paul wood

In my collection is a nice medal. Silverplated. Made in 1920. Please look the pictures.

Samuel was an ardent Zionist and one of the supporters of the Balfour Declaration as well as the first commissioner of the mandated territory of Palestine. I do not neccessarily think that it was produced in Israel but in Europe for purchase among the diaspora. Seeing in the appointment of Samuel the possibility of the eventual creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Paul

The Order of Saint Januarius or San Gennaro is an order of the Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies who ruled the former Kingdom of Naples and Sicily.

http://www.realcasadiborbone.it/uk/ordcav/ord_04.htm

Very interesting, an early representation of the Order of St Janarius which was founded by the Infante Carlo de Borbone who was Duke of Parma and king of the Two Sicilies before succeeding to the Spanish throne in 1759. It was founded in 1738 to commemorate his marriage to Princess Amalia Walburga of Saxony. It received Papal approval in 1741. It was intended to create an order with similar prestige to the Orders of the Golden Fleece, Holy Ghost and the Garter. As a dynastic order it is still awarded to this day by the Duke of Castro, head of the house of Bourbon

Paul

Just to let you all know, there is a fake type 3 (small neck badge) Knights Bachelor around. What makes it dangerous is it comes in a fake red Royal Mint box, the box on close examination is slightly substandard I.E. the central gold bolder is slightly off-centre. The inside of the case has a very plausible royal mint stamp the only give away is that it is slightly fainter as to the badge it actually lacks the depth of the original but the two real give aways are firstly the loop is made of thick wire and lastly and most importantly the reverse is not hallmarked (which they all should be). The style of the box looks 1990's Royal Mint at their worst but with less care. It is believed that these pieces come out of the Netherlands. The piece which I encountered certainly did.

Caveat Emptor as a few may turn up on E-Bay

Paul

Hello Paul and Kev,

I agree with Paul : the first 4 on the top row are the official ones.

The first medal appears to be the Gold class (type designed by Roty), the other three would likely be the Silver Gilt, Silver 1st and 2nd classes (type designed by Barre).

The series of "M?dailles d'Honneur pour Actes de Courage et de D?vouement" is quite complex as there are a very large number of models, types and variations that were created over the years.

Cheers,

Hendrik

The others are a combination of local life saving awards (which you often see with British Royal Humane Society Groups) and societies for people who had performed such act (there seems to have been one for every village with more than 3 people and a cow) but a wonderful photo.

Paul

See Yuri Yashnev's site: http://awards.netdialogue.com/Russia/Empire/1812/1812.htm for a full account of the Commemorative Medal of the Patriotic War 1812. It was instituted on 22 December 1813, and awarded to all who participated in the 1812 war. The official ribbon was pale blue, but there's a tendency for them to turn up on all manner of ribbons, often one belonging to one of the Russian orders.

Steve as to value of the unofficial piece. I would suspect it would be more desirable with the official one and assuming the Russian buyers liked the jewellers piece the two could make around ?500 (or even more if a few people decided the wanted the second piece). There is however a fair bit of speculative element but tome it looks absolutely of the time.

Paul

Dear Avsar,

Some useful information and viewable imageds avaiable. Yesterdays Baldwin's Islamic coin auction held in London www.baldwin.sh had a section of Ottoman material including some nasties. Lots 608, 610, 612 were sabresd Medjidies, all of them had dubious sabres and thankfully the were not sold. 634 was a large gold sultan's medal for Egypt. This was a cast (which is even clear from the image) and was withdrawn. Also 635 (as rare as rocking horse manure) a large silver, this was also wrong and with drawn (I know of one person who took time off work to view it and was deeply dissapointed). Also 684, gilt bronzeTeshrin-i-sani 1338 (war of independence). This was a wrongun and also withdrawn. What is good is that images are available and therefore can be compared (for real sabres compare M&E ANS 2 Oct. 2006.

All the best,

Paul

At last!! I have been buying Indian awards for years in anticipation.

Sign me up for a copy or two!!

South Asian Battles and Medals, I am drooling with anticipation. Shame you won't be at OMSA

Paul

Comparing with one I have, cant see anything obviously wrong with it.

Paul

I'd like to get hold of one of these, but they're too expensive too mess around with without knowledge, that's why the question. This one is sold as an original, but is it?

Thanks for your opinion!

Difficult to say the photo is far to shiny and every time I click on the thing to try and get a better image all I get is this damned imageshack website and cheesy adverts.

A better shot (less shiny and with better contast and definition) should help.

