redcross

quick translation

the sacred heart of Jesus protects Belgium

For Humanity, For Country

without seeing a picture

I would guess it was a war relief fund raising medal

during the Weimar period,

I am aware of the Red Cross order

1st & 2nd class

which are well documented in the standard works

was there also a rare "special class"

or is this a fantasy medal

as it does not appear in anything I have

I've attatched a 1st class award for some color

kriegshilfe is war relief, and did fall under the Red Cross,

there is a series of these, and perhaps more will come out

of hiding, the Austrian ones have been trickling out,

everytime I think I know the whole series,

sometihing new shows up.

I'll make a guess

its nice old ribbon

perhaps recycled from another bar

and I suspect that from the holes

left from where it had been sewn before

but the thing most striking

is the non-combatant EK is

hanging from a ribbon that is of incorrect width

what more might be wrong I leave for our expert to reveal

I know I have plenty to learn

I like weights, even if I haven't found them very useful

and I wonder how many people have accurate scales,

probably less than those who have blacklights

which I find more useful, as there seem to be

a number of people putting together "old" ribbon bars & medal groups

a nice award, not often seen

the best oil is personal

gun oil is a good choice

I picked up some silicone oil

from an older copier [fusser assembly]

which I rather like

[its also what they use on gun rags]

whiile many like wd40

it does get gummy over time

there is nothing wrong with sewing machine oil

I understand there is still surpuls comsomline

arround cheap - this was made for storage

some people still like it - it has a special smell

for a long time

I found them useful to hang from a wall

many people found them more frightening

than the swords,

perhaps because there were more of them

Don't clean

oil steel to prevent rust, and sticking

if there is rust...

oil can prevent it from spreading

remember you are dealing with something that is plated

wiping with an oily cloth is safest

conservation is what you want to think

Here's a Cuban Red Cross Order

Here is one of my favorities

I've also been sort of watching for a book

covering these, and have yet to find one

part of the problem is the number of countries

such a book would need to cover

I tend to gravitate to ones having

either a Red Cross or a stretcher

and there seem more than I could ever hope to catalog

your document shows signs that appear like foxing,

if it is foxing, you may way to contact a paper conservator

to stabilize and prevent any further damage.

it might not be needed, but I'd rather an expert advised you.

what might this be, I'm having trouble reading the fine print

thanks

if you have to frame an original document

and you plan to display it out of direct sunlight

there is nothing wrong with most document frames

the real problem is -

the mats and backings that do with them

that's where you want the acid free paper

and most art supply stores can supply you with these

recomendation

don't use the paper products that come with cheap frames

don't fold or trim your doument so it first in the frame

don't use scotch tape for anything

there are times when you don't want a document to

touch the glass, that is why you have document mats

and

don't forget the dust cover for the back

I've seen them, but what are they precisely?

Thanks

gifts, gifts, I love gifts

sadly I don't get to travel afar

and my 2 mausers

have been converted to 220 swift sporters

for fox and coyote

no military loss,

they were actions only at the time

and there are still 2 in reserve...

certainly an option for those who live near

cities is to look for map drawers - print files

archiects used to use them for blueprints,

many have become surplus,

of course you can also buy these new

the steel ones should be safe

there are wooden ones

and they should have outgassed

much of the harmful vapors after 25 years

some larger art supply stores actually stock them

my frustration at this point is

having cased and uncased medals

I like looking at the drawers seeing medals

drawers having mostly cases are not as interesting

and often you forget what is acutally inside them

I know not to sepparate the medals and their cases

as later they often don't get back together

but I do wish I could have the cases open and on display

but such deep drawers take too much space andd $$$$

and a fun concervation note,

most issue cases are not archival,

what can be done?

certainly an option for those who live near

cities is to look for map drawers - print files

archiects used to use them for blueprints,

many have become surplus,

of course you can also buy these new

the steel ones should be safe

there are wooden ones

and they should have outgassed

much of the harmful vapors after 25 years

some larger art supply stores actually stock them

my frustration at this point is

having cased and uncased medals

I like looking at the drawers seeing medals

drawers having mostly cases are not as interesting

and often you forget what is acutally inside them

I know not to sepparate the medals and their cases

as later they often don't get back together

but I do wish I could have the cases open and on display

but such deep drawers take too much space andd $$$$

and a fun concervation note,

most issue cases are not archival,

what can be done?

many thanks to all

you have given me further avenues of inquiry

I shall persue them

I'm trying to learn something about

Gyselings, Fernand - born Ronse Belgium 24/03/1882

died Buchenwald 08/09/1944

prisoner # 54712

I know he was a Belgian, but probably not a Jew,

I know the Belgian Red Cross awarded him a Medal of Honor,

I'd like to learn something more about him,

any suggesstions?

thanks

I was wondering if anyone has any information on

medals of the Belgain Royal Academy of Medicine,

I beleive this is an example

thanks

I saw a picture of what someone claimed was an

Albanian Red Cross medal

sadly I have no picture

it was a black [or red] enamel 2 headed eagle

and it had a red cross on its belly

does this sounddd familiar

and if so what was it?

I was told it was from the period of Italian occupation

thanks

I have a few questions with regard to the

Portugal - Red Cross Order

specifically how many classes, and what the classses consist of

I've heard two answers 6 or 8 classes

would appreciate the correct answer

I know there is a star and sash

there is a neck ribbon and star

perhaps a neck ribbon without star

2 different enamel breast crosses

one of which seems to come with or without a rosete

and 3 unenameled crosses [g,s,b]

what am I missing or what have I only imagined

thanks

I am told that the enamel is important,

laying aside the reproductions which use plastic,

the high rounded enamel is the original issue,

while those with low flat enamel are "later replacements"

there was supposed to be an article about this in a German medals journal,

that's a great medal, I' love to find something like that, I have seen very few Korean Red Cross medals, and only have a Merit medal and a North Korean RC badge. Congratulations. Named medals are in a special class, be sure to keep the info with the medal, so it can be passed on to its next owner when the time comes.