paul wood

Andreas thank you for this fantastic and very informative site. Paul

Really need a close up of the head, especially the area around the ear to be absolutely certain. Paul

Well done Bill a nice example of a hard to obtain piece. Paul

Any marks on the back when the screw fitment and backing is removed? Paul

Alas, Barry does not give the date of the auction which is not very helpful I'll see what I can rustle up. Paul I have checked the Spink archive, it has to be 2003 or earlier, prior to the Archive, if someone can find out the date I may be able to lay my hands on the catalogue

Having seen King Simeon's collection I am almost certain the star is not there and it was not with the Coburg-Gotha material auctioned by Mars and Merkur about 30 years ago. Paul

According to Tardy (Poincons d' Argent, Paris) the fasces small guarantee mark ceased being used on 31 August 1809. (Les usages de ces poincons (excepts ceux des objets de hazard supprimes le 5 Mai 1819) a cesse le 31 Aout 1809), sorry about the bad copying but I don't know how to do accents on replies If anyone can advise my how to do it I would be extremely grateful. Paul

Radmilo I hope he didn't have to go through low doors with that plume (which seems somewhat bigger in the wedding photo) could have caused severe problems Paul

They did indeed, one of the few Ugandan medals that are very easy to sell. Paul

Hashim Standard PIM but should be RPAF Here are mine Pakistan Independence Medal (2205175 H/C Mohd. Ali. P.P.E.) Pakistan Independence Medal (34138 Sto. 1 Lal Badshah RPN) Pakistan Independence Medal (1211871 OWA Mohd Sadiq RPA) Pakistan Independence Medal (6781574 W/Svt Saif Ali P.A.M.C. Pakistan Independence Medal (SR 215772 Hav/Sh Amir Ali R.P.A.S.C Pakistan Independence Medal (99064 A/S Mehar Khan P.A.M.C.) Pakistan Independence Medal (80. ABDUL BARREK. F.C. DACCA) Pakistan Independence Medal (2170. SOLEMAN KHAN. F.C. DACCA.) Pakistan Independence Medal (DACCA 1845. MOJIDUR RAHMAN. F.C.) Pakistan Independence Medal (MYMENSINGH SHAMSUL HUQ. S.I) Pakistan Independence Medal (CHANDRA KANTA BISWAS. O.S.I. DACCA.) Pakistan Independence Medal (6845062 S/W.W. Mohd Zaman PAOC) Pakistan Independence Medal (AT 6556753 S/B Maker Pahalwan R.P.A.S.C) Groups Group of Seven, Jemadar Gulab Din 12 Frontier Force Rifles, IGS 1908, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (8479 Sep. 2-12 FFR), IGS 1936, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Sep.), 1939-45, Burma Stars, War Medal, India War Medal (all unnamed), Pakistan Independence (PJO 16113 Jem.) Havildar Gulab Din's promotion to Jemadar was announced in the Gazette of India, August 16, 1941 page 1172. His promotion date was 19 February 1941. Pakistan and WWII Group of 7 to (3231556 Hav Ghulam Khawaj Din Baluch R.), Pakistan Independence (named),Republic medal 1956, 1939-45, Africa, Italy Stars, Defence and War Medal, these all unnamed Hope you enjoy. Paul

Mike it should be danger, it's me being somewhat hung-over and dyslexic simultaneously. Paul

Yes they made a fortune out of Idi Amin. Paul

Welcome Hashim, F.C. is foot constable, H.C. is Head Constable. The Pakistan Independence Medal (or PIM) is the latest medal I collect in my collection. I have a few interesting ones including a few East Pakistan Police and a P.O. In the Royal Pakistan Navy. I am desperately looking for a PIM to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. With best wishes, Paul

Melvyn It was in the Sotheby's medal sale of 6 May 1982, lot 19, 3 clasps, Talavera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, described as having several edge bruises, about very fine, it was not sold in that auction and therefore was presumably returned to the owner. Prior to 2001, when the Sotheby's medal department was closed down and Morton and Eden was formed from its members. I would have been able to tell you whether the owner was a private individual or a dealer. It appears not to have appeared in auction since so it may still be with the owner. Sotheby's due to the data protection act, whether they have the information or not, would not be able to give you any more information than I have already given you. You could try medal tracker in medal news in case it has passed through a member of the trade. I hope this is of help Paul I have now discovered it was estimated at £180-200 and probably reserved at £150. If only I had had money then. Unfortunately that date was my 27th birthday when I was constantly getting rude letters and phone calls from my bank. Paul

Graf and Igor Nice, the documents are infinitely rarer than the medal. Paul

There are more variations to this badge than the number of women Rasputin appropriated. The fakes if anything often look too real. Paul

Concerning Spink (Earlier mentioned). From the 50's till the 80's when Eddie Joslin was in charge Spink was noted for handling some of the finest orders and decorations on the market and he has some very well healed clients for them. by the early 80s when Eddie retired, they still had a good stock of orders but as the British market expanded the Orders market which was to remain quite moribund until about 10 years ago was rather dropped by them and about 5 years ago the made, in my opinion, the rather stupid decision to cease retail dealing and concentrate entirely on auctions, thus removing them from a substantial clientele who prefer to buy at a set price rather than gamble at auction, especially as they already had a long tried and trusted retail system. Paul

Thanks for sharing D, a most interesting article. Paul

I saw the photo of my old line manager at Sotheby's, John Baddely. He hasn't aged a jot in 15 years. He was always good on scrimshaw. I remember once a group of somewhat pornographic scrimshaw came into Sotheby's, alas it was all fake Paul

There are some potentially interesting items, naming details on those that are would be extremely useful (in many ways more useful than the pictures). Paul

Here is an example of a 1st Restoration piece

I agree there are many ornately decorated pistols and rifles to be found in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, many of them of excellent craftsmanship, however I would love to get a chance to play with that machine gun. Paul

Graf All the First Restoration pieces I have seen are Napoleon I type 4 with replaced centres, quite rare beasties. Paul

Radmilo, the machine gun is particularly impressive Paul

It could be a specimen rather than a reproduction, but certainly a bit to bright and shiny to be an awarded piece. Paul