paul wood

Very nice ideed, especialy to have Merit Cross with case. If you were a Prince of Reuss and you had a son you didn't have to worry about working out what to call him, daughters must have been a pain. One can imagine the family schloss, " can you stop doing that Heinrich, no not you Heinrich LXXVIII but you Heinrich LXXXIV" Paul

Pity Michael Jackson's snuffed it he would have bought a few of them. Paul

If it was possible to produce decent modern ribbons I would certainly purchase several yards (or metres what ever your preference), especially WWI and WWII and these on a fairly regular basis (but if any one thought about IGS 08 and 36 I would buy quite a few yards of that (alas most of my Indian purchases come from the sub continent or nearby and they very rarely come with ribbons) have several other friends who would certainly buy reasonable quantities of decent ribbon, especially the ones I have mentioned. As a member of a local society with over 30 active members I am sure that some of them would be very interested in purchasing decent quality ribbon. I would be happy to plug it and hopefully recruit a few more GMIC members Paul

What an earth is that blasphemy supposed to be? Paul

Lambert trios turn up not cheap but due to low survival rate price from £150, pairs £80. The next Dix Noonan Webb auction in March will have the third part of a large collection of Indian medals, may be the odd pair or trio there, usually on line about 3 weeks prior to sale. Paul

TKS's big money spinning operation is masonic badges and jewels although I presume they produce the ribonns for them and the masonic sashes whether the ribbon side is done by them or farmed out I am not sure, all I can say is that modern masonic material have reasonable quality ribbons. Good thought Alex. Paul

Certainly in the UK there would be a strong demand for good quality non-synthetic Great War ribbons at a realistic price, you only have ot see the numbers of people attending medal fairs. I think collectors would pay up to a pound per ribbon (£3 is not a lot to make a trio look nice). If it could be produced in sufficient quantity it might drive the horrible nylon ribbons out of the market place, the same could be done for WWII ribbons where there are also some abominations in the market place. Paul

No he would have been military, probably an Officer too elderly or infirm for front-line duty (hence no service number). Paul

Chris, I absolutely 100% agree with you. I have managed to keep a small stock of old ribbon (as I collect medals to Indians finding a medal with the original ribbon is as likely as dating two supermodels in one night). What is even worse I know people who have bought Great War groups with, albeit grubby, original ribbons and have removed them and replaced them with these synthetic blasphemies. I know a dealer who does have original silk ribbon, but unless you want it for a very small number of medals the price is totally prohibitive. Surely someone with a bit of nous could get industrial quantities of Great War Ribbon close to the original specification made in Asia at an affordable price. (there you are Chris a superb business opportunity for you). Al the best, Paul

Mike, T.A. Jack is a 3/6/19 Gazetted MM, nice with the badge. The Lucknow/Def Lucknow is lovely, lovely to see original ribbon, please do not re-ribbon it with shiny new ribbon, or if the ribbon is past redemption by all means re ribbon but keep the original with it, I have seen too many original groups and singles ruined by re-ribboning (including people court mounting early and mid Victorian groups (ultimate heresy)). Still less of my hobby horse. what a lovely acquisition. Was there any paper work with the group? Paul

Thank you for that most helpful. If any one has any questions about the medals I have listed please ask and I will attempt to answer. Paul

As one of my collecting lines is odd ranks/units Indian Army I am sure of most and have a fair idea of others. Will enlighten in future posts. Paul

