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Thanks for picturing this wonderful group! Regarding #4, I believe a 1967-68 Coin Galleries or Format catalog described but did not picture a similar badge identifying it as a Ladies lst class Medal of Honor. Don't remember whether there was a pinback or a suspension loop. Colonel Guyadier had a #5 in his collection but thought it affiliated with the Brilliant Star Order.

What an obscure but highly interesting topic!

I'd defer to people on the ground at that time and would not care to speculate on what might have happened in '99. Google search reveals the depth of depravity, injustice and stupidity--even Indonesian attacks on Australian diplomats and their consulate {though the Indonesian commander in Dili was replaced due to his views on that situation}. In gunboat diplomacy days that would have been enough!

However, based on visits to Dili in 2001, '02, and '06, Jakarta in '01, '03, and '06, & Australia in the same time frame, it appears clear that Indonesia's horrific human rights violations may have generated international disgust, and thus interest, to a higher level than even that raised by East Timor's enormous natural resource potential. With Australian regional involvement, concern for human rights and geographic nearness, it would appear likely that non-indigenous organized {armed or otherwise} opposition to Indonesia could have been based in the Land Down Under.

Indonesia and Australia may be the immediate regional rivals but in this situation Australia held the moral high ground and what little international media attention {unfortunate but true} & "spin" the affair generated, also buildlng and receiving support from the UN, Portugal, the US and UK. Australia may have skirted diplomatic and other protocols her dealings with East Timor independence leadership, and supplying various kinds of support to them. Given Indonesian performance, just about anything would have been tolerable. Don't forget disruptive effects of the internal Indonesian crises at the time and also the positive pull of Australian-Indonesian economic links.

During my last visit most UN-related activity, especially military, was fast drawing down with Aussies taking up some but not nearly all of that slack. Dili itself remained about 75% in ruins and about 50% abandoned. In the depopulated country-side, conditions were not quite as bad but subsistance farmers/hunters/fisherfolk don't need much.

East Timor's situation seems a bottomless pit until (?) its economy takes off and the Australians appear to have the sense not to get over involved militarily-- at present, there's no apparent real need for military other than policing, basic training and perhaps community building/civil support work. The Aussies are certainly focused on developing {and profiting from} East Timor's resources, a daunting task, and have a very active embassy and AID program.

Over the past couple of decades, there have been some other "interesting" Australia-Indonesia issues, including traffic in drugs and people, investment/development, "cross-border terroism", and fishing {sea-territorial waters} rights. Nowadays the countries seem to be playing well together.

Hopefully, few would wish ill to Indonesia due to political, economic, and regional consequences. Look at Australia's involvement in the post-Bali bombings and general assistance to "democratic" Indonesian leadership, for example.

Not surprisingly the Japanese, and possibly Chinese, appear to be expanding their East Timor presence. The former American ambassador was quite active as a Hill staffer in pushing East Timor independence and continued his efforts during his tenure in Dili.

In 1980, Fahmy Bichay had several "Egyptian" bars in his Cairo shop. I retain only scribbled notes but if they & memory serve, the earliest had a Medjidjie 4th class, 1 or 2 Ottoman campaign medals [ not sure which--those 22-25 mm. things], a Khedive's Star and a UK Egypt Medal 1882-9, Toski clasp. Both the Star & UK Egypt were named in Arabic. This medal group actually pertains to the question at hand and appears to support what has gone before here. I am indebted to you all for this stimulating & absorbing discussion & information.

My notes also describe Fahmy's other 1980 "shop groups" 1) Nile Officer, Khedive's Sudan '96 [2clasps], Khedive's Sudan '10 [3 clasps], UK Sudan [no clasp] {all medals named in Arabic, two (not sure WHICH 2!) with apparent unit designations} 2) Nile Officer, Khedive's Sudans for '96 [3 clasps], '10 {3? clasps], '18, [1 or 4 clasps] & UK Sudan [one clasp] {all medals named in Arabic, no apparent unit designations} AND 3) Nile Knight {or officer--this may have had a ribbon rosette that appeared added to the bar much later?}, Khedive's Sudan '96 [either 1 or no clasp can't read own handwriting], UK Sudan [no clasp], French Palmes Academiques, Bulgar St. Alex knight no crown. I do not know what clasps were on these various medals.

Jeff Jacob sold groups numbered 1 & 2 above in 1982 or '83. If anyone has his catalogs on hand, naming and clasp details will surely be provided in the lot listings. Sometime in those same years, he included an article titled something like "A visit with F Bichay" in his catalog. The article provided additional details about that delightful and courteous gentleman and information about his business----I do not have copies of those Jacob catalogs.

In the '80s, Cairo's Khan el-Khalali coin/medal/silver vendors had a fair number of Khedive Sudan medals and I'd estimate that 1/3 to 1/2 were named in Arabic -- usually, as Owain says, very crudely most with just a [one word] name and rarely with a one or two word name and maybe rank. Hate to report post "negotiation" sale prices then were about double scrap silver value. Last year in Khartoum, nothing to be found for love or money--well, maybe for love! Some Khan el-Khali dealers appeared to have fake {cast} Sudan medals withut suspensions for sale at UK prices. Saw none with any kind of naming then.

