paul wood

I happen to know that a Grand Cross set in a similar case will be appearing in a London auction in early July. Paul

http://www.britishcivildefence.co.uk/ICDDS/icdds.html This should give you the information you require Paul

If you sell a VC you will discover many relatives you never knew existed (very much the same as if you win the lottery). Paul

Odin, Thank you so much for the information. I'll have to see if I can keep an eye open for his 1902 Medal. Paul

I have just obtained two met medals 1897 to PC AE Gent M Division (Southwark) and a 1911 to PC A Gent. Are they one of the same or father and son. Any info about him/them would be gratefully received. All the best, Paul

The Alexandra piece (I presume she was a patron) is interesting and as a 9ct gold piece must be part of a very small batch. Obviously with that provenance it is going to be worth a lot more. I have only ever encountered one miniature of the badge and that was with a full-sized group which also contained the badge so quite a rarity. Sorry the price I gave was for the full-sized but I would have thought a miniature ought to be worth around £100 or so at least. Paul

Its for the Russian Flag Day in Britain January 1917, they were made by an unknown Birmingham jeweller HSW&B and hallmarked 1916, presumably these were given to those who donated over a certain sum. They appear in auction from time to time and tend to make around £200. Paul

Medals to the Aden troop and Aden Costal Artillery turn up on the market form time to time. They are very appealing to me as a collector of British India as up until 1937 Aden was administered by the government of India and was often used as a post for those officers who had fallen out of favour or in some ways blotted their copybook . I have been trying to get a few representative medals for several years but alas I always seem to be outbid. The Aden Coastal Artillery Star is very nice and in this day and age could easily make £150, even the very worn BWM would probably make £50-60. I have also seen Africa General Services for Somaliland 02-04 named to the Aden forces. It appears that Aden related material has a strong following (alas for me) I will just have to stick with Yemeni merchant seamen. Paul

Do you have a link, if not can you PM me re the Durand Medal. Paul

What a beautiful medal, certainly something I have never encountered before. Paul

Thank you both for your most helpful replies. Paul

Another example from a well known London auction house. Paul

I have just encountered a list and photos of a large collection of world Orders and Decoration which include some rare pieces. In the list is a Knight's badge of the Cuza Order of Union, which looks of similar quality to the later Carol I issues. I know Kretly was ordered to make the badges but are any contemporary examples known to exist or were they destroyed or are there later museum quality copies known. Any information would be gratefully received. Paul

4th Class. Paul

It's the badge of the Afrikaner Broederbond (AB), founded in 1921, Wees Sterk means be strong. All the major members of the pre-Mandela governments were Broederbond members and it was like a who's who of Afrikaans nationalists. Paul

Lambert, What a beautiful medal, shame it was never adopted. Paul

Jeff The inscription translated roughly means nobility of Ukraine, possibly it is an unofficial order created by Ukrainian exiles. Paul

The Durand silver medal probably contains £50-60 worth of silver which rather confirms my point (about a year ago it would have contained nearly £80 worth)

What lovely medals, the Durand medal is for a competition between regiments in India and has a wonderful design probably in the Simla area. The other is an inter-regimental award. Unfortunately they tend not to make a great deal over the silver value unless someone has service medals named to the recipients then they would pay somewhat more. I would like to think that they would make more than that but my experience with Regimental Prize Medals and Silver is that they tend not to make a significant premium unless they are awarded, for example, to a VC winner. Please keep us posted when you intend to sell them as it is possible one or both may appeal to forum members. Paul

I am afraid not much info forthcoming from the City, not in the Ripper files and seems to be one of the many long serving officers who retired shortly after an improved pensions act of 1890. Paul

Yankee, what a fantastic case, I have never come across one of these before, Ouizille and Lemoine were the official jewellers to the Chancellery of the LdH during the Second Empire Paul

If he genuinely gets the price he is asking I will start selling ice to the Eskimos. Paul

The ribbon is a ringer for Saxon duchies. Paul

It's a delegate's badge for the 1972 conference at Ashkhabad which is now in Turkmenistan. Paul

Robin, I suspect I may have missed a couple but I think we have a good idea. Have never seen an honorary Bath in a French group. Now that would be something. Paul