Here is a list of my Indian Victory Medals (I also include Mesopotamian Railways and East African Railways as these were effectively Indian units). 1914-15 Star Trio (491 Sepoy Alaf Khan (on 14-15 star) Alif on BWM and Victory), 1/27 Punjabis) 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal pair, Star (No. KCHI/231 Weighman Doonie Chand, S. & T. Corps) Victory (KCHI-231 T. Clk. Duni Khan. S. & T. Corps) BWM and Victory pair 77794 (B-Smith, Barkatali, Meso. Rys.) Victory Medal (6749 W-Man Oojagar Singh. I.W.T.), Victory Medal (Gunkahar Singh, C.H. Bn. B.M.P.), Victory Medal (MTDC-9665 Langri Rooper.) Victory Medal (Mohd Nabi Postal Dept) Victory Medal (Jemdr Buta Khan 3/124th Baluchis) (D. o D. 5/11/1919) Victory Medal (821 Carp-Mstry Bhan Singh I.W.T.) Victory Medal (Las. Sk. Kadir RIM) Victory Medal (47 P-Mkr Lal Khan 65 Govt. C.C.) Victory Medal (MTCD-11764-Swpr. Ratna) Victory Medal (7097 Masn. Singh Wks. Dte.) Victory Medal (3562 Sepoy Adam Khan, 59 Rfls. F. F.) Victory Medal (10817 G, Man Nadir, Meso, Rys.) Victory Medal (811 Khal Kushi Mohd. Irgn. Dte.) Victory Medal (Subdr. Hussain Khan, 1-30 Pjbs.) Victory Medal (Subdr. Hayat Khan, 1-67 Pjbs) Victory Medal (Subdr. Mustafa, 27 Pjbs) Victory Medal (2635 Sub Kasturi Khan N. Waz. Mil) Victory Medal (Subdr. Shah Noor, 46 Pjbs) Victory Medal (110165 Cly. Munshi. Meso. Rys.) Victory Medal (6758 Carp. Surain Singh. Meso. Rys.) Victory Medal (Jemdr Sher Baz, 54 Sikhs), Victory Medal (Ressldr Laurasib Khan 61 G. Camel Cps.), attached from Hodsons Horse Victory Medal (18461 Carp. Amar Singh, I.W.T.) Victory Medal (728 Sarwan Mani. Khan, 53-C. T. Coy.) Victory Medal (6783 Dvr Kali Ram Jaipur S.T. Corps), Victory Medal (2684 Carp Sher Singh Works Dept) Victory Medal (47334 H-Man Ghulam, I.W.T.) Victory Medal (7485 Bhisty Rayah I.H.C.) Victory Medal (S.A.S. Chajju Ram. I.M.D.) Victory Medal (5070 W-Servt. Mutthrie. A.H.C.) Victory Medal (17048 I. Mldr Simon Joseph E.A. Rys) Victory Medal (15894 Survr. Fazal Hussain E.A. Rys), Victory Medal (RP-304 T-Smith Ghulam Hussain, S. & T. C.) Victory Medal (26510 Lftr. Kalander E.A. Rys) Victory Medal (7013 Drsr. Fateh Mohd.Khan) Victory Medal (6691 L-NK: Jamal Din, N. Waz. Mil.) Victory Medal (6691 L-NK: Jamal Din, N. Waz. Mil.) All the best, Paul

Alas that is the case with many Indian Medals, If its rare enough I will buy it however awful (within reason) Paul

Jeff, They come in gold? silver and bronze. They were merit awards used throughout the KIngdom of Egypt, I have seen a silver one with an engraved name to a British RAF other rank. Paul

As a collector of Raj medals to Indians I have a large number of Victory Medals, I will let you have a list of my exAMPLES. Paul

Nick, the Kaiser-i-Hind group is most intruiging, any idea as to the recipient? Paul

Only once have I seen a miniature of the Order of Military Bravery and on that occasion it was on a chain but uniface. So yes another major rarity. Paul

The Order is indeed rare in the Third Class, the case is even rarer, what a wonderful acquisition. Paul

I am afraid MOD procurement is noted for its waste of money and providing fortunes for various manufacturors. If they used a more rigid value for money criterion then I believe our soldiers could be a lot better equpped (and heaven forbid-paid). Paul

Radmilo, thank you for your most interesting comments and observations. While I think you maybe right that Austria would have found some other way to attack Serbia had they agreed to all 10 points, I suspect there would have been an interim period before Austria may have "organised" an incident which would have given them the excuse to say that while the Serbs have agreed to the ultimatum they had no intention of carry out the provisions. Paul

I do know a collector who has a pretty impressive array of the Star of Brabant (including 1st Class). I also know he is not short of a pfennig or two, maybe he decided he wished to marry his 1st class with the award document (and maybe someone else knew he did). Paul

Nick, given that Japanese miniatures are quite scarce due to the fact that the Japanese did not have a tradition of wearing miniatures, is there a danger that these new miniatures will start flooding the market to make good deficiencies in collections. Paul

No you just need a pair of strong sun glasses when you look at it. Paul

Demir, As ever most helpful, Thank you so much. Paul