On naming UK medals, I gave John Lelle an ex-Bichay set of 4 or 5 WWI & WWII medals including a BWM, Victory and Africa Star all named to "DUMMY". John enjoyed the joke!! Have no idea what happened to the DUMMY's medals.

Hello---Carol I is there any information on where insignia is/will be manufactured?

I understand that Simeon's royal Bulgarian St. Alexander Order pieces were/are made in Madrid, Kigeli's Lion in the USA and Peru, the Italian states in Italy, the Annamese Dragon in France, and Burmese royal orders in Singapore.

Besides the pretenders mentioned above, persons claiming thrones from Albania to Zanzibar sometimes award honors to their supporters. Other well known "exile" decorations stem from Serbia, Egypt, and even Hawaii. Various claimants award many other awards besides those mentioned above. Kigeli, for example, has five orders potentially available. One of the Bourbon Sicilians has either 3 or 4 orders available including those that were former state merit orders--NOT house orders.

The Royal Ark website offers considerable information on these individuals and their awards. Several web sites {Caltrap's corner and Stair-Sainty for example} devote pages to discussions of "legitimacy", the various pretenders and outright scams. Complete sections of Stair Sainty/Heydel-Mankoo's World Orders of Knighthood and Merit detail pros & cons.....though Guy cannot be described as a "disinterested party" as he has been honored by several exiles.

Besides former rulers and their descendents, other tiers of pretenders with medals to hand out exist from "countries" like Sedang to the Balareric Islands. "Heirs to traditions" & self-appointed archmandrites also have awards available, usually to those who support their "missions" financially.

Several books provide useful information on these types of awards. The OMSA library had copies of some of these including "The Knightly Twilight", "Fonts of Honor", "The White Cross" and two French language books with names including terms like pseudordres and countreordres.

Pierre Rousseau, the author of ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956, sells his book via French eBay. FJP auctions recently offered at least one copy of this French language book.

It provides comprehensive information on the Order of Ouissam Alaouite.

Usually Commander and Grand Cross badges are the same size but some larger badges, of the second variety at least, do exist .

J. Jacob {Court Jewelers of the World} reports Garrards used the Albemarle Street address from July 1911 until 1952. He got his info in 1976 while Garrard's staff still took their positions as guardians of company lore and service to individuals as collectors with pride.

To my understanding, royal Arab parliamentry and judicial badges varied between specific functions. Both Libya and Egypt had different ones for their two parliamentry houses and judges' badges (in Egypt) varied between "local" and "extraterritorial" divisions, at least. That could be a reason for varying centers.

Maybe a "personal recognition {moto propritu} award"?

This badge seems quite delicate. While possibilities mentioned above may be correct, how about a ladies award of some sort? An Egyptian precedent exists. On the other hand, one or two cased Rafadhain badges on ladies bows have been offered in the past. One {maybe officer grade?} in a Bacqueville of Paris case with a small gilt metal Iraqi crown on the lid of the red leatherette case.

Owain?

Plus, Rick, don't you find this missing WWI commos {certainly Austrian, maybe Bulgar} but perhaps something more--believe Mark Patterson had this bar or something very similar a couple of years ago, perhaps at OMSA. Maybe there was a Romanian Star or Bulgar Civil Merit on it then as well then...

If Mark is out there.... Was there a story of the possibility of a 2nd bar to the same guy with the missing commemoratives and ...??? Did this bar have hook-and-eye rather than pin back?

Liverpool is not all bad

Rick shamed me into digging into Peter Bander van Duren's 1985 revision of Cardinale's, Orders of Knighthood, Awards and the Holy See. Pp 111-112 fully describes the cross and notes that it is an award instituted by the Papacy but not conferred by the Holy See, as bestowal was delegated to the Custos of the Holy Land. "These marks of distinction cannot therefore be qualified as pontifical."

However, van Duren's 1987 work, The Cross on the Sword , states [p. 139 & 156-7] that the Holy Land Pilgrim's Cross was replaced with two new awards around 1977. {N.B. I have seen a Pilgrim's Cross document dated 1981} These are the Palm of Jerusalem [conferred by the Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 3 classes for 'special services or charitable work towards the Order'] and the Pilgrim's Shell [awarded by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (CUSTOS) and the Grand Prior of Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem on behalf of the Grand Master to members of the Order who make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem].

Unless there are subsequent changes, the Palm of Jerusalem award is mainly for, and the Pilgrim's Shell exclusively for, members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Maybe this belongs in a Vatican thread?

As Rick notes, this Pilgrims' Cross existed in this form from 1901 through "reforms" of the 1980s. From the inception, the grade depended on the number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land or the amount of "DONATIONS" contributed. In 1975, for example, the gold class recognized ten or more visits, silver 5-9 and bronze 1-4. "Donations" at that time were US$5 for bronze, $25 for silver and $50 for gold (silver gilt)---don't see how insignia costs were paid at those prices, let alone a significant "donation". {Guess the numbers had not been adjusted for years somewhat like the Japanese Red Cross criteria!} Sometime in the 1930s the "Jerusalem" bar illustrated signified a "special" award (no specific number of visits or contribution amount) but following WW 2 that bar was also presented to non-Catholics granted the honor. Apparently due to misunderstandings on the part of the Italian insignia supplier, the bar accompanied just about ALL awards after about 1960.

Because the award was presented under delegated authority of the "Custos" of the Holy Places or Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem--usually a Dominican also involved in the Papal Order of the Holy Sepulchre , French awardees, among others, could not apply for permission to wear it until the post WW II 4th republic.

First time I've seen this on a German bar but some Austrian and Italian groups include it. Many American got this decoration--James Risk received the gold cross with bar and David Garrison had the silver cross.

Post Anschluss 1938, so Austria was then the "German" Province of "Ostmark" and not a foreign country any more.

It is still weird that he put it there ahead of his two from his native Saxe-Coburg. If a photo can be found of him in uniform, all these errors will make it "spot THIS ribbon bar!"

The last Thies auction offered a St. Stanislaus commander document to a Dr. Florsch?tz identified as physician to the SCG court. Don't remember the first name, likely Carl.

Interesting that the eagle has a grenade rather than a sceptre in its claw.

This is a Masonic badge. These appear in various auctions in the "International Order" category or on eBay {sometimes eBay vendors correctly describe them}. I do not know what it signifies.

Thanks for posting this! I last visited this palace about 5 years ago; you are quite correct vis-a-vis opposition to taking pictures! I didn't get any at all. Wouldn't be so bad if any sort of catalogue [illustrated ! even] existed.

There were more European [Franz Joseph, Iron Crown & Imperial Russian St. Anne? plus others] and Asian [Japanese Sacred Treasure & Hawaiian Crown Order especially] items on display then. Did you see any Dutch Orange Nassau insignia or Indonesian sultanate materials? I recall a jewelled Cambodian Royal Order commander badge as well. In discussion with an "assistant curator", I hinted about insect and sunlight damage and mentioned that several sashes had been wrongly attached to badges but see those concerns were ignored. At least the enamels do not appear to have suffered additional damage!

Greetings! The number of classes of this Order have varied between 3 to 4 to 5 since its inception. It added a Grand Commander (Commander + star) grade in the 1890s and an Officer grade (rosette on breast badge) in the 1910s. Some French awardees receive an officer's badge and star for the Grand Commander grade. The officer grade went away in the 1920s but reappeared in the 1930s. The statutes are provided in the Laws of Liberia. I will provide the exact cites in about a month as I am traveling now.

The Order of African Redemption may have an associated medal. [According to the second statutes it was in 3 classes, gold, silver, and bronze. It is not mentioned in the most recent statutes.] The round medal has an enamel depiction of the Liberian coat-of-arms on the obverse and the inscription "Honour" on the reverse. Ribbons are varied; some medals have the order ribbon, some use a red/white/blue ribbon and there are other varients plus ribbons added by individuals. Liberia's Order of the Star of Africa has a 3 class medal associated with it. Obverse is the order insignia central medallion design, reverse the reverse central order insignia medallion. Ribbon is blue w/ith red horizontal stripes but it is seen on other ribbons.

I have very little information on Gambian awards. Saw military officers wearing ribbon bars and attended a function where the President wore the collar during a visit to Banjul 3-4 years ago. The ten year of independence medal may be the one on the green-red-green ribbon and the long service [10 or 15 years?] is on the red-white-blue-white-green one [same as the Order of the Republic of the Gambia ribbon]. The Order apparently has a medal associated with it but the medal is supposed to have the Order cross incised on it. (Maybe that info is wrong and both men are holders of the medal of the Order?)

Megan's site has some information and illustrations and there's another Gambia website that has some data.

Thanks for your answers! Have another question.

Here's the hallmarks:

Can you tell me, what it's meaning?

I am traveling now and will not have access to references until late-November /early- December. Robert McNamara wrote a study later published by OMSA on Austrian hallmarks but I do not recall him describing either of these. Perhaps someone else has more ready access to that information. Some marks are "shop marks" identifying either individual craftsmen or the order in which a piece is assembled.

Is the one on the right an "O" and an "L" or "10"? The one on the left may be "C F Rothe" but it may be a Serb import tax stamp.

The marks on the loop between the cross and crown may be clearer and easier to identify.

The 5 arm white enamel decoration (Legion of Honor type) that the lst officer wears 2nd from last on his lower row of awards is the insignia of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia, likely member or 5th class. Another ribbon worn after that appears to be the Gambia Independence medal. {His medals do not appear to be worn in order of precedence.} The medals both have appear to be an Armed Forces Long Service Medal {15 year?} and an Independence anniversary medal.

Although the third photo is the "official President's portrait" posted in most Gambian government offices, schools and other places, no one in Banjul could provide definitive information on the collar and badge. Foreign Ministry staffers believe it is apparently a combination Presidential badge of office and symbol of the Grand Mastership of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia.