922F

Stair Sainty & Heydel-Mankoo's World Orders of Knighthood & Merit clearly used access to Arthus Bertrand's staff & archive and so should be the benchmark reference for African, and other, countries serviced by Bertrand. Sadly, this is not the case...for many Bertrand-supplied African states, apparent text borrowings from sources cited below accompany the unquestionably wonderful illustrations. It may be said that brief outlines would all tend to cover the same points but in the same words??? Some omissions are quite surprising, given that Bertrand manufactures insignia for some still existing Orders founded in the 1980s that are not described in this edition. These flaws could lead one to question the work's accuracy for non-Bertrand sourced material.

Ed Emering's CD is the best English language resource on most franco-phone countries since Werlich and coverage in collector's journals. He continually strives to upgrade his information in collaboration with other specialists in this field. Werlich tried to cover all nations' orders and has many pictures but little information.

A general survey in French, ORDRES et MEDAILLES PAYS D'AFRIQUE - 1960 ? NOS JOURS, published in 2000, is usually available on eBay for 50 euros plus shipping. As I have said in other posts on this site, this is a useful pioneering work, that provides some official or statutory cites for individual orders but suffers the serious shortcoming of using copyrighted material without acknowledgement. I now understand that a projected 2nd edition will correct that error, remove redundancies, upgrade illustrations, as well as update/correct information.

I have visited many African counties including Ivan's original targets of Guinea-Bisau, Sao-Tome & Principe, Mozambique, the Seychelles, Zambia, and Eritrea. During these visits, I try to call on Orders Chancellors, their principal deputies, or whomever in the government deals with awards. Some Orders Chancelleries are very well organized and helpful. Check the Burkino-Faso Presidential website Ordre Chancellerie information for an example.

Others are completely disorganized, secretive, or simply do not exist. It appears that Guinea-Bissau and Sao-Tome & Principe are in (and have been) the process of organizing decorations for the past 20 years. A certain very distinguished gentleman from Belgrade designed Cabo Verde awards. Guinea-Bissau and Sao-Tome & Principe may have also consulted him for guidance. In November, 2005, Guinea-Bissau's President's administrative staff told me no national awards existed but that several cities had "plaques" to be awarded to prominent visitors. Staffers said then that economic developments [OIL!] may lead to needs for national level recognitions.

Seychelles' independence experience and political events since independence, including years of one-party rule, may have affected award development. At one point, the Seychelles People's Progressive Front reportedly had a membership medallion that could have been handed out as a State decoration but who knows if this is true. The Star of the Seychelles is another possible award mentioned in the Victoria Herald news-sheet. An ephemeral mico-nation that claimed an atoll in the Seyclelle group circa the 1990s may have issued medals or the Star of the Seychelles .

Zambian presidential officials clearly did not want to talk about honors at all. I attempted visits three times without any success -- at first with polite excuses and finally with rather obvious refusals.

Visits to Eriteria in 1998 and 2006 uncovered no honors system information whatsoever. I have obversed what appear to be non-wearable 50 mm diameter medals in Asmara's markets with untranslatable pseudo-Arabic markings. Given the conflicts with Ethiopia, the Italian and Ethiopian tradition in using medals, and somewhat [ maybe formerly!] parallel conditions in Somalia, I would be very surprised if there were no national Eriterian awards. Perhaps this is a case of officials playing their cards close to the chest.

In 2004, both Angolan and Mozambique officials told me they were revising their national symbols, including Cuban style awards systems, to something less Marxist. I understand both had contacted da Costa in Lisbon---but nothing further on either.

A side note. The central square in Port Louis, Marutius' capital, has statutes of the national heros. Some of these, including Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, have post-nominal initials following the names--but [other than KBE or GCMG] no one can tell what they mean!!

I understand a short talk on Central African Republic/Empire Orders will be presented at the 2007 OMSA convention's international seminar .

The illustrated badge may be by Resch (very late, the ribbon loop, center detail and cross enameling suggest this), Souval (again, the thin ribbon loop, suspension crown detail and lighter green central wreath enamel) or Kai Meyer. Kai may have bought some Souval dies (he was very closed mouth about this) or had Souval make the stuff he retailed and who knows where Souval's dies came from. I'm not near exemplars nor am I really sure. Spanish (and Portugese?) made stuff has no chevalaiver work under the red enamel and the wreath enamel is darker green. Portugese (?) pieces have fine detailing along the edges of the cross. [n.b. A number of Rothe dies went at auction a couple of years ago and of those a few Serb ex-Rothe dies were later offered on eBay.]

As to Couve de Murville, I'd expect him to have an Order of the Star of the Socialist Republic of Romania but, as foreign minister something higher than 3rd class. Fairly sure that he visited Romania several times in his official capacity . I'd try a google search to see if he may have had a Crown Order from the "old regime" too. I've forgotten what he did before WW II, but a 1930-40s award might not be out of the question. Some of the other decorations offered in that eBay post were pre-1950s. So maybe a mix-up of docs and badge?

After retirement, who knows what Couve de Murville would have "been awarded", or would have accepted.... There are many examples of individuals "accepting" awards, like Eisenhower's Order of St. Denis of Zante or his several Orders of Malta, without really being aware of what they are. And yes, French law now is rather strict on acceptance and wear in public of "non-official" awards but what "consenting adults do in the privacy......" is completely open. For example, "pseudo" Orders (like those awarded by the Montezuma-Grau emperor of Mexico) have installations at prestigious locales in Paris with full media coverage.

"Pseudo" "royal claimants" may send brevets and sometimes hardware of their awards to high ranking people to "legitimate" their own gongs to the general public. Right now I cannot recall the name of the guy who claimed to be C's either son or nephew who is/was awarding decos lately but Stair Sainty's site likely has that information.

Hope this helps!

Greetings Gents!!

Now we BEGIN TO TREAD in deeply troubled waters!! Vaguery to obscure!!! As you both KNOW a certain royal reprobate exercised (in both a traditional and modern meaning) in Portugal & Spain until his death in the '50s--one could (& SOME DID!) visit his casket draped with a royal standard at an odd church! An old time collector [well, 1960s-2000s] snagged a couple of this fellow's (whose corpse + maybe another?... was/were returned to Bucharest recently) decorations "awarded" to a certain Spanish person. Maybe a Count related to the present King of Spain....??? One of these decorations is a so-called merit order--clearly of 1950's Celjavo or Portugese make!! This particuliar Spaniard did not get a Michael the Brave!

I've heard that both the 1950s Portugese and Spanish heads-of-state received Grand Crosses of Michael the Brave (!), the Star of Romania and the Crown of Romania plus the House Order from this "unnamed royal" who received particular exemptions and honors from them. Never been able to verify these claims.... Some other folk got awards of the same HOUSE and general merit odor, er order, though in lesser grades. An ID point--those GC and neck badges are the typical smaller Spanish size and have a typical Spanish cravat loop. Stars have other "non-characteristic" features, like a Spanish type decorated pin... Nonetheless, they are of terrific 1950s type workmanship!

Story was that Callous Carol [oops!] would "decorate" someone who had "assisted" him--and there's some alleged bastard offshoot "child" now in his 60s-70s who continued (s) the practice! Trouble was that C did not provide insignia--just a "brevet". So....hono (u) rees had to either buy old badges or commission new ones--and the likely source-----Celjavo (Madrid) and/or da Costa (Lisbona). I have (personally) a lot of respect for many of the individuals associated with those firms. However, in the "business world" once you have made the dies.......

In similar vein, I can state with complete certainity that Celjavo was the OFFICIAL SUPPLIER for the royal Bulgarian Order of St. Alexander in the 196-70s thru early 1990s. Their insignia of that period is quite distinct as they copied pieces with brilliants but generally did not add the brilliants so there is a Danilo type starburst around the centers. Plus the distinctive Bulgar crown was not rendered in the same manner as former manufacturers. I am also fairly confident that Celjavo can produce any degree of that Bulgarian order to your specification even today!!

As to the German (oops!! again, but what the hell!) auction house that had fake Michael the Brave badges and pinbacks made to their order in the 1980s, their pinbacks were at least somwhat thinner than the one Carol I illustrates. An actual example, rather than a photo, probably was the exemplar for the 1980s copies. The value of the blue enamel is, if not exactly, very close to Carol I's examples. To me, the over all style of the piece illustrated hints at modern Romanian or Czech {Eastern Europe} make. Easily, I could be wrong. If you have Kai Meyer Collection photos, you can see both very likely original pinbacks and fakes. Kai himself owned a mdal manufacturing firm and besides his distinctive Prussian Crown and Red Eagle (replacement, SIC!) stars may have had a line of Romanian Star Orders.....at any rate he always had an awful lot of lst class sets with too many sword combinations for sale!!

PS--Other than Kathmandu, one can have [for our times] excellent insignia made in Lima, Bangkok or Singapore, besides less savory places. A friend claims Ulaan Bator has great workmanship and low prices. Bangkok is cheaper but like Singapore or Lima sometimes still (formerly) used both lost wax, mercury transfer gilding, and lead pigment methodology.

Egypt's President formerly was (and still may be) chief, formerly Grand Master, of all Egyptian Orders and some decorations, thus explaining Mubarak's Egyptian awards. As long-time head of state, he also holds many foreign decorations.

An Egyptian Crown Council affiliated with exiled King Fuad [Fu'ād] II administers his dynastic Muhamed Ali and Ismail Orders; occaisional awards still occur. An Egyptian source reports that Fuad authorized the Crown Council to re-institute the Royal Order of the Nile in the mid-late 1990s. One of Farouk's supposed "love-children" distributes an "Order of the Egyptian Crown" for a fee.

Thies apparently has a royal Order of Agriculture commander (likely a silver/gold high quality badge) to be offered in an upcoming auction.

Bichay's sign continues to reside store-front at 40 Talaat Harb, Cairo but inside one finds keychains and similar items sold by a person who claims to be (but is not) a family member.

Several publications, including Protocole, (Arabic, French & English, 1949) and Egyptian Orders and Decorations (Arabic, French & English, n.d. but 1980s), and Ed Haynes' website offer the best general coverage of this topic.

Truly a magnificant bar! If by odd sword hilts, you mean the "S" type Ernestines, these are so-called "Paris-style". The major EHO reference states that 2 dutchies used these hilts and the third used a more typical Prussian or Saxony style hilt. Controversy on this topic exists. The BDOS Journal has extensive discussion of this point. Unfortunately I am traveling now and cannot provide more details or cites for this information.

Reverse - The ribbon has a hole in it where the vendor had it hanging on a board by a safety pin, but the medal itself looks to be in very good condition. I dont know anything about this medal, any info would be appreciated.

This is a 2nd type (1967 to present) Order of the Republic (of Tunisia) knight badge. The Order was founded in 1959. A mid-1970s "Medal Collector" article contains full information on award criteria and design change. Sorry cannot lay my hands on the exact MC issue now. Insignia is/was made by Bertrand of Paris. By Order of National Merit you may mean the Order of Independence--successor to the Nichan Iftikhar and very similar in design.

Most Cabinet level Departments have at least a 3 tier wearable award system using nomenclature along the lines of Distinguished, Superior and Meritorious (Commendation) medals to denote levels of importance. A 1980s "Medal Collector" article described and illustrated the CIA's non wearable (table medal) series that also includes several bravery/service awards.

The State Department (which in 1997-8 absorbed the U.S. Information Agency--AKA, in the 1980s, International Communications Agency) has two "retirement/length of service" wearable medals in addition to the 3 tier system mentioned above. An article on State Department awards appeared in the "Medal Collector" in the early 1980s; the system has expanded a bit since then. (The Disarmament/Arms Controls Agencies were also subsumed into State in the 1990s to "shrink" government. So, until Balfour/MEDCO/DONDRO/whomever successors restrike the now-obsolete USIA, ICA, DACB, ACA, etcetera awards, they are getting harder to find.)

As mentioned in an earlier post, it is extremely uncommon for State employees (like other Federal workers) to wear their full size medals but infrequently lapel devices may be observed. On rare occasions (like the annual Marine Ball or at presentation of credentials by an ambassador) miniature medals may be worn. After justification and approval at senior bureaucratic levels, State allows acceptance/use/wear of other Federal civilian medals like the U.S. Vietnam Civilian Service medal and other awards e.g., for persons seconded to the SFM-MFO in Sinai, the MFO medal, the "Free and Fair Elections Observers Medal" or U.S. Army Commander Medals for civilians. Similarly, State, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, and very likely all other Departments, has allowed (after extremely stringent vetting) its employees to accept/wear foreign awards since the mid-1970s.

Here are some orders to members of the Peace mission:

Generaal-majoor Willem J.H .de Veer

Grandcross in the Order of Skanderbeg

6-8-1914

Prince William of Wied Accession Medal

7-3-1914

Majoor Henri J.L. Kroon

Commandeur in the Order of Skanderbeg

6-8-1914

majoor Lodewijk W.J.K. Thomson

Order of the Black Eagle

26-4-1914

Order of the Golden Eagle

28-4-2003

majoor Johan M. Sluys

Order of the Black Eagle

Prince William of Wied Accession Medal

7-3-1914

majoor Lucas Roelfsema

Knight 4th classe in the order of the Black Eagle

Here are the other members of the mission:

