922F

Nicolas de ROFFIGNAC, ORDRES et MEDAILLES des PAYS D'AFRIQUE ? l'?poque POST-COLONIALE

de 1960 ? nos jours

This paperback trade-edition type book is available on French eBay from time to time priced from 50 to 80 euros, plus postage. See below for only 50 euros "buy it now" <H1 class=itemTitle>Livre ORDRES ET MEDAILLES DES PAYS D'AFRIQUE</H1>Num?ro de l'objet : 140232751435 I have dealt with this seller several times; he is a true friendly, knowledgable and correct gentleman.

Problems with this book outlined in earlier posts include 1) use of materials without acknowledgement of original and/or secondary source 2) confusion between differing decorations of various states and 3) wrong information--Liberian section is a notable example.

It is quite true that attempting to gather information on independent African state awards is difficult--that does not justify use of materials without acknowledgement. Furthermore, confusion over relatively well known facts (or at least published facts) seems out-of-place when perfectly adequate information in major world languages is available. Unfortunately, Stair Sainty & Heydel-Mankoo perpetuate some of the same errors, likely as a result of their use of Roffignac's information.

Steam vented, this is the ONLY easily available, general source on awards of post-independence African States. In the Werlich and Stair Sainty & Heydel-Mankoo vein, that alone commends it to students of this neglected area. A second edition is rumored to be in the works. Besides correcting many errors and adding more illustrations, the 2nd edition is slated to (finally) credit information sources. Most recent info suggests this revised edition will cost about 120 euros.

SOUYRIS-ROLLAND "Guide des ordres, d?corations et m?dailles militaires 1814-1963" Paris 1979 is also on French eBay from time to time--there are at least 2 editions.

Hello Roeland,

For Ouissam Alaouite-- Ordres et Decorations de l'Empire Cherifien by P. Rousseau, 2005 (sometimes available from the author on French eBay) about 60 euros plus postage.

For Said Ali-- a website you can access by Monsieur Pierre No?l DURONSOY pagesperso-nge.fr/pierrenoel.duronsoy/orc.htm. Supposedly, a slightly expanded printed version of this (with additional illustrations) was published in 2005-6 (Maybe in Reunion?) but I have never been able to find it.

For Tunis-- Les Decorations Tunisiennes a la Epoque Husseinite by M. BenAchour, 1994 (sometimes available on eBay) from 10-100 euros.

Black Star of Benin--L'Etoile Noir et les medailles d'Atchupa et du Dahomey Daguin 1894 (copy in American Numismatic Association library)

General

Les Decorations Francaise et des Protectorats Daguin (1890s--have not seen this--copy supposed to be in American Numismatic Association library)

Notes on Decorations & Medals of French Colonies & Protectorates, Gillingham 1928

Les Ordres Coloniaux Francais Pierredon 1907(used to be a copy in OMSA library)

If you have access to the Sabretache journal you will find many articles on French colonial Orders and Decorations.

Hi Gentlemen,

I agree with Bolgarian in principle. Awards worn by Bulgarian royal military and civil service members officially should follow proper sequence of orders, decorations, and medals in order of seniority and award date (for foreign awards following national ones).

However, I've seen about 100 Bulgarian royal bars over the past 40 years "in the flesh" and photos or illustrations of maybe 300+ others. Maybe half are mounted in the "correct" order and the others...hard to say. Members of Princess Clementine's regiment sometimes had her official "death" commemorative mounted ahead of their long service awards. (An example in the former military museum in Sofia.) Some otherwise "normal" civil bars include the apparently unofficial Plodiv fair 30 mm medal. A few years ago, FJP auctions sold a "home-made" bar with the Balkan and WWI commemoratives ahead of a Merit Medal!

Other considerations: Apparently an imperial Russian mounting style was used from about 1878 to mid-Ferdinand and an imperial German style from mid-Ferdinand to late Boris. There are as many exceptions to this rule as examples. And "home-made" examples are all over too.

This is a fascinating but little explored area.

Thanks again for sharing this bar!

Sorry Miguel, these appear to be some of the current fake medals currently made in China. Some are copies of actual medals/orders and some are fantasy items.

Would you please post reverse pick of Bulgarian bar?

Wonderful bars and now very hard to find.

Recently, a couple of 1920s-1960s insignia of this organization achieved remarkable (high!) auction prices. Photos on various websites suggest that the crowns appeared between the cross arms in the 1950s-60s or so but Bob McNamara opined that crown may have signified a different grade in the order earlier than that. Some pieces are bronze, some silver, some silver or bronze gilt. Probably some are in gold. Some are uniface and some have the same design on the reverse. Most are about 35-40 mm wide. McNamara had (in the late 1970s) a pin back uniface piece that measured about 65-70 mm in diameter.

Ribbons usually seen on these are like the Ernestine House Order minus the narrow black stripe or some Belgian "unofficial" awards--also, somewhat similar to Hungarian St. Stephan Order ribbon. That is dull red or violet with brighter kelly green side stripes (the hues are sometimes called "Amaranth"). Badges are usually worn on the breast but some appear on sashes. These crosses may also be worn on chains.

It is now the insignia of the well known Swedish charitable organization.

Statutes do not authorize this insignia form. Petrov, Denkov and Paprikoff report the St. Alexander "Hessian duke or strawberry leaf" suspension crown changed to the Bulgarian czarist form in 1900 (or 1908 at the latest, this not clear whether due to use of stocks of old type insignia or statutory change) when the Civil Merit Order suspension crown took that form in 1900 and Military Merit Order insignia was created with a czarist crown. Ferdinand instituted green enamel commander crosses, these same 'authorities' state, in 1908 or more likely in 1912.

Several pieces of Bulgarian insignia exist with what are obviously switched crowns. Early St. Alex suspension crowns are seen on lst type Civil Merit commanders and the Prague castle collection has a Military Merit commander with an early St. Alex crown. Another Military Merit commander has a first type Civil Merit suspension crown held on with a bent steel sewing pin. These usually have botched or deformed links between the main badge and crown. Sometimes plain rings replace the link. In the 1970s, these were sold as "proto-types" but the idea that anything with less than a perfect finish would be shown to someone like Ferdinand is just plain crazy.

It appears that the illustrated example has a slightly deformed link between the crown and cross, the link's upper left obverse side seems rough. This would not be a normal place for such wear and, especially if tool marks are visible, suggests a crown switch. (This suspension crown appears to be Austrian made {1890s contemporary Rothe most likely} rather than French or Russian. The badge may be 1930s German or Bulgarian manufacture. The suspension is most probably silver-gilt---this badge looks to be silver-gilt as well but if it is bronze-gilt that would be another clear indication of a switch.)

These suspension-badge links on most Bulgarian insignia were simply bent together especially for the St. Alexander Order as it made selection of the 2 possible suspension varients at that precise point simple. This makes switching crown easier than if the links had been brazed together.

Also, some insignia was taken apart and used as jewellery. This was not like the purpose-made "CORO" type manufactured costume jewellery based on French colonial and Romanain order insignia but rather actual pieces turned to another use. Later someone may have wished to "restore" insignia without realizing the statutory requirements.

Besides this type switch, in the last 10 years or so Bulgarian St. Alex, Civil and Military Merit orders of late kingdom/czarist type, especially commander and officer grades, have appeared with republic suspension wreaths replacing their crowns. Besides sloppy or deformed links, the give-away is use of a cast suspension wreath rather than a struck one and sometimes failure to remove the crown on the lion (reverse of Civil & Military Merit and lst class St. Alex badges).

Vendors by the old Palace and elsewhere in Addis sometimes have medals, including these, for sale. Usually no ribbon a more but modest price. Airfare might however, tip the scale! Some UN issue Koreas there look to be cast copies.

I could not locate Sevadjian's (an Ethiopian based manufacturer--his name is seen on "local-make" Star and Menelik II insignia) shop/office/factory but heard imperial awards were on offer there.

Eric,

As always, THANK YOU and additional kudos on your fantastic effort. Please email a copy to me. PM follows. All the best & THANK YOU!!!

Tend to agree with Saschaw and, yes, gilded Bulgarian medal "embellishments" are not unknown, especially in "foreign" groups. Besides merit medals, gilded examples of apparently lower classes include bronze-gilt Bourgas Railway medals {awarded "gold" ones were in gold}, 1893 bronze-gilt marriage medals {awarded "gold" ones were either gold or silver gilt} and 1908 proclaimation of kingdom crosses {only statutory metal is bronze}.

It is true that Ferdinand in Coburg exile "arranged" Boris type Bulgar awards for "deserving persons". He continued to hand out his 25th reign anniversary medals {apparently without reference to Sofia} and may have presented merit medals bearing his effigy as well. Besides residence servants and Coburg hangers-on, some of Ferdinand's boytoys would be likely suspects for who knows what grade of his merit medals.

Bayoswede is correct in the total "official" number of awards of the golden merit medal with crown to Bulgarians, according to both Petrov and Denkov. Petrov and Denkov searched Bulgarian War and Foreign Ministry and Royal Court archives in attempts to find the number awarded to foreigners without success to date. I'd guess at a relatively small number of such awards.

According to original statute, gold merit medals {with and without crown} were made in gold. Silver gilt & bronze gilt examples are generally thought to be fakes {gilded lower classes}.

When this group appeared on eBay, my initial reaction was that the medal had been gilded and the selling price seems to reflect that thought. Given the other items on the bar, that conclusion appeared rational. For that reason alone, it probably is an actual gold example!!

The Bulgarian Order of Merit, usually called the "Pour le Merite", is the 3rd award in Rick's picture. Quite rare in gold and generally of approximately equal rank to a Military Merit Order Grand Cross in that metal. In silver, about equal to a St. Alexander Knight without crown. This officer's example seems to be on the war time ribbon--same ribbon as Rick's merit medals posted above. This Order could also be awarded on the St. Alexander ribbon for civil services, like the merit medal example in Bayoswede's picture.

For those unfortunate enough not to have discovered John Biggins' novels, look for or Google A Sailor of Austria, {In which, without really intending to, Otto Prohaska becomes Official War Hero No. 27 of the Habsburg Empire} The Emperor's Coloured Coat, The Two-Headed Eagle, and/or Tomorrow the World. Recent trade paperback reprints make these fine novels finally affordable at about $12-$14 apiece.

A certain Max Hapsburg strongly advocated A-H naval development from Lokrum near Dubrovink before sailing for Vera Cruz. Rumor is he liked the uniform.

Several well-written English language publications describe the Empire's naval efforts. Given the realities of their situation, especially "front office" indifference, resource lack and a stifling bureaucracy, A-H's {no NOT that one!!} navy performed at least as well as the Italians!