Paul

It is most certainly not a government made piece but is undoubtedly contemporary. I can find no records of it in any of my literature.

Paul

Dear Steve,

The larger of the two medals is the Patriotic War of 1812 commemorative, second variety with smaller rays and globular suspension (Diakov 358/2), there were two such medals in ANS part 2 one similar to yours made ?160 ($300). The other is an unofficial and privately made piece, from the illustration the design is very unclear owing to the darkness of the piece.

I hope the information is of assistance.

Paul

It was issued by the Independent West Army under Colonel Avalov Bermondt (1919 Kassenscheine issue). They book at 3 dollars in the Standard Catalogue of world paper money.

All the best,

Paul

The medal is by Antoine Bovy (1795-1877). Born in Geneva but became a naturalised French Citizen in the 1840 s to enable hinm to be an engraver to the French mint, this medal would have been produced around 1850.

All the best,

Paul

Pertaining to which country exactly?

Jim

Spanish and quite early (a few examples of the breast star have Cuban maker's marks).

Paul

Hi Paul

you are certainly right regarding the fact that most of the "hardliner" collectors have Yugoslavian/Serbian/Montenegrin roots and find the reason to collect in the fact that they have a connection to the former country.

But you are completely wrong regarding the famous ANS sell in London. I was one of the bidders desperatly trying to save some of the wonderfull pieces to my collection. I was managing a package of 50'000 EUR for me and 2 friends. The result was that we bought 3 items (THREE !!!!!)

The rest was almost completely divided in between two dealers who after the auction put most of those items on sale for double the price they have paid in London. And the realised prices have already been astronomic high.

Regards

Milan

Dear Milan,

Thank you for puttting me right,

Paul.

PS there are a few Montenegrin items in M&Es July 3rd catalogue including a nice cased 2nd class Danilo set.

Should be on line next week

I have a feeling the Q.S. is Quartermaster's Stores. The F. P. could be a variety of things, possibly Frontier Provinces (Indian). The last is a guess but I can't think of anything else the Q.S. could be.

Paul

Prices is to high for ex Yu market. I think that all rare orders go away from ex Yu country and never go back .

My experience is that many pieces are bought by people from the former Yugoslavia our from former Yugoslavians living abroad, this certainly was the case with many of the Serbian and Montenegrin pieces in ANS I (April 2006). A few even came to view the auction. So it isn't all doom and gloom for for Yugoslavians.

Paul

Thank you very much for giving details of the auction, most interesting.

paul

Hallmarked Birmingham 1919. The hallmarks looks perfectly genuine.

All the best,

Paul

My dear cousin has donated me her late fathers old suitcase of his national service memorabilia, as she is terminally ill and knows I will treasure his belongings. He was in the Royal Signals and there 4 items I am unsure of and would like your help.

The first two items are insignias of some sort and the next 2 items are what seems to be a container with a measuring "spoon". The lid has a seal, (I suppose to keep its contents dry, or its contents leaking?) and also what seems to be a thimble but with no 'end' on it. Could it be something used for sending morse?

Its been great looking through his old things. His Exercise books, letters from home, signal training pamphlets etc. My own father discarded all his national service stuff, whereas my uncle seems to have made off with half the barracks!

Thanks in advance.

Ivan

The second cloth badge is the Yorks and Lancs Regt.

Paul

It is the the Memorial Medal for von Richtofen issued by the German medallist Karl Goetz. This was a particularly popular medal and was re-issued on many occassion, the later issues usually have the Bavarian mint name stamped on the edge as well as the finess. Given the popularity of the subject a nice example will make a couple of hundred pounds.

Paul

Kevin,

Many thanks,

Paul

I heard late last night on the radio that the last K.u K. veteran of WW1 died aged 107. I did not catch his name but I am sure someone can fill in with more details. He was born in present day Romania and served in the last few months of the War. I gather he was known as the Emperors last soldier.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Paul

It appears that the Khedive's stars were issued prior to the recipient receiving the British Egypt medal there is a Khedive's Star 1884 to 1870 Pte J. Murray 10th Hussars (engraved on reverse). While his Egypt El-Teb-Tamaai was forfeit due to desertion 19 February 1885. Does anyone know of similar cases?

Paul

It's not to a soldier but to a matelot, note the N.G.S. Palestine. As he has the Atlantic Star it is quite probable that he served on the Russian convoys, everyone who did received one of these if they were still alive in 1985. For once this looks like a kosher E-bay group and quite a nice one at that with two named medals.

Paul