new world

Here's another bad star.

It's possible this is not 100% fake, some parts could be original with repairs, modifications and additions, but overall package is quite horrible.

Soldier Bravery Cross without swords to make it look like medical version.

You can clearly see that swords were cut.

6 hours ago, Binky said:

... I raised the point regarding the second class star, that forging hallmarks is a criminal offence and to conceal the fact that they are obviously fake, equates to deception. 

Good luck proving that seller made forgery himself. 

It's also almost impossible to convict someone of selling fakes, you would need an expert opinion, which will be time consuming and expensive.

Even if you succeed, sellers can also play ignorance and say they believed they were selling real thing.

9 hours ago, nickstrenk said:

I hope,collegues from Bulgaria will advise.Is it original or fake?Probably unawarded?

These medals sell for cheap and are quite easy to find, why would anyone bother faking them?

Pics for 1st class reverse are blurry, it's impossible to tell anything from them. I don't like front pics of the 1st class though.

Of course it's preferable to hold this star in hand and inspect it carefully, however most of the times we don't have such luxury. Based on the troubling signs seen in the pics it's better to stay away from this seller.

the reverse of the 2nd class is especially hideous! In all my years collecting I've never seen such marks and such bad quality if the reverse.

Front looks decent though.

These gold medals would be easy to fake.

Fakers make complex awards with enamel from scratch - one needs to be especially careful when considering these gold grade medals.

3 hours ago, Graf said:

Hi New World,

 

Yes I did mean Soldiers Cross without swords I even did not look whether it was "adapted" by cutting the swords Or it was originally made without them

I doubt they existed. 

If you were a doctor, for which you would have to funish a university and a med school. With that much education you would be in the army at the officer level.

11 hours ago, Graf said:

... I regret that i did not bid on the 1941 Model Soldiers Cross for Doctors i am still looking whether at least i managed to save it in my files

 

 

 

 

Do you mean Soldiers Cross without swords?

Nice Regency award!

Box is incorrect - it's from WWI, Ferdinand period (pre-1918), and for award with military distinction.

camelneck,

I am sure there are some fakes of the 1941 soldier crosses out there. They demand huge premium over normal Bravery crosses, so someone is probably looking to make quick buck.

I don't own any in my collection, mainly because I never saw one for good price.

54 minutes ago, camelneck said:

I'm also positive that this wasn't a 4th class award without enamel.  I assume new world was talking about the cross arms when he used the word "rays".  If so, I was going to mention this also. The cross arms could not be smooth.  Some kind of pattern of raised lines would have had to been etched into them in order to provide the texture underneath the red enamel that all 4th class medals possess.  Since the cross consist of multiple parts, one would expect these raised lines to be present on the arms of the cross prior to assembly.  it would only make sense.  However, no such raised lines exist.  Thus, if someone applied red enamel to the arms of this cross, it would look like clear glass that was free of any texture.

Personally, I find the center medallion (both sides) to be most interesting.  In this case, we actually find a pattern of raised lines that have been etched into the medal in the exact location where you would find the red enamel in the center of a 4th class award.  However, this particular pattern consists of raised "radial lines" that originate from the center of the medallion in a radial (spoke-like) fashion.  While there are raised lines etched into the medallion of a 4th class medal, these lines are vertical lines (that are parallel to each other) as opposed to non-intersecting radial lines.  This alone is definitive proof that this medal was designed to be different than both the soldier's cross and the Order of Bravery 4th Class.

Correct, I meant 'arms'...

Check this topic - there are a lot of examples of soldier crosses with 1941 date:

On 11/21/2014 at 21:05, utopis said:

Some time ago this, so called St. Sava for non Christians was offered for sale on auction at a staggering starting price of 9000€...

Did it sell at that price?

It's obviously a fake. 

They removed image with a cross from the center and enameled crossed from four eagles not to offend non-christians, but they left untouched crosses on top of the same four eagles and cross on the top of the crown. This makes no sense!

I think it was Simeon who put Ferdinand's items for sale.

In reality such items are pain to keep and require proper special care, specifically for wool and fur. Uniforms are bulky, you can't just put them on a hanger and hang in a closet. Plus you need to watch for moth and other dangers...

With time they become more of a liability.

Awards are more portable and don't take as much space.

More photos:

More of coat

Trousers

Hat

Case

Belt

Boots

This uniform was originally sold at the auction back in 1989 - "Ferdinand I. Zar von Bulgarien" conducted by Karlheinz Müller, Limburg.

There was entire catalogue of items belonging to Tsar Ferdinand. I see at least 150 positions in that book.

It looks like large part of Ferdinand's estate was auctioned (uniforms, cases, headwear, etc), meaning there are a lot of his items out there...