1ste luitenant Gerard A. Mallinckrodt

majoor Wouter de Waal

majoor Hugo J. Verhulst

majoor Joan E. Snellen van Vollenhoven

kapitein Carel de Iongh

kapitein Jetze Doorman

kapitein Jan Fabius

kapitein Julius H. Sonne

kapitein Hendrik G.A. Reimers

kapitein Jan H. Sar

Officier van gezondheid Tiddo Reddingius

sergeant-verpleger Jan van Vliet

Dr. F. de Groot

Other recipients of Albanian Orders:

J. Goldwurm

Officer in the Order of Skanderbeg

22-12-1937

The orders of Majoor Thomson during a ceremonie in 2004

First, Thank you for this fantastic information! I am especially interested and happy to see Major Thomson's orders-cushion--I suppose the event was the presenting to him of the Albanian Golden Eagle Order! I have just read a book called "The Six Month Kingdom" that adds a lot of information, including the heroic deeds of the Major. If you are familiar with his story, it was rumored that he was killed by an Italian as a matter of policy--and this book, which was written by Wilhelm's a-d-c, repeats that story. The photo is a bit unclear. Do I see a Military Order of William, and other campaign medals plus many foreign awards? I know Wilhelm awarded him the Black Eagle commander but do not remember if with swords. The Montenegro Danilo is also surprise--THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS WONDERFUL PHOTO!!!

I have Dr. Kietmann's Ordens Lexicon II which details some of the Black Eagle awards. Incidentially, the first two men on your list received the Black Eagle, not Skanderbeg, in 1914. I have found additional awards not described in Klietmann including more to Dutch soldiers or police and possibly civilians. You may know Mr. Meyer who had a group with a Black Eagle knight and Wilhelm accession medal. I have photocopy illustration of that group and will find a way to send you a copy if you like.

"The Six Months Kingdom" also suggests a much wider distribution of Wilhelm awards, including to French, British, and possibly American as well as more Dutch, German, Austrian Italian, and Albanian persons.

More on this subject shortly after I locate the medal group photostat. There was a French decoration group with either a Black Eagle officer or knight plus the accession medal, perhaps with Colonel Rullier, in Paris in 1976-78?--the late 1970s in any case.

I was so excited to read your news I was not polite in responding to your questions! Finding a Mirinda was relatively easy at the 2006 OMSA meeting. You may know that the manufacturer, N.S. Meyer of New York, went out of business. Much of the old stock, especially Boliver and Mirinda Orders was on offer at the OMSA convention. I think a Mirinda officer would not be too much, maybe US $50-70. I could look for one for you at the Texas convention if you do not find one by August. The Golden Palm knight is much harder to find, in my experience. Liverpool had one once but they wanted a lot of money for it. However, the decorations were made in the Netherlands and I probably can find the maker's name for you. A Spanish Civil Merit knight, likely Juan Carlos type would be correct, you can buy directly from Celjavo in Madrid. The last time I was there, several years ago, the cost was about 130 euros. They might be cheaper on the collector market.

Your other group is extremely impressive!! Do you suppose the man was serving before 1940? The Black Star of Benin looks like a pre-World War II manufactured piece. Thank you for showing this group! Will you be able to discover the person's name and position?

Best regards, and I will send a follow-up on the Black Eagle Order in the next few days....if not tomorrow, I must go on a short trip until next week, probably return on Friday. June 1.

EJ

Member (4th Class):

Are these made in Australia by Garrard? (Not affiliated with Gerrand of London)

Thanks for your large and very informative reaction!

What puzzles me is the fact that the ribbons are mounted in the Prussian court style way introduced in the Netherlands by HRH Prince Hendrik von Mecklenburg-Schwerin. This way of mounting is used in the military and by court personnel. (civilians and diplomats wear there medals hanging from the ribbon)

Since there is no officers or NCO's long service award in the group I lean towards court personnel. The Royal House Order could be a reward for long service.

But why two awards from Venezuela? Could he have received the lower award (knights grade) during the state visit and the higher (officers grade) during a counter visit? Or during a second stop in Venezuela during the state visit to Suriname and the islands? I am still looking for more details about the state visits from Queen Beatrix but I know that there where state visits during the time frame of this bar (1980).

I haven't received the bar in the mail yet. I hope that it is mounted by the Dutch Medal firm van Wielik. The manager since 30 years is still the same and maybe she remembers this combination!

