new world

That's correct observation.

In fact all my boxes for Civil Merit from princely emission have rounded corners. Keep in mind that there were not many of them awarded.

9 hours ago, Graf said:

One more miniature

This award is very rare by itself, but the mini is even rarer. I've never seen one before!

Sweet group!

Here's my 1st class set of Princely emission - with correct period case.

Made by Schwertner, marked as such inside the case and on the star.

Note how both cross and case have the same rounded princely crown.

According to T. Petrov in his book only 373 orders of 1st class were awarded, mostly to foreigners - 344. Only 29 to Bulgarians. 

fake Suhe Bator sold for $1585!

On 11/20/2016 at 23:46, Igor Ostapenko said:

The Order of St. Stephen Grand Cross Awarded to Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria 

https://www.emedals.com/europe/austria-imperial/orders/order-of-st-stephen/the-order-of-st-stephen-grand-cross-awarded-to-ferdinand-i-tsar-of-bulgaria

Dealer web site shows this set as SOLD for $41,000!!!

13 hours ago, 922F said:

May he rest in peace.  Yes, as Paul states, a true gentleman, always quite willing to share information on a multitude of subjects.  

In addition to his many other activities and honors, one of the very few persons decorated by present head of the House of Petrović-Njegoš with the Orders of Petrovic Njegos and Saint Peter of Cetinje upon their restoration as Montenegrian dynastic or House Orders.   His other awards include decorations from Denmark and several former ruling families.

His awards (from Wiki)

National orders and medals

•  Denmark : Order of the Dannebrog
•  Russia : Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg
•  Russia : Order of Friendship (20 June 2011)
•  Russia : Order of Alexander Nevsky

Dynastic orders

•  Montenegro : Knight of the Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje
•  Montenegro : Knight of the Order of Petrovic Njegos
•  Montenegro : Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo I
•  Bulgaria : Commander of the Order of St Alexander

Books on awards by D. Romanov:

The Orders, Medals and History of Greece. Balkan Heritage. 1987. ISBN 87-981267-1-7.

The Orders, Medals and History of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Balkan Heritage. 1982. ISBN 87-981267-0-9.

The Orders, Medals and History of Imperial Russia. Balkan Heritage. 2000. ISBN 87-981267-4-1.

The Orders, Medals and History of the Kingdoms of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Balkan Heritage. 1996. ISBN 87-981267-3-3.

The Orders, Medals, and History of Montenegro. Balkan Heritage. 1988. ISBN 87-981267-2-5.

This is the best collection of Bulgarian miniatures I've ever seen!

Minis are much rarer than the full size awards, as many of them were custom made.

Thanks for showing these!!!

17 hours ago, ilieff said:

The updated list

 

 

Bulgaria:
- Order of SS Cyril and Methodius
- Military Order "For Bravery"
- Royal Order of St. Alexander
- Order of Civil Merit
- Order of Military Merit

 

German Empire
- Order of the Black eagle - Grand Cross
- Order of the Red Eagle - Grand Cross
- Imperial Military order of the Iron cross
- Pour le Merite with oak leaves (Military division)
- Order of Saint John (Ignore Order)
- Saxe-Ernestine House order - Collar and Grand Cross with diamonds
- Order of the Wendish Crown
- Military Merit cross (Mecklenburg)
- Hessen Order of Philip the Magnanimous
- Saxon Military Order of St. Henry
- Oldenburg Friedrich August cross - II class
- Bavarian Order of St Hubert - Grand Cross

Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Order of the Golden Fleece
- Order of St. Stephan - Collar and Grand cross with diamonds
- Military order of Maria Theresia - Grand cross
- Military Merit cross with war distinction - I class
- Order of Vitez

 

British Empire
- The Most Honourable Order of the Bath - Collar and Grand Cross
- Royal Victorian Order

 

Russian Empire
- Order of St. Andrew - Collar and Grand Cros
- Order of St. Alexander Nevsky - Grand Cross with diamonds
- Order of the White Eagle - Grand Cross
- Order of St. Vladimir - Grand Cross
- Order of St. Anna
- Order of St. Stanislav

 

France:
- Order of Holy Spirit
- Order of the Legion of Honour - Grand Cross
- Monaco Order of St. Charles - Grand Cross
- Order of The Academic palms - Gold class

 

Ottoman Empire
- High Order of Honour 
- Gallipoli star (Iron Crescent)

Kingdom of Italy
- Order of the Holy Annunciation
- Order of St Maurice and Lazarus
- Constantine Military order of St George - Grand cross
- Order of St Januarius - Grand cross

 

Kingdom of Belgium
- Order of Leopold - Grand Cross

 

Kingdom of Romania
- Order of Carol I - Collar and Grand Cross

 

