Harrier

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235241657.jpgSouvenir board from S&L supposedly brought back by British officer immediately postwar.

"Drop-tail" eagle variant at lower right of Spanish Crosses.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235241074.jpgNext 0f Kin case (from Niemann).

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235240602.jpgS&L variant "4" front.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235240491.jpgS&L variant "4" back.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235240308.jpgStandard S&L "4" front.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235240202.jpgStandard S&L "4" back.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235239807.jpgAnother.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235239674.jpgOne eagle.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235239037.jpgAnother Order, 1939 (1 month apart from first posted).

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235238824.jpgOriginal Order 1939.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235238653.jpgUpper right eagle (sequence is repeated on other 2).

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235238535.jpgUpper left eagle.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1235238120.jpgOriginal Doehle book illustration.

Jacques,

You are wise to stick with Godet and I will probably NEVER be able to prove that these were a real wartime wearing copy (they are certainly NOT a presentation set). After knowing where these were for the last 30 years, and knowing the person who acquired them (a very old friend), I traded for them last month. They came from a vet, but that means nothing today without better information and documentation. I, too, will never be able to buy a Godet set, so, in the meantime, these will serve. If they are fake, someone went to a lot of trouble for very little reward. In hand, the quality is outstanding.

Thanks again for all you are doing.

Harrier

This cross was made by the Souval company of Vienna, which never made RK's during the war, but did make other Nazi awards. They have two main characteristics: A low-height swastika and a "dipping 3" (in the date 1939) in which the lower edge of the number is below the bottom edge of the other numbers.

Because Souval is no longer in operation producing Third Reich decorations, these crosses are themselves beginning to have some collecting value to many people.

P.S. The maker mark is L/58, Souvals's assigned wartime LDO number.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-2778-1234832223.jpgI want to thank Jacques publicly for the wonderful work he has done, and continues to do, regarding Spanish Crosses. His dedication to this field and his intensive study of these items is a huge benefit to the collecting community. Although there are doubtless others with very good knowledge of these decorations, he has made them his specialty and to me, personally, that means a lot. Because of the work he has done, I have confidence now (that I did not have before, and I have been collecting for the better part of half a century) that, eventually, the "riddles" of these pieces will be solved.

It is interesting to me that of the crosses I posted (all of which, by the way, were vet obtained), the makers of two are still unidentified. I have tried to take a very few photos of parts of the silver one, in the hope that Jacques will find some use for them and at least have access to them in his files.

Again, my compliments and thanks to Jacques.

P.S. My apologies for not saying this earlier: Scott, that is a NICE cross!

Jacques,

Thanks very much! Is the bronze a Meybauer?

On the silver, I will do my best, because it is unknown, to take some better and closer photos tonight.

Thanks again,

Harrier