new world

what makes you think it's made in Russia?

Here's Grand Cross awarded in 1937 (when Flat Reverse version was introduced). As you can see reverse of the cross is not Flat.

Star with smooth rays - 1st class Star with diamond rays - Grand Cross

yes, info on Bulgarian Royal Decorations site is correct. In 1930-40s both Grand Cross and First class were awarded. It seems Flat Reverse version didn't really impact Grand Cross, as it was given for only a few months. I have not seen any Grand Cross crosses with Flat Reverse. There's actually a debate on whether Flat Reverse existed above 3rd class. Flat was only feature of the cross, and the cross was the same for 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes. You pair that cross with a star and it becomes a higher class.

This is extremely rare and nice set of documents, however medal itself raises some questions. 1) That number does not look like serial numbers generated at Bulgarian mint. 2) Number is too high for stamped and hand inscribed numbers 3) Award was given in 1978 - by this time they stopped putting serial number on awards. 4) Award box obviously does not belong to the award, they had luxury box specially made for high ranking recipients. I can think of couple explanations for this: 1) Serial number was added by Polish to match the numbers in the document for inventory purposes. 2) Number was added by people who try to sell the group to increase its value.

"awarded orders and medals for impeccable and conscientious service in the army by Decree of the Presidium of the National Assembly No. 649 of December 13, 1950. The specific awarding standards are: - the Combat Merit Medal is awarded for 10 years of service; - the Third Class September 9 Revolution Order is awarded for 15 years of service; - the Order of the Red Banner is awarded for 20 years of service; and - the Order of Dimitrov is awarded for 25 years of service." In 1950 when this law was passed People's Republic of Bulgaria was only 6 years old (since Sep 1944), so how was it possible for someone to have 10, 15 and especially 25 years of service at that time? Did they count years served in Tsar Boris army? This was not the same situation as in Soviet Union, because when they adopted awards for service their Red Army was already 30+ years old and plenty of officers were in service for 25 years.

Same seller who listed fantasy St Alexander star also sells high classes of other Bulgarian orders - cross of 1st class of Bravery, 1st class set of St Alexander with swords, 2nd classes of St Alexander and Military Merit. His photos are small and it's difficult to say for sure whether the awards are real or not, however the boxes look highly suspect and remind me of boxes from fake sets offered in recent past by infamous seller from Bulgaria (we discussed his sets earlier in this thread). St Alexander 1cl Bravery Mil Merit 2cl

it's a good thing that quality of these Chinese Bravery crosses is quite bad, they will not be fooling collectors. These are more of souvenirs IMHO.

True, but considering that these medals were given in late 1930s, by that time families already knew their soldiers didn't make it back from the war.

these are nice! Fairly uncommon, congrats!

nice!

Many awards were converted by removing screw post and replacing it with a pin. You can see remains of screw post in the center. It was driven by practical consideration, as people didn't want to damage their clothes by making a hole in them. Screw post attachment was practical during war time and was quite secure to assure that you don't lose the medal, but as the was ended people started to care about nice clothes.

IMHO the shapes were different because Yugoslavia was a socialist country and wanted to have their own marks

Nice and rare award! Thank you for sharing!

Not sure you'd get the badge for donating such small amount. In 1915 1 US dollar = 6.50 Kr. $1 in 1915 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $31.22 today. 3 Kr would be worth about $15 in modern money.

could it be that the Austrian Committee helped to procure the badges for Bulgarians and cardboard with name and price from manufacturer just lists the price the Bulgarian Red Cross was paying for these badges?

Text on the cardboard says something like "Austrian auxiliary committee for Bulgarian Red Cross". Not sure what that means. Perhaps Austrian and Bulgarian Red Cross organizations worked together during the WWI and this cross was to award people who excelled in this work?

Couple of Princess Nadezhda wedding photos, she's wearing the same St Alexander cross with swords. Duke Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg, son of Duke Philipp of Württemberg and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, married Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria, the youngest daughter of Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria and Princess Marie Louise of Parma, in Bad Mergentheim on this day January 24, in 1924, 100 years ago. Royal Guests and Relatives included Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, Princess Eudoxia, and Kyrill, Prince of Preslav, Duke Albrecht of Württemberg, Archduchess Marie Therese of Austria-Teschen, Duchess of Württemberg, Duke Robert of Württemberg and Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany. Princess Nadezhda wore a Diamond Bandeau and a Köchert Diamond Necklace along with the spectacular French Crown Pearl Brooch

This is also her award, from Kuenker:

It's the bar he's wearing in this photo:

It's definitely Bulgarian award. It's made in Austria though.

No one fakes these, these are inexpensive medals, faking them would cost more than buying original ones.

also, I see that sample in the book has Bulgarian crest on top as perforated type, while on your badge it's filled solid.

I am concerned that badge has white enamel on the rays and shield instead of blue. It looks odd.

This was likely done right after the war as part of denazification campaign I never saw a box for Bravery order in blue. These must be super rare! " I have only 2 and was told they were manufactured by "ROSEN' of Sofia sometime in 1992 by a major Bulgarian collector/researcher" The blue box looks just like most of WW2 green boxes and has proper signs of aging. Not sure if these were made in 1990s. My guess would be that blue ones were made for aviators, however there's no evidence in support of such theory.