Kingdom of Portugal
- Military Order of the Tower and the Sword - Collar and Grand Cross
- Order of the Christ and St Benedict of Aviz - Grand Cross

 

Kingdom of Sweden
- Order of the Seraphim

 

Kingdom of Denmark
- Order of the White Elephant

 

Empire of Brazil
- Order of the Rose
- Order of the Southern Cross

 

Principality of Montenegro
- Order of Prince Danilo I - Grand Cross

 

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
- Order of the Cross of Takovo
- Order of the Star of Karađorđe

 

Malta
- Military order of St John of Jerusalem (Maltese order)

 

The Vatican
- Order of Pope Pius IX

 

Persian Empire
- Order of the Aqdas
- Order of the Lion and the Sun - Grand Cross

Medals and other decorations:
- Cross for XX years of faithful service
- Marian Cross of the German Knight Order
- Lippe-Schaumburg Loyal Service Cross

I see both Bulgarian X and XX yr service crosses.

Also, for Montenegro - in addition to Danilo Grand cross there's 5th class on the medal bar. 

In reference to Hungarian St Stephen set sold by eMedals:

Footnote: This set of insignia belonged to Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria; the set was sold through auction house “Karlheinz Müller, Limburg”, on 23. September 1989, lot # 063. The lot was purchased by a well-known dealer California based dealer T. Eriksen, for an American client, and eventually, the set was sold to eMedals recently (full name of buyers and provenance will be disclosed to the buyer). 

Colleagues,

I have the same Sotheby's catalogue as Graf and can second his opinion that it's truly awesome!

One thing to keep in mind - not all orders in this catalogue were awarded to Ferdinand, despite some having precious stones on them. There were many lower class awards which were not suited to King/Knyaz, such as 3rd class crosses, as well as 6th class awards. 36 Bulgarian awards in total - no way he was awarded all of them.

Also, some important awards were not part of catalogue/auction, such as Serbian Karageorge 1st class set and others supposedly his.

OMG! I hope no one buys these stars.

Another fake one for sale. Not sure who they are going to fool with this one.

more "treasures" from the same source

Language on the label from the bottom of the box is Italian and the label looks old (likely from the period when this was awarded), so it's possible the recipient was from Italy. But you also have label on the front of the box with Number 4, perhaps inventory label from a museum or an auction. So, Italian awardee could be wrong guess. 

As for the period - the set was made during Tsar Ferdinand time, between 1908 and 1918.

That's as much as you can get in terms of the name - an Italian recipient from 1908-1918.

1st class set looks good, not sure why you say it didn't exist.

The cross is not the same as for 3rd class. It's the same size and both had green enamels, but differences are in center red medallion - 3rd class has lion in the center, while 1st class has elaborate name "St Alexander" in the center.

Unfortunately it's almost impossible to know the name of the awarded, unless you have document or box is labeled with the name. In this case only name and the grade is on the label.

Questionable Bravery cross 4th class 1st grade,

Vazov,

The thing to watch for the crosses without the swords - make sure the swords were not removed recently. There are some "conversions" out there, sellers trying to get more money by removing the swords and selling awards for 2x the price of normal Bravery crosses.

2nd cross is genuine, just in bad condition.

27 minutes ago, V.Vazov said:

Hi New World,

I saw as well this order which is, as you know, a missing piece in my collection and I had a doubt as well.

To be honest, it is really well done and I think it can confuse. I'm not even sure what exactly bothered me in it.

I'd like to have your and Graf's advice on this one. What I see as bothering is:

- the lion in the center medalion does not have enough relief;

- the number 1 is too slim;

- the reverse is too rough and the attaching mechanism is too thick;

Overall I think, hélas, that for a fake it's damn well made....

What you think? By which details you recognise it is a fake?

Many thanks!

Vazov

I'd say all of the above, plus:

- green enamel is rough and has small holes,

- numbers 5 and 7 are wrong (as compared to known crosses),  

- pin and catch hook are not typical of Bulgarian awards,

- letters in green circle.

More fake stuff that's out there now:

Bravery 3 cl 1st grade 1915-1917

19 hours ago, Graf said:

I just found in my files one of the Viktor/Karissa Masterpieces

 

 

 

Only cross on the left is in question, correct?

Also, as far as I understand cross itself is likely original, but with added diamonds. 

I believe this badge is a fake: lack of details, looks brand shiny new, sloppy uneven assembly, lack of correct screwback system...

How his grave looked like in 1943

another image with XX award

You've got real rarity!

I don't remember seeing such type for sale. I checked all my books and only Prof. Pavlov has this type listed.  

I didn't know Spink was a dealer in orders and medals.

Is this the same Spink company which manufactured British and some foreign awards (they made awards for Polish government in exile)?