Elmar Lang

Hello Hugh, the right name for the Octo Lustra is "Ehrenzeichen f?r Vielj?hrige verdienstliche Mitgliedshaft bei einer Landsturmpflichtigen K?rperschaft" or "Decoration for long and meritorious membership in a Territorial Corps". "Kreuz" means Cross and the Octo Lustra (with his lower grade decoration, the "Quinque Lustra") is a "Medaille" or Medal. Yes, I remember the people at Hut Haller as very kind persons, also answering to the hundreds of phaleristical questions I was doing as a kid. By the way, the firm appears as still existing, but I'm not sure if only as a firm's name or if they still deal with uniforms etc. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, having quoted Hut Haller from Innsbruck, reminded my youth, when, moving my first steps in phaleristic (I was 14, then), I've visited that shop many times and bought some of my very first AH decorations... I think that the shop doesn't exist anymore, at least in the form we remember. Back to your fine pieces, the "big" orders (Maria Theresia, St. Stephen, Leopold, Iron Crown with KD and the commander of the Franz Josef Orden), are fine copies made by Rothe of Vienna, between the 60s and the 70s. Your "Octo Lustra" medal is a rare piece, awarded to the Landsturm only. In the hood old days it appeared in Tyrol and South Tyrol (Italy) mostly, and its dark brown colour didn't give the idea of someting difficult to find... Best wishes, Enzo (Elmar Lang)

Hello, thank you for your reply to this thread. I've bought that Cuban medal, because it looked interesting to me (I like "strange" awards...). Since you would like to buy it, it's highly possible that you could know some historical data about this piece. It would be nice if you would be so kind to share your knowledge with us. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

Hello, I regret to inform that on the market are appearing some fake breast stars of the Franz Josef Orden (Commander's type), of a relatively good quality. The rays are made of cast silver, while the centrepiece is made of gold and enamels; on the reverse there is the escutcheon of Mayer's S?hne, Vienna; more the piece is struck with the "Diana's head" silver mark and the "VM" one. These marks are also fake. The overall appearance of these stars is quite good, although lacking of the accurate finish one should expect from a piece made in the late 19th- early 20th Century. All the pieces observed have a dark patina (most probably, chemically applied). I've seen two such pieces in Kassel and one in Milan, this one, sold from an auction house of Trento, Italy, promptly given back to the sellers, as soon as the fake has been detected. It's worth to be noted that the sellers accepted the return immediately, with no discussion. An advanced colletor won't fall in error, since he knows how originals are made, but I think that a young collector who would like to make a "higher step", could have a very bad surprise. I hope I'll be able to post some pictures soon. In the meanwhile, did anyone see any suspicious star of the Franz Josef Orden? Best wishes, Elmar Lang

...should I assume that this medal is monstruously rare, and the one I've recently bought is the only existing/surviving piece? E.L.

Hello, I can confirm that it's a post-1945 re-strike (possibly made by Johnson, Milan or Pagani, also from Milan). Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, is there any detail of the third medal visible in the veteran's picture that we can't see on the scan? It could be a commemorative medal awarded from one of the many veterans' committees. Best wishes, Enzo (Elmar Lang)

Hello, recently, I've bought what in my opinion could be an interesting medal, awarded from the Congress of Cuba (in 1929) for exceptional merit. Attached, the image of the obverse and reverse of the piece. I'll be grateful for any information or historical info about this medal. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

Hello, I can confirm, without any doubt, that the Austrian pilot on board of the Savoia Pomilio plane is Josef Kiss. He was stationed at the Pergine Airport (what remains of that place is a few km far from my home, but I'm way too young to have known him...). In Pergine, the memory of that young war hero is still vivid. He was shot down and died over Lamon (province of Belluno), on May, 24th 1918. Best wishes, Enzo (Elmar Lang)

Hello, our upcoming auction at the San Giorgio on June 6th won't be a "big" soviet sale, but there are some interesting pieces from USSR, Albania and Mongolia. The catalogue can be seen online at www.sangiorgioaste.com and, of course, I'll be glad to reply to any question and enquiry. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, a point that it's interesting to note about Hunyadi's GTM in zinc is that, although signed "KAUTSCH", it isn't made from the dies of this engraver. This will be well visible when comparing the piece with an official Kautsch one. Anyways, it's an interesting replacement piece, probably from the 1918-1930 years (in my opinion closer the 1st War years), well worth a place in a collection. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, a fine field ribbon bar piece indeed. Many years ago, a friend of mine identified it as the ribbon bar to the Gro?e Milit?rverdienstmedaille type awarded under Emperor Franz Josef. A really scarce medal, awarded to the highest-ranking officers (with a couple of exceptions) and I've seen this type of ribbon quite seldom. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

Hello, I regret to say that it's a copy dating from these later years, agreeing to what has been said from the other Forum colleagues. I's a one-piece cast copy, usually coming from Hungary (and there sold as a copy). What happens after the first purchase, is unknown... It's smaller than the original medal because the mould-wax-cast operations obviously imply a size reduction. I'm sorry when I have to give bad news... Enzo

Hello, I can confirm that the Feldpilotenabzeichen is a recent copy (what's the "maker's mark" struck on the Albatros' reverse?), possibly made by Horvath in Budapest. The case also is not an austrian piece. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, in the beautiful photographic portrait posted by Rick, count Degenfeld seems wearing (after what I can see in the rather faded detail of the picture) the most rare Leopold Order Star of Grand Cross with War Decoration of Lower Class (i.e. with golden laurel wreath between the enamelled centre cross' arms). Very, very interesting! Best wishes, Enzo

If I'm not wrong, General von Albori also received the MVK with brilliants... Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, an excellent MVK (Friede) with a long dedication, raising from emerald-green enamel. Congratulations! Enzo

Hello, I regret to say that the MVK II Class with KD and Swords (these, being in silver, are those of III Class) is not an officially awarded piece. Originals are differently made and on the lower arm's rim there should be the mark "MARSCHALL". The general workmanship of the piece is in my opinion of a lower quality than wartime, awarded ones. I haven't been able to read the marks, but they could probably be from Austria's 1st or 2nd republic and be for imported silverware. Best wishes, Enzo

Something very unofficial, for sure. E.L.

Hello, O would like to try to see the problem in a philological way. The inscription on the paper has a wrong construction: it should be: Rosenthal, Juweliere Friedrich Strasse N?82 Berlin Or with "Berlin" above the address. Why should the label of a firm start with the city? I'm very suspicious with that paper. The cross looks late 19th Century, or even later, but a proper answer could be given having the cross in the hands: quite often, a picture isn't enough to judge a piece. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

I think it's a French badge or a French-style badge of an arab country. Most possibly, post-1945. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

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I agree, it's a decoration of very fine design, truly "Jugendstil". In any case, it's very difficult to find an ugly-designed imperial Austrian order or decoration... Enzo

Hello, thank you for the comment: the 1st Class measures 63 x 63 mm. Best wishes, Enzo

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