Hello, Based on your research and photos on the web and in magazines, I think you are correct in placing the recipient as a court official. I'm not sure how he would have gotten two Venezuelan awards but, especially if he accompanied the Queen on visits (several times over the years) and/or was present when the visit was returned, it could make sense. Sometimes, as you know, once a person gets one medal the others come more easily, even multiple decorations from the same country! I believe there were (are) some medal bars displayed at Apeldoorn that contained both a French Legion of Honor and either an Agriculture Merit or Palmes Academic. On the other hand, perhaps it is a Spanish Civil Merit!

I hope that your friend at van Wielik can help identify the holder! It's sure to be an unusual, perhaps one-of-a-kind, combination. Congratulations!

Hello, Yes, I considered the Spanish Civil Merit possibility. However, the ribbon's central white stripe appears too narrow. Admittedly, there is not much difference between the white stripe's width of these two ribbons. Originally the Bello ribbon was exactly the same as the Spanish Civil Merit. Bello is basically for civil humanitarian, educational, diplomatic, poetic, and legal merit, some of the same categories as the Spanish Order, so these colors' proportions led to confusion. As the newer award, the Bello ribbon "evolved" to a narrower white stripe. Either Bob Werlich or Bob Elliot reported the Bello decorations were designed in Madrid so the Spanish Civil Merit ribbon was at hand. For a while the OMSA ribbon bank had the same ribbon for both. When the ex-Meyer stock was available, I think John got some Bello ribbon (with the somewhat narrower white stripe) for the ribbon bank.

Must add that Mirinda is also awarded for the same general services as Bello but also includes scientific achievements. l see Mirinda more often in diplomatic circles though. I'm not sure whether Mirinda or Bello are higher ranking.

Since the bar has Suriname and for sure Venezuela, it suggests South America.

All things considered, though, it may be possible that the last ribbon is for a Spanish Civil Merit Order--rarely those are given as "diplomatic" awards, though of much lower rank (people like communications or secretarial staff) not commissioned foreign service officers. (The usual Spanish diplomatic awards are Charles III or Isabella the Catholic.) That circumstance might make the Mirinda officer grade incompatable--that's not to say impossible!

Thanks for your reaction! Great information. I think you are right about these last two orders. I'm trying to find more info about them now. I don't think that there was a officers rozette on the last ribbon.

You are certainly welcome! The OMSA data base (among others) has illustrations of the Venezuelan awards. I don't know if Megan has illustrated them. Believe both are in Werlich; only Mirinda is in the curiously uneven Stair Sainty WOKM. Mirinda is {very loosely} for diplomatic merit and Bello for Civil merit. I was in Paramirabo some years ago and met a long time Dutch resident who had been awarded the Golden Palm. I wrote a Medal Collector article about his award document. The useful information in this context was that he he received an Orange Nassau knight during Queen Juliana's visit.

First, SS. Cyril & Methodius are ALWAYS Wonderful!! One of the most beautifully designed and executed insignia, with all sorts of historical connections! It's interesting that Ferdinand of Bulgaria decorated several Austrian personalities in 1909, the first year it existed. Another 3-4 awards to Austrians took place before 1914 and others during WW I. As New World states, records now available show only 9 Bulgarians (including royals) and 52 foreigners received this Order. On balance, it is likely that more Austrians got the Order than Bulgars! William deepest congratulations!!

The Order, like most of Ferdinand's creations had a complex organization. Of just one class, it had three different collars. The illustration above depicts the sash, badge & star plus the "lesser collar". A "large collar" that somewhat resembled the French Holy Spirit collar also could be awarded and an even more elaborate collar existed for the Order's Grand Master. Although reigning royals supposedly got the large collar, some apparently were given to crown princes or equivilents. The lesser collar went often to foreign non-royal leaders like Mussolini, Ciano, Ribbentrop, etc. Yet Boris III usually wore the small collar!! More or less definitive information may be found in Pavlov's Bulgarian Orders and Medals, Sofia 2002, pp.161-171 as well as Denkov and other sources.

As to post #22 and the likelihood that Peter Ferdinand would not have a Tuscan award, he almost certainly would have had at least one as he was a son of the (ex)reigning Tuscan royal/ducal family. More on the Tuscan-Austrian link: After much toing-and froing, following the formation and subsequent fall of the 1849 Tuscan Republic, his grandfather Leopold II requested Austrian support in returning to his throne, though he publicly denied doing so. In 1859, Leopold dithered over Tuscany's participation in the Franco-Piedmont war against Austria (a step towards Italian unification) and lost his position as a result. If he hadn't asked for Austrian assistance, while claiming he had not in 1849, he might have kept his throne. In the event, he abdicated in favor of Ferdinand IV, Peter F's father who did not reign but went to Austrian exile. Ferdinand IV (and possiby Leopold II) presented Tuscan decorations to many while in exile, especially in Austria. Most Tuscan decorations currently on the market are of Vienna, usually Rothe, work. So in effect. the Tuscan ruling family was beholden to Austria, lived there in exile, and continued to hand out honors perhaps as late as Ferdinand IV's death. There's another thread nearby with a photo of an 1870s Austrian officer wearing two Tuscan decorations (the thread seeks in part an ID for those awards. Sorry I cannot link to it.)

Members of the Tuscan ducal family live in Austria even today.

Yes, the club is a bit difficult to find. That's why I suggest asking at the Hilton or having a dealer friend take you or provide the address. (Don't remember if the building has a number but ask a neighbor or at a nearby drinks shop.)The younger man at the Hilton concierge desk knows the place. Don't forget to check the upmarket antique market at the old stables near the walking streets (also near the Leonidas chocolate shop).

I have found on YouTube some images from the collector's fair organised more or less regularly at the Şuţu Palace (near the University). It has all sorts of antiques, but beware of fakes.

Şuţu Palace Fair

No, to get to the club you bear right from the Hilton front corner entrance, cross the street and walk directly straight ahead (not up by the palace) for about 5-6 blocks, there was a very interesting building at that corner. Turn right and walk down 5-6 blocks. Then into a short passageway between two buildings into what looks like a garage. about 1/2 way thru the passage there's a concierge entrance & window with a door to the left. The same club used to be, maybe 7-9 years ago, at a different location more in the north central part of the city. (I was last there about a year ago & it may have moved.) The days and times change unpredictably. It was always on weekends in "socialist times". Last time it was on a Thursday. Mark was quite willing to give the location; other dealers less so.

Beautiful item, and getting very difficult to find now, Alex. These were made in Budapest but some were reported (by Bob Elliot, maybe) with a Bertrand hallmark on the pin. The immediate post WW II Hungarian Republic ('46-'48?) also used this order and a similar design but with a triangular shield type coat-of-arms in the center. The current republic Order of Merit again uses basically the same design, though the coat-of-arms on a traditional shield replaces the central device.

As noted, Tourist Guides/companies generally "sell" Queen Marie's reconstructed Bran Castle as Dracula's because it's easier and faster to get there from Bucharest. However, he probably never actually lived there though some claim he spent a night or two at Bran. If you are interested in the Count, the somewhat hokey Club Contele Dracula 8A Splaiul Independentei St. Bucharest Phone: 021/312-1353 may be worth a visit. Perhaps the best factual Dracula book is "In search of Dracula" by Radu Florescu & Raymond McNally.

I looked for my list of Bucharest medal dealers & phone numbers for you but could not find it. Telephone directory assistance used to be able to give Mark Patterson's number; I don't know if his website is still up.

Perhaps others could help out?

Besides the Military Museum, the central post office sometimes has national symbol displays including current and past decorations.

There's an informal medal/insignia club that meets, usually once a week, near the Hilton [Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel 1-3 Episcopiei St., District 1, Bucharest, Romania 010292 Tel: 40-(0)21-303 3777 Fax: 40-(0)21-315 2121]. The Hilton concierge can direct you as to exact time & place. It's about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and is a little hard to find.

Club admission is a few lei and there may be anywhere from 5 to 35 people present most of whom have things for sale and speak some English or French. Most are very friendly people. If Mark Patterson is around he may have something for sale and there are a couple of Romanian medal dealers who work out of their homes. The dealers usually come to the club meetings. Some [city center] coin shops and antique dealers display medals for sale in their windows and vitrines.

If you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Transylvania and BOTH of Drac's castles. The "real" one is much more evocative than Queen Marie's reconstruction but you can get t-shirts at hers!

Carol I's correct, I omitted mentioning the suspension wreath wheat ears component. The rose bloom appears between the infulae where they join the wreath. Symbolism indicates 1) Bulgarian valor and forest resources (oak), 2) Bulgarian care for human values and the valley of roses (rose), and 3) state values and agricultural production (wheat).

The relative size of the wreath is odd. Breast badges have larger sized wreaths than neck and sash badges.

Sofia's Military Museum displays a 'proto-type' or 'individually created' suspension wreath on a Military Bravery 3rd 2nd grade badge. It adds/includes a cog wheel around the rose bloom. The cog wheel appeared to be a seperately applied piece and probably was intended to represent Bulgarian industrial production.

Wheat ears and cog wheels appear in many communist symbols so their inclusion may have been a hint at things to come.

More on ribbons--as illustrated above, it is important to remember that "regency" and "republic" Military Merit Order 6th thru 4th class (both with and without surmounting suspension crown or wreath) awards could be presented on the Military Bravery Order ribbon just like the czarist types. That ribbon would usually indicate an award for combat service and is especially useful in determining 6th class classification since the 6th class did not use [as far as is now known] the "combat" oak/laurel wreath superimposed on the cross.

displayed = form of the verb display = as in "show off" or "exhibit to advantage"

in = preposition

perpetuity = noun = "the state or quality of being perpetual" (lasting for an indefinitely long time or continuing indefinitely without interruption)."

Put another way. The recipient (museum) will (1) not bury/relegate the donated items to the "back rooms" , (2) sell them off to fund other projects, programs, etc. but will (3) make them available for all to see during normal viewing hours, again etc.

Ed notes that bequests/gifts may "disappear" out the back door or simply be regarded as encumbering trash after the bloom of a handing over ceremony, or basic purpose, fades. What to do with the dross? I cited some museum bequest/gift situation excuses in my first post.

My first post was intended to indicate that when material is presented to an institution under the unequivocal condition that "x" percent will be on public display for whatever purpose in perpetuity at that institution, or a stipulation that the material will be available for research purposes in perpetuity at that institution, there is no guarantee that the institution will honor its commitment. In fact, experience shows breach of commitment (due to Force Majeur, naturally!!) in almost every case! That is the context of the particular deceased enthusiasts' names I listed?and the ANS for that matter. What recourse, then, exists? Practically speaking.......and in my view....NONE!

The example of Dr. McKay and the Smithsonian offers an illustration. I disremember McKay's exact donation to the Smithsonian terms, SGY may know them. However, the Smithsonian undertook to display a specific percentage, probably five percent, of McKay's sizable award collection donation in explicit exchange for his substantial bequest. These terms were publicized at OMSA conventions and at the display inauguration. Those who may recall the early 1970s McKay display will remember that it occupied an approximately 600 square foot area with purpose built floor and wall display cases and well designed lighting on the top floor, militaria section, of The National Museum of American History near a war of 1812 gunboat.

When "space requirements" dictated a scale back in the mid 1970s, the display contracted to one-third the size in about 200 poorly configured square feet. The Lilly coin bequest and subsequent "redesign" of the "numismatic area", ended with McKay's baubles restricted to an entry hall with six or so wall hanging display cases. By the 1990s, McKay's bequest was "all placed in the vaults." A wall hanging case or two reappeared in about 1996 but those were gone in 1998. The National Museum of American History is now closed for renovations, so who knows what the future will hold for McKay's bequest/display.

So, practical perpetuity's first victim, display intent--probable violation of gift/bequest "display" terms.

In 1970-71, I spent six months negotiating with Dr. Stefanelli to view McKay's entire donation as part of a research project. That effort certainly suggests a problem with access to the material even at that time. (Actual time spent reviewing the holdings was about 40 hours. I wonder how the access issue would go today! )

Practical Perpetuity's second victim, public accessibility--probable violation of bequest "access" intent.

I had list of many, but probably not all, items belonging to McKay. About ten percent of the listed awards, over 250 items, could not be located anywhere in the Smithsonian during an almost two year search. Bob Werlich, who viewed the collection in the 1960s, recounted the same story but he thought that about 150 things were missing. Well, who knows, maybe McKay sold those pieces before his death.

The Smithsonian cooperated with OMSA in displaying select McKay bequest items at the 1972? Silver Spring convention. However, when I revisited the entire holding in 1983, more "medals", including some items that were on public display in the early 1970s and several of the pieces that had been displayed at the convention, "could not be located". Further, even photos of most those things had "gone missing!" Imagine my surprise!!!

Practical Perpetuity's third victim, custodial safeguarding?likely violation of bequest item preservation responsibility OR??..what happened to the goodies?

(If they did go out the back door, let's hope they're safe in someone's collection!)

Neal O'Conner had an ideal solution but then he had knowledge and financial resources making his museum possible. Even so, in his final days, he could not ensure it's survival, explaining his donation. I know that several recently deceased, extremely serious "ordens-kunde" students consciously made the decision not to donate their materials to museums or other repositories primarily because they wanted their treasures to stay in the hands of those who appreciate them. What could be better than to have a decoration that stayed with a valued friend for a while that you know will move on to another who will understand what it really means in due time??

