Elmar Lang

...I can't wait! I think that book will be my livre de chevet! Elmar Lang

Hello Marc, In one of your posts, I've read "...The Russian Ministry of Culture has recently published a fairly lavish book that lists all the serial numbers of such stolen orders and medals (I had it in my hands, A4 format and a couple of hundred pages) with details about their disappearance...". Where would this book be available, or downloadable? Thank you very much for your help, Elmar Lang

Hi all, now, I see some "light at the other end of the tunnel"! I beg your pardon for my ignorance... I didn't know that the Russian Authorities published a list/book about stolen Soviet Orders & Decorations. This would be an invaluable help to collectors and/or dealers. Where would this book be available? Best wishes, Elmar Lang

I understand that this discussion opens many problems on how "legal" phaleristic collecting could be. Let's say my thought in simple words: what could happen if -in the western world- a group of Soviet orders would be offered for sale at an auction? I mean with well visible and indicated serial numbers, etc. In the recent past, I've seen that in at least two auctions (f.e. Basel, Switzerland, January 2007) all soviet pieces have been withdrawn from the sale. In November 2007, at the NY Markov auction, all numbers were clearly visible and nothing happened. At a recent Auction in Hamburg, the reverse of all Soviet orders was visible, but the numbers were covered with some "X". Could be a risk, if a collector would sell at auction his USSR pieces, collected in the 80s-90s? A Russian dealer, recently warned a western European auctioneer on not to show or quote any serial number on his catalogues (except sentences like "4-digit number" or "with serial number", etc.), to avoid a serious reaction from the Russian Government. I think that this warning is very strange, because either the number is quoted or not, Russian authorities could react the same... I'm lost... Elmar Lang

Hello, a very fine group indeed. The price... adapted to the type of clients buying Russian and Soviet orders. I see that everything is described; details about the numbering, papers, etc. What could happen if the Russian Government would say that this group belongs to Russia's Cultural Heritage? This question is connected to the topic I've started some days ago (Numbers or not numbers?). Best wishes, Enzo

Dear Richard, thank you very much for your invaluable help. Now I'll be able to better describe those curious medals! I hope too, to see the book about warlord decorations be published soon... Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, we all see that the market of Soviet (and, generally, Russian awards) is very active, and I remember about strange things happened at auctions where pieces from the USSR were for sale: most auction houses describes them indicating the number engraved on the reverse, other show them with the numbers covered with "XXXX". In 2007, at an auction in Basel, Swtzerland, all Soviet decorations have been withdrawn from the auction, after an action of the Russian Government. In other words, are us from the western countries allowed to possess, buy, sell and auction Soviet Orders? What's the real situation? Best wishes, Enzo

A very fine piece, especially for the perfectly preserved case. I must compliment for this piece. Elmar Lang

Hello, I've just seen that on the catalogue of the coming Thies auction, it's offered an interesting 1813 Grand Cross (lot 455). Looking at the iron insert, it shows all the details of the original Gleiwitz cast-iron cores; only the silver frame seems different from the awarded pieces. It is described as an early piece, made in the 1st half of XIX Century. In my opinion it's an important piece. Best wishes, Elmar Lang

Hello, I must say that the piece offered for sale on eBay is a poorly made cast copy of the original badge. I think that in no way it could deceive a collector. The metal looks like tin; the pin couldn't be wronger and no attempt was done to give the reverse a "better" appearance. Best wishes, Enzo

...and the reverse:

Continuing the discussion about the Grand Cross, I'm posting two badges of old manufacture; the first of a very early type, with a simple ring suspension (the crown was fixed to the sash ribbon); the second, of the same period, but "updated" in the 1st half of XIX Century, by order of the Chancellery: in this case, the original uniface crown was modified adding a long suspension ring and a smaller loop to link it to the cross. The obverse:

Hello, during the reign of Maria Theresia, the two highest merit orders were instituted: the Military Maria Theresia Order (Milit?r Maria Theresien - Orden), to recompensate officers for the highest acts of gallantry in time of war; the Order of St. Stephen (K?niglich hohe Ritter-Orden vom Heiligen Stephan dem Apostolischen K?nig), to recompensate the highest civil merits. Both orders, in their definitive organization were divided into 3 classes: Grand Cross (Gro?kreuz); Commander (Kommandeur) and Knight or Small Cross (Ritter; Klein-Kreuz). These orders belong to the highest old-Austrian signs of honour and the original pieces are from very rare to extremely rare, in any classes. In the last 40 years, many copies appeared on the market, mostly made by the famous jewellers Rothe & Neffe in Vienna. These pieces weren't intended to deceive collectors; they were simply made and sold as copies, a last example of the high craftsmanship of austrian order-makers. Lately, it happens that such copies (especially those of the Maria Theresia Order) appear "upgraded", being struck with faked old-austrian silver (or gold) assay marks. The trained "eye" of a collector can detect such pieces, because of the different workmanship between a pre-1918 and a post-1918 order. Other copies are made in Hungary, but their quality is so low that even a quasi-absolute beginner won't fall in error. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, this St.Stephen's-like cross is not exactly a fantasy order, but it's the Knight's Cross of the "Ungarisches adeliges Kapitel-Kreuz", or "Chapter's Cross of the Hungarian Nobility"; an association of Hungarian nobles, founded in Luzern (Switzerland), on 19. September 1960. The decoration was awarded depending on the title's level; in other words, the Knight's Cross was intended to the lower grades of nobility, patrices with coat-of-arms and "Vit?z". The small "defect" we see on the left side of the crown suspension, is an evidence that the piece was produced by Rothe & Neffe, Vienna. The plain reverse medallion was engraved with a progressive number. The obverse medallion, although not enamelled, resembles that of the "Magyar Erdemrend", or Hungarian Merit Order, from the Horthy period, 1922-1944, not that of the Order of the Sacred Crown. The ribbon is also correct. More info about this private decoration can be found on Prochazka, II Edition, Vol. 4, pages 258-259. Best wishes, Enzo

The second set:

...and here are two Grand Cross sets. The first, with the badge of early manufacture, re-issued with the upgraded suspension, made with old uniface crown adapted with a ribbon ring; the second, belonged to Cardinal Giuseppe Taliani is from the late XIX Century.

...it seems that I still need to learn how to resize pictures. My sincere apologies, Enzo

Detail of the manufacturer's signature:

Reverse side:

Hello, I would like to start a discussion about this high Austro-Hungarian Order, beginning with a curious piece: a Grand Cross breast star of British manufacture. The diameter is 7,1 cm., quite smaller than usual; the short "flamed" rays are gilt. The pin is made of gold and on the reverse medallion there is the engraved mark of "Wm. Gray Jeweller 13. New Bond St.". I know that collectors like "official pieces" more than such foreign-made pieces, but I find this star and highly attractive. Best wishes, Enzo Obverse side:

Thank you very much Ed, I'll check the ANS-Auction Catalogue from M&E carefully. ...I've forgot to search through the OMSA database... thank you for remembering. Best regards, Enzo

Thank you Hugh. I agree, or Chinese 1st Republic. Let's see if other colleagues would find further details. Kind regards, Enzo

...and their other side:

Three more pieces:

on the other side: