication date, perhaps in the 1980s. The OMSA (now amalgamated into the ANS) library formerly had a copy. This book illustrates Sir Winston's actual awards, save 4 or 5 that were returned to issuing authorities upon his death. The book contains pictures of examples of the returned awards. Most illustrations were in black and white. I believe Russell projected a second edition containing color plates illustrating all awards but do not know if it was ever published.

Having the award list simplifies gathering illustrations via the internet in any case--Megan's site provides pictures of most if not all.

Kai Meyer owned several of these stars which he bought from a Spanish jeweller and dealer in the 1950s-60s along with a series of Spanish Noble Association insigniae. Meyer didn't know exactly what they were but described them as scientific association awards, likely of a semi-private nature. Some had a gilt center; some a silver center. Meyer owned examples with red, blue, purple, and green enameled motto rings. No reason for differing metals or enamels could be definitely cited but probably relate to awards for varying types of scientific merit (consonent with Spanish usage at the time). The center device illustrates the motto "Science bringing light to the world".

1970s era Klenau auction catalogs offered such stars, most of them similar to the illustrated piece, listed in the Spanish section as scientific society pieces. De la Puente (1953, 1964) does not describe this award though he provides information on Spanish Noble Association regalia and Flangist party awards.

If anyone has copies of the Meyer photos or Klenau catalogs, maybe they contain more information.

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.