paul wood

I admire Lance Armstrong, it's amazing what he did winning the Tour de France, last time I was on drugs I couldn't even find my bike.

Paul

I wonder If this is the Henry Nash Webber, born Glen Lynden Easter Cape 1879, died Aberdeen Eastern Cape 1960, He is the only South African from that period with this name so I would have thought quite likely.

Paul

Mervyn,

What does an Afrihander bull look like?

Paul

In my Opinion it's a funny the centre is that of the Portuguese Order of Industrial Merit, the remainder of the star is that of the Persian Lion and Sun 1st Class. It may be a concoction made about 20 or so years ago by a disgraced former employee of the Portuguese mint.

Paul

See http://www.finnmedals.net/Tolvajaervi-Cross-earliest-type for more information.

Paul

I wonder where it will all end, a Spanish Armada Medal for descendents of those who served with Drake, War of Spanish Succession General Service for descendents of those who served im Malbrough's campaigns. I am worried about these retrospective medals and other associated bling. It is so sad on Remembrance Sunday to see a WWII veteran with a couple of stars and a War and Defence Medal one side and a chestful of bling on the other.

We used think that a British serviceman with 4 medals in the 1980's had had a very long and distinguished military career. We would laugh at other countries where if you served a few years you had a couple of rows of medals , many awarded for just turning up. I am worried that all these retrospective and unoffical medals will end up devaluing the hard earned original medals

That my twopennies worth and I am sure many of you will heartily disagree.

All the best.

Paul

Ralph,

Most interesting, especially with the original box. Do these rings and chains turn up frequently? I have seen hundreds of the iron medal for giving up gold and jewellery for the war effort.

I wonder if there was ever the case of a wife saying "You did what with my wedding ring!"

Paul

Rob, ignore previous PM

I saw some similar envelopes for the republic type 1 MSMs and LSGCs (short-lived and soon replaced by by pieces which bore less resemblance to the British India examples). Still very nice. I assume the WWI medals must have been forwarded by registered mail similar to the British issues, while you see British ones with original forwarding envelope and documents I have yet to find an Indian group thus.

If any one has seen Indian WWI medals as originally forwarded I would be extremely interested to know.

Paul

After a recent vote in the House of Commons more similar than you think.

Paul

Mervyn,

I was implying that left wing fire brands end up as pillars of the establishment . What are the odds of Hain getting a seat in the House of Lords in the future, quite high I would suggest.

All the best,

Paul

What an extremely interesting series of postings, I have learnt quite a lot Keep posting them.

Paul

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