Description in German:

Komplette Galauniform als Feldmarschall der Österreichischen / Ungarischen Husaren

aus den Nachlass des FELDMARSCHALL ZAR FERDINAND I. von Bulgarien

1. Scharlachrote Attila in der Ausführung der I. Rangklasse (FELDMARSCHALL), alle Effekten sind vergoldet und in feinster Qualität
Auf der rechten Brust ZAHLREICHE Schlaufen für diverse Auszeichnungen, innen mit dem entsprechenden Trägeretikett
des Hofschneiders Josef Szally in Wien: "Fmsch. König Ferdinand 17.II.16"

2. Scharlachrote Reithose  in der Ausführung der I. Rangklasse (FELDMARSCHALL), alle Effekten sind vergoldet und in feinster Qualität
mit dem entsprechenden Trägeretikett des Hofschneiders Josef Szally in Wien: "Fmsch. König Ferdinand 17.II.16"

3. Weiße Pelzattila in der Ausführung der I. Rangklasse (FELDMARSCHALL), alle Effekten sind vergoldet und in feinster Qualität
mit Zobel Pelz, auf der rechten Brust ZAHLREICHE Schlaufen für diverse Auszeichnungen

4. Kalpak Pelzmütze (Zobel) mit scharlachroten Sack, Schnüre und Geflechte in vergoldeter Ausführung, weißes seidiges Innenfutter

5. Hellbrauner Leder-Koffer zur Aufbewahrung des Leibgürtels und des Kalpak, mit aufgelegten Zaren Chiffre

6. Leibgürtel / Feldbinde, Ausführung für Generale-Feldmarschall, vergoldetes Geflecht mit weißem Futter

7. Hellbraune Stiefel (Tschismen), mit goldener Randeinfassung und je einem anhängendem Bouillon
Beide Stiefel wurden am Spann restauriert, da sie eingerissen waren


Kaiser Franz Joseph von Österreich ernannte Zar Ferdinand I.von Bulgarien am 15.2.1916
zum kaiserlich-österreichischen Generalfeldmarschall.

EXTREM seltenes und komplettes Uniformen-Set


Provenienz:
Auktion "Ferdinand I. Zar von Bulgarien"
Karlheinz Müller, Limburg des Jahres 1989
Der damalige Zuschlag für diese Uniform lag damals bei ca.100.000.- DM
Der Auktionskatalog mit Abbildungen wird mitgeliefert.

Some of you are familiar of this spectacular photo of King Ferdinand wearing multiple awards. 

Now the same Hussar uniform he's photographed in is for sale. This truly special, one of a kind historical item!!! Full set consisting of 7 items - coat, trousers, overcoat, hat, boots, etc.

His name is written on the labels and FI monogram is on the case.

Note multiple loops to attach awards on the coat and over-coat.

Now you can appreciate this beauty in full red, gold, white and other colors!!!

2 hours ago, ilieff said:

*Gen Stoychev has been decorated with 4th, 3rd and 2nd class (with crown suspension) of the Military Order. Wikipedia states that he's also been decorated with the 1st class but I cannot find a photograph where he's displaying it. I am thinking they might be referencing the later socialist order "For Bravery" instead.

From what I can find - it looks like the highest grade Stoichev was awarded with was 2nd class.

He used to wear neck cross and white breast cross, however it appears to be 3rd class 1st grade cross.

Here's General Stoichev in late years of his life - 1980. He's wearing only white star, which looks like 3rd class 1st grade.

Finally - his monument in Sofia - with neck cross 2nd class and breast crosses of 3rd class 1st grade and 4th class 1st grade.

No 1st class star...

26 minutes ago, Igor Ostapenko said:

Thank you, Graf ! 

Igor, where did this document come from?

Thank you Igor, these photos are amazing!

On 4/4/2017 at 09:42, paul wood said:

Thank god they are still pretty horrible.

Paul

well, these fakes were from 9 years ago, they are probably much better now

Wow! 

That Civil Merit with diamonds is stunning!!!

Fake 4th class 1st grade Bravery.

Was selling by the same person as fake 3rd class from previous post. Apparently was made by the same faker.

2 hours ago, Graf said:

Hi Igor.

It will be interesting to find out when they are awarded. Both 1st and the 3rd Class are with the Royal crown, that means that they might have been awarded during the Regency Period or at least one of them. There is a speculation that during the republican periods  the removal of the crown was done only  on  3rd  Class 2nd Grade and replaced with wreath. That means  a piece of 2nd Class with a wreath could be a 'fantasy' one

There  is  a lot of grey area during post war two period

 

Graf

 

If you refer to post #74 in this discussion - there are photos of Soviet Marshal Tolbukhin with 1st class of Bravery. He was awarded post September 1944, most likely in 1945.

As you can see he received award with a royal crown.

In the same post - another Soviet officer with Bravery 3rd class 2nd grade - also award with a crown.

As you can see, these are real examples of people receiving official Bravery awards during Republican times. It's possible that Bravery awards with wreath were all fantasy pieces.

Does anyone have a photo of Bravery cross with wreath in wear?