Alex K

Hi GregM, you're right, similar but not the same. The inner corners on yours have a distinct cross-hatch, the W & L doesn't. regards Alex

There are some really tasty RK's here. I would one day like to have a genuine pre 45 one in my collection, unfortunately, obtaining a mortgage at my time of life may well be problamatic. However, I live in hope regards Alex

Hi speedytop, thanks for the info, great document. Do you have a cross to go with it? if so I would like to see it. regards Alex k

Hi hunyadi, That's what I thought straight away, they are very W & L looking rims regards

Hi Wild Card, no I don't mind, nice piece you have, pity obout the damage to mine. Is your ribbon original Alex

In my collection I have the attached decoration from the Franco Prussian war 1870-71, awarded by the state of Bavaria, unfortunately some damage to the reverse. Is this a military decoration, or red cross? and is it a female/male award. The construction is quite elaborate, with the thin gold edges around the cross, individual pieces soldered to the basic cross. is this a rare or common piece Any info greatly appreciated. regards Alex K

Just my personal opinion, but the pin arrangement looks to me to be more post 1914-18, could it be a TR made piece, similar to many other Imperial decorations? Alex K

Hi Carol I, thanks for all the info you have provided. It does seem that this piece has certainly had it's fair share of assay markings!. BTW the dolphins mark does have a small I between them, so I can be fairly sure that it is silver gilt and not bronze gilt. many thanks Alex K

My humble offering, slightly later model, unmarked, but magnetic core Alex K

Hi, this is the best I can manage, hope it helps regards

a little bit difficult to scan, but I'll try regards

Hi Lukasz, interesting piece. Whilst I knew about the Military version (Virtuti Militari) of which I have a nice example, I didn't realise that there was a civi version. very interesting. So is it an official or an unofficial Polish award?. It must be quite rare. Thanks for posting regards Alex

I Couldn't have put it better myself regards Alex

Just checked on the site link you provided, a very powerful magnifying glass suggests the following is the closest, the head is actually slightly indistinct but the shape and the number/letter A 1 are present. does this help or mystify? edit forgtot to add the attachment regards Alex

The marks on the suspension loop is 2 individual A A, thanks for the rest of the interesting information, If you are correct, it seems to have travelled about a bit. I will look at the site you posted to see if anything resembles the mysterious one regards Alex

and another one

Carol I attached are images showing the hallmarks I can identify. the suspension loop is hallmarked with two very small AA regards

Hi Carol I well spotted there are infact two, very small ones, I will try to either scan or describe when I can. regards Alex

the other side

Hi Carol I positively ARG IRF on the Grand cross sash badge. with regards to the Commaner class, attached are the best scans I can do, maybe this will assist regards

Hi Paul, thanks for the comments. As I said in my opening post, I think Eastern European (Pre-Communist) awards are really attractive, and under appreciated sometimes, in comparison to say Imperial german or british etc. regards Alex

Hi Darrell, I must admit that I would find it VERRRY difficult to resist that one, Stunner, well done regards Alex

Hi Carol I, sorry I,ve not replied as yet, I'm not at the moment in a position to find further info, away from home, but I'll try to find out more when I'm back. regards Alex

Hi carol I, there does appear to be four stamps on the ring of the commander class. As I said in my original post, I need to look at them more closely, I'm sure when I'm in a better position to make better images, it will become clearer. with regards to the 4th class, I am quite happy to accept that the ribbon is not, authentic, it is in fact a modern repro, I have had my doubts about it for a while, this being said it was supplied at the time as the correct one, the award came without any. I would appreciate therefore any assistamne which could point me in the right direction of indicating or obtaining an original and correct ribbon for this piece. BTW the 1st class grand star sash badge is stamped on the suspension ring "ARE, IRF, don't know if that helps. thanks for the comments regards Alex