paul wood

Jean-Paul, It is indeed, like the mesopotamian railways they were mainly staffed by indians and thus fall into my collecting remit. Paul

Indeed it was he along with Tariq Ali. Another case (along with Jack Straw) of the rebellious youth becoming the pillars of the establishment. Paul

Radmilo, The 1852 Cross and medal are something else, the cross is especially beautiful, thank you for sharing them and the other wonderful items. Paul

Rob, lovely trio and nice rank. As to the Calcutta mint question. I feel sure that they would have produced and named them. I suspect the dies for the medals were sent from London and then produced and named in Calcutta, certainly I feel this would have been the case for Indian Army, I assume that British troops in India would have received London produced. Paul

Radmilo thanks neither were overendowed with beauty but Draga wasn't as hideous as that medal portrayed. Interesting photos on the first Alexander is clearly wearing the Order Milosh the Great before the White eagle, while in the second group he is not wearing the Order of Milosh, yet Draga has a particularly sexy Milosh breast star so presumably the photo of Alexander was made before 1898 while the photo of Draga was post wedding (sloppy cut and pasting by the postcard manufacturer). Paul

Radmilo, Thank you for sharing these images, some nice eye candy, most interesting. The Scharff medal for the 1900 medal makes Draga Mishkin look really ugly and Alexander prematurely aged, one wonders if Karageorgovich supporters commissioned it. Paul

Any idea of howmany post 1991 examples might have been issued, for example where a batch issued in 1995 and 2005 (and maybe there will be a few in 2015). Paul

It is a 50th Anniversary of the Armistice, 1968 (wapenstilstand literaly means laying down of arms). looks unoffical to me, possibly an issue by a veteran's organisation, obverse bears the portraits of Albert I and Baudouin. Hope this helps, Paul

There is also one on Werlich's book on Russian Orders and Decorations, he illustrates a 1st class example from the Merryweather Post collection.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-3085-0-48041800-1361282456.jpgAnd last but not least the fake from volume 3 Paul

Here is a slightly better picture of the first class badge from volume 3 Paul

Here are to not too brilliant copies of the pages in volume 1 Paulhttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-3085-0-40832200-1361281760.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-3085-0-72227000-1361281808.jpg

There is more info in volume 1 including the all 3 classes of the award. I will posting images of the four relevant pages later today or tomorrow. Paul

Both look Bertrand to me. I know I saw a Bertrand catalogue from around 1900 (probably for the Paris Exposition of 1900) which stated that they made orders and decorations of all nations, some of the ones illustrated I remeber wouldn't immediately say Paris to you. My theory is that a French diplomat serving in Belgrade (and there was a reasonable French presence) would finish his posting and would get a St Sava as a goodbye gift. he probably just got the warrant of appointment and got Bertrand to knock one up when he got home. Paul

Difficult, has a French look to me, certainly not Austrian. Paul

Nick this is fantastic. I have had many images which I have wanted to upload onto the forum but they have all been too big. I have just posted my first image today. Paul

Megan ISBN 5-98343-019-X This is for voolume 3 which also lists some items in the first two volumes. Paul

Radmilo. here is the ANS piece enjoy Paul

Radmilo, Most interesting, It must therefore mean that the American Numismatic Society Type 1 5th class example which was in silver-gilt was wrongly ribonned 4th class, thanks for the info. Paul

I would agree looks like a nice quality quite early GB 16th Lancers sweetheart brooch, these were given by officers to theirr wives, girlfriends or mistresses. Paul

Is it possible to enlarge the image, I have a few candidiates a more detailed image may help to eliminate some. Paul

Igor, There are three main types of of the Order of St Sava. First. Obrenovich type 1883-1903 with red robed saint and Milan I monogram on reverse Second 1903-14 red robes and and 1883 on reverse Third post 1914 green robas and 1883 on reverse. The Third type is by far the most common and in lower grades cased good condition examples are not that hard to obtain and are not hugely expensive, as far as I am aware this type seems to relatively free from being copied They are always silver gilt and enamels, there may be privately made gold examples, sometimes on heavily toned examples the silver-gilt can look like silver. A general point for collectors always best to buy from from a reputable dealer/auctioneer, while they may not be quite as cheap as some on some sites at least you do have some kind of guarantee if the piece is not as described. As your family is of Croat origin probably the type 3 is most likely to have been awarde to Croatians during the inter-war period, the majority of type 3 pieces a manufactured by Huegenin. Best of luck in your collecting venture and please dont hesitate to ask for help on this forum, there are many of us who can give good impartial advice. All the best, Paul

The best reference for these decorations Patrikeev, S.B. and A. D. Bojnovich, "Badges of Russia" volume 3, 2005, which as well as giving details of the decoration illustrates various fakes which unfortuantely have beset the Russian market of late. Paul

Unbelievable. I Know GWM were selling some a while back, if my memory serves me well it was about £1.50 a medal length, obviously a give away bargain. Paul

I'm surpised he didn't get one, Jimmy Savile was a Papal Knight. Paul