In the event, it becomes increasing clear (Thanks, Ed!) that:

Perhaps only a multi-generation chain of collector custodians will really care for these things and grant them the research they deserve, but then this brings us back to the problem of the introduction of poison into the system in the form of spuriously "invented" groups

N.B. On balance, museums face real space/funding issues. Appears that, unless you've very special circumstances, gifts/bequests to an institution under the unequivocal condition that material will be accessible to the public, or even safeguarded, in perpetuity at that institution is not realistic or enforceable.

Hello Gentlemen,

First, Alex, your pictured ribbon 'candidate' is basically correct if you consider your piece a 1946-1950 Bulgarian "republic" award. I outline a likely slight color variation below. However, if you identify the item as a 1944-46 "regency" decoration, the "usual" Bulgarian Military Merit Order white-black-yellow ribbon would be appropriate.

Dragomir Acovic, of Belgrade, noted these insignia changes in writings first available in "the West" as early as the late 1970s. He later published this information, in the early-mid 1980s, but I don't have his correspondence or book to hand now to provide exact information/dates. The Bulgarian "regency" was established after Boris III's death to "administer" the country before Simeon's coming of age. As in other nations, a more-or-less "bourgeois republic" was the transition from the "regency" until the communists openly and formally took control of Bulgaria.

To restate: Bulgar "regency" [1944-46] Military Merit Order ribbon is the same color/design as that used for Bulgarian Czarist Military Merit Order ribbon. I describe "regency" authorized insignia design changes below.

The 1946-1950 Bulgar "republic" Military Merit Order ribbon is the same as the 1891-1950 Bulgar Civil Merit Order {c.f. Acovic, Todor Petrov "Orders & Medal of Bulgaria" Sofia, 2000, pix on page 131, cite: Council of Ministers Decree 18 of 18 July 47; T. Petrov, "Bulgarian Orders and Medals", Sofia, 2005 p 129, same cite; P. Pavlov "Bulgarian Orders and Medals" Sofia, 2002, p 131 text, photos p 146 ff.. I don't have Denkov's book handy but he reports the same ribbon and design changes. Worth noting--this ribbon stock, like much post-1936 Bulgarian Civil Merit Order stock, uses lighter green and purple shades that the pre-1936 stock. The piece of ribbon you illustrate has the older color value.} The "republic" estabished insignia changes, described below, as well.

Same sources report [seemingly as part of a 1944 and the 1946 Decrees] a mandated replacement of Ferdinand's cypher (obverse medallion center) with the Bulgar lion--sometimes displaying a crown above the lion's head <"regency"?>, sometimes without <"republic?">--(former reverse center). At the same time, an (enameled) Bulgarian tricolor took the (czarist) reverse center lion medallion position. Why? So far, no information but maybe to distinguish "regency" and "republic" issued Military Merit Order awards.

Besides altering insignia centers and changing the ribbon color, "republic" issues of Civil Merit and Military Merit Orders (plus the St. Alexander Order, merit and lifesaving etc. awards) swapped out Czarist Bulgarian suspension crowns [for insignia that had them] for an unenamelled wreath comprised of oak leaves and roses. Some pieces that would (should?) have had a suspension crown or wreath, like commander or grand cross badges, lack any kind of intervening element and just have a suspension loop. "On-the-Spot" alterations to czarist insignia probably explain these types. Ebay vendors offer insignia with all these variations from time to time. Victor Baychev, among others, also offers such items on his website.

Secondly, in addition to "regency" and "republic" military awards, others including Bulgarian and foreign civil servants, the 1950 Yugoslav National Literary and Nobel Prize winner, diplomats, and perhaps even some Americans received Bulgarian "regency" and "republic" decorations. Civilians usually got the Civil Merit Order but "National Order of Alexander Nevesky" [as the "republic" restyled the St. Alexander Order] awards are also documented.

Within Bulgaria, many people openly wore royal, "regency" and 1946-50 "republic" decorations and medals, especially the Military Bravery Order, alongside their "socialist/communist" medals during the communist regime. Communist era active duty soldiers wore medal groups containing both Military Bravery and Merit Orders; these appear complete with associated ribbon bars and document booklets [suggesting the groups are not modern lash-ups] on eBay several times a year.

Specific legislation {i have not seen it!} supposedly approved in 2000-01 allows honorees to publicly display and wear czarist, "regency" and 1946-50 "republic" decorations. (With Simeon then serving as Prime Minister, maybe this is not too odd!) Nowadays, some wear their communist awards as well.

Ask me a yes or no question and you get this kind of lengthy reply! In any case, I am happy to share this esoteric information!