paul wood

I may be barking completely up the wrong tree but could it be Bulgarian or some other axis Eastern European insignia, as much of their insignia was German made? Paul

It is possible that the LdH was an officers badge I have frequently seen them in groups without the rosette. The picture also may have been done at some time after the 2nd China War and he may have been just a CB at the time of the Crimean War, he looks fairly ancient (unless the rum did that). Also we fought alongside the French in the Second Chinese War and so I am not sure whether there were any French awards for British for that campaign as to the sash I think it's a case of God knows and he not telling. Paul

McDaniel is the best book for Soviet material and goes into quite good detail. also Anatoli Kushenko's book Ordena CCCP, Aspekt 1994 is good as it gives approximate award dates, In Russian with English summaries. As to price guides none that I would recommend auctions and dealers lists are probably your best bet. There are books for Imperial material but nothing as comprehensive as the Soviet material. Paul

Another nice group PC R Franklin S Division Met, late 9th Lancers, sold 2011 £1,800 Paul Four: Police Sergeant James Parslow, Metropolitan Police, late Royal Marines Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Pte., R.M. H.M.S. Encounter. 73-74); Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, Metropolitan Police (P.C., M. Divn.); Coronation 1902, Metropolitan Police (P.S., D. Div.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.S.), together with the Great War pair awarded to his son (98250 Pte. W. J. Parslow, M.G.C.) generally very fine (6) £200-250 Footnote James Parslow was born at Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on 9 May 1852. He enlisted for the Royal Marines at Hastings on 25 January 1871, for 12 years, and served aboard Encounter during the Ashantee War of 1873-74. Discharged on 1 May 1883, he joined the Metropolitan Police at Great Scotland Yard on 22 October of that year. He served in “M” Division at Southark for 10 years 6 months before joining “D” Division as a Police Sergeant, and resigned from that division on pension on 1 November 1909. He joined the Police Reserve and was recalled to “F” Division for the Coronation of King George V. Another amazing group sold in 2002 alas not illustrated, sold for the paltry sum of £300, I wish I had some money then, 38 years between first and last medal

The First Rifle Brigade Served in both South Africa and the Crimea if the portrait dates around 1867 or later He could well have received a promotion following the Crimean War and maybe another subsequent one. So he could have been a Captain in 1856. Obviously the judge who convicted him obviously knew the going rate for obscene photographs if he thought two shillings cheap. Paul

General Gonzalo Queipo de Llano? Paul

Obviously from the images it is impossible to be absolutely certain but I cannot see anything obviously wrong with it. Paul

Still a nice buy at 25 euros. Paul

Kris, 25 Euros, Bargain of the century (with your luck maybe you should start doing the lottery). Paul

This group to Hugh Graham Lang Chief Constable of East Sussex late Seaforth Highlanders certainly takes the biscuit, estimated at £800-1,000 sold for £2,400 DNW May 2016, 31 years between first medal and 1911 Coronation Paul

KD of the Austro-Hungarian type tended to be limited to that area. Certainly the Republic of Hungary had KD on the Ribbons. The small sized decorations representing higher grades are seen on ribbon bars for parade wear. I have seen Knight size varieties of one class Orders such as the Hanoverian Order of St George and Type 1 Russian White eagle but generally on British Ribbon bars a KCB or a GCB will be represented by a CB with a rosette on the ribbon to denote higher grade. Paul

I think the answer is that if it does exist it is a very rare combination can find no record of such a group, pair turning up in commerce (could be a trio with the Turkish medal). Paul

The White Lion and Mohammed Ali are something else. Marvellous display. Paul

Kris, Looks like an Officer's pin back badge, nice with case. Paul

Radmilo, you should get commission from Les for helping him sell it. Paul

Seems typical of Les Rosenbaum's mark-ups, I suspect he will have it for quite along time. Paul

Radmilo, Such reductions were generally made for those who had a large chestfull of medals and therefore they had them reduced so that they could wear them all. Paul

No that is the correct spelling with an E would be incorrectly (as is frequently done) spelt. Paul

Very nice indeed and can't be many such groups to Canadians, the Stanislaus (as is often the case for this period) look like a French made piece. The award is confirmed in Roy Brough's book 'White Russian Awards' Paul

The description suggests that it is reduced sized Grand Cross for breast wear by the way Radmilo those drawing are truly breathtaking. Paul

Interesting, the badges may well have come from later members of the family who visited Russia to retrace his steps. Paul

I would agree with Claudius, Gorky park specials. Paul

Perhaps no good Italian tailors got out the Aegean Islands, looks like a grotty type of tie frequently encountered in 1960s discos. Paul

I am sure it is legit, however it is one of the more common Imperial badges. One would have done well to get that price at the height of the market Paul

Michael I think you will find he is Italian Forces, Armata is Italian for Army and Italy occupied the Aegean Islands from 1912-1943 and many Italians settled there. Paul