paul wood

Identical piece in Morton and Eden 29 November 2012 lot 142, described as uncertain provincial merit decoration.

Paul

They overflowed the collector marked always offered as originals in the 1970ies via one auction house and one dealer.

Ah uncle Ernst RIP

What a lovely group, well done for keeping them together and a shame on the cretins in the auction house.

Paul

"I do not have the details to hand, but apparently a rebellion in GSWA in the early 1900's was brutally put down."

Brett you are referring to the Herero and Namaqua rebellions 1904-07 the suppression of which ranks along with the Congo Free state as one of the blackest incidents in European colonial history in Africa.

Paul

After while I start wondering it there are any genuine rare Soviet pieces out there (there are even fake authentication documents).

I fear that the every improving quality of fakes will one day destroy the goose that lays the golden egg.

Paul

What with the Croation piece ypou seem to have had a very successful show.

Well done.

Paul

Osmanie and Medjidjie with scimitars are genuinely very rare. I believe that they were not authorised until 1917, copies abound and without Demir or Asfar looking at the images I would be reluctant to make a judgement one way or the other.

Paul

Igor,

While these are frequently faked I cannot see anything obviously wrong with it, looks like you got a got buy there.

Paul

My suspicion is that it will remain with the consigner.

Paul

Thank you so much Nick.

Paul

Paul,

Any ideas what the Classes are Private, corporal, Sergeant?

Craig

No information given I am afraid.

Paul

Sorry Brett brain not working , I thought you were referring to further relics.

Paul

http://theswatshop.com/page09.htm

Has similar pieces in all 3 classes.

Paul

http://www.karlovci.org.rs/monuments3.html for an image of the monument

Paul

Radmilo,

Thank you for your interesting post I was unaware that Serbia had a large population of Russian emigres. Keep looking in the Belgrade markets you never know you might pick up something super rare.

Paul

Nick,

Having trouble with Google translator. Can you give a rough translation of the regulations, my Limited Russian is not up to it.

Paul

Brett can you give more details about McKenzie's relics.

Paul

Radmilo,

Only if you can read the mark.

Paul

Radmilo,

Illegible is more likely. The medals were given to those who served with the Russian Red Cross and those who made donations during the Russo-Japanese War and from 1907 those who served with the military. Medals wer produced by private companies rather than the official mint, hence the numerous variations known. Unlike the majority of Imperial Campaign medals we have no figures for the numbers issued.

Paul

Radmilo, I agree totally illegible, just i havve seem some with clear marks on.

All the best,

Paul

That I realise but is 54 the number on his pair, if so as the first two medals are re-named it could be he has named them as on his BWM and Victory (I can't recall such low naval numbers from that period).

Paul

Looks OK to me. Most of the problems are with the 1918 issue.

Paul

Radmillo,

This is the samller version, 24mm, unfortunately I can't make the marks out on the suspension ring above the cross.

I can't see anything obviously wrong with it.

Paul

To misquote Descartes I sniff my underarms each morning and say " I stink therefore I am"

If I were to be reincarnated I would like to be a country parson in a good living circa 1880.

Paul

There are 2 medal listed as returned to the mint. 1 for the QSA and 1 for China both to a J.Bourke, could W.J. Burk and J Bourke be one of the same. Just a thought.

Paul