Elmar Lang

Dear Paul, thank you very much for this precious information! I've tried to search if HMS Philomel had anything to do with Zanzibar and/or operations on the seas around that area, but no success... Kind regards, Enzo

Hello, the medal, is actually a Queen's South Africa Medal, without bar (and no sign that there would have been one), named "W.E. BRAHMIN, SEEDIE. H.M.S. PHILOMEL". The reason for the presence of this medal in Dr. Mac Donald's group is a mistery to me. Regards, Enzo

Hello, after some research, I've found a photographic portrait of Sir Evelyn Wood. It is preserved at the National Portrait Gallery, London. The Grand Cross breast star of the Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold (for time of peace) is clearly visible. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, of course, we're talking about centre medallions. But it's interesting to note that the reverse one on the gold-made badges of the Franz Josef Orden is usually hinged to the upper arm (with the exception of the pieces made by Rothe & Neffe) and that the Goldenes Verdienstkreuz (with or without Crown) has the obverse centre medallion that can be opened. The fine piece of Kevin (does it still preserve the original case with gold-impressed similar dedication?) is a "Silbernes Verdienstkreuz mit der Krone", whose reverse medallion's outer circlet bears an engraved-enamelled dedication. This piece is also made by Rothe and -differently from the other austrian manufacturers- that jeweller made silver crosses with added centre medallions. Best wishes, Enzo

Hi all, thank you very much for the comments and for the invaluable information. The badge (breast star?...) nr. 4 is made of real gold, embossed, pierced, chased and engraved, with a vertical pin on the reverese; the piece looks as being of local manufacture. I don't know how and where to start a research about Dr. Mac Donald, on the British side, but if anyone would know something more about his career and life, any information would be most welcome. Kind regards, Enzo

Please excuse me for my bad "resize" of the picture; thank you for having helped me! Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, it was a good idea to remind that also the Goldenes Verdienstkreuz (with and without crown), when made in gold, have the obverse medallion that can be opened, in this case thanks to an ingenious system of a loop and pin device. I would like to say that trying to open both the medallion of the FJO and of the GVK can be dangerous for the fragile enamel! best wishes, Enzo

Hello, with some delay, I've been able to take a photo of the group: all the pieces belonged to Dr. George A. Mac Donald, Principal Medical Officer in the British Administration of Zanzibar, 1897-1915. I hope that the resize of the picture would leave it readable enough... kind regards, Enzo

Hello, here, my 2 FJO knight's crosses (in gold) with dedication engraved/enamelled on the reverse medallion's outer circlet. Please excuse me for the disgraceful quality of the scans, but I have a stone-age flat scanner (from 1999) and my digital camera is in my office. Both pieces bear the marks of Rothe and they are from the early WW1 times. Best wishes, Enzo

Hi Lilo, before searching more accurately, I can confirm the award of the St. Stephen's Order (Grand Cross) to King Edward VII and King George V (see: S. Patterson: "Royal Insignia - British and Foreign Orders of Chivalry from the Royal Collection"; London, 1996, pages 78-82). From the years of the Napoleonic Wars, we need to remember the 8 British Cavalry officers: Maj. Robert Pocklington; Lieut.Col. William Aylett; Maj. Edward Ryan; Maj. Cranby Calcraft; Maj. William Kier (or Keir); Maj. Edward Butler (or Buttler); Maj. Robert Wilson; Capt. Charles Blount who, thanks to their heroic deeds at the battle of Villiers-en-Crouch? (near Cambrai) on April 24th 1794, saved Emperor Francis II from being taken prisoner or killed. The Emperor, impressed from their valour, let a large gold medal be struck and awarded it to them, since the Maria Theresia Order couldn't be awarded to foreigners. Later, on Nov. 7th 1800, the Emperor created the 8 officers knights of the Maria Theresia Order (after a modification to the Order's statutes), allowing them to still keep the gold medal as a visible sign of his appreciation. Two of those excessively rare sets (Gold Medal with neck-chain and MMThO Cross): the ones belonged to Edward Buttler and Robert Pocklington, have been sold from Spink's in the mid '60s. Best wishes, Enzo

Yes, all austrian-made pieces, have the reverse medallion hinged to the base of the upper arm. As a matter of interest, in my collection I have a knight's cross of the FJO with hallmarks of Rothe & Neffe (the "FR" in a lozenge), made of gold, and its reverse medallion is fixed, with no hinge. Ok, the reverse medallion's outer circlet bears an engraved/enamelled dedication so, this could be an explanation for the absence of the hinge. Best wishes, Enzo

Hi Lilo, I'll check if the two British personalities received the Leopold Order, and which class. Anyways, I can say -with no doubt- that the Leopold Order, when awarded to foreigners, was of the same type as the one awarded to Austrians; in other words, complete with crown/pendilia above the cross. Kind regards and best wishes, Enzo

Hello, yes, the picture is a bit unsharp where the last medal is visible, but it could be one of the W?rttemberg (considering that our Teck is wearing the Grand Cross star of the W?rtt. Crown Order). Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, many thanks for the precious information. In reply to Ed's words, I admit that reading on paper would be a most advisable thing: I like the smell of old books and from my trips abroad I always take back home some reference books on many topics. The only problem is that I have full bookshelves in all of home's rooms (my wife thinks that a bookshelf with "meditative" literature would perfectly fit in the bathroom...). I've been asking about an online reference, because I've recently seen a fine old group of Zanzibar orders and medals from the late 19th Century and, besides the "common-to-see" pieces, there are some of which I have no idea. Best wishes, Enzo (Elmar Lang)

Hello, Is there on the Internet a complete reference about the faleristics of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, including the medals also? Thank you very much, Elmar Lang

Hello, the man looks like wearing the uniform of the Czechoslowakian Legion's troops in the Royal Italian Army in WW1. In this case, an "Ardito", or a member of the assault units. Pity that the cap badge is not very well visible. Best regards, Enzo

Hello, I would like to remember that since a certain date, also the Franz Josef Orden was awarded with "Kriegsdekoration" for wartime merit, swords were also added to all classes from 1916. Kind regards, Enzo

Hello, the Jubil?umskreuz 1848-1908 had three different ribbons, dividing the decoration in three groups: 1) Milit?r-Jubil?umskreuz (Jubilee Cross for Military): white with red side-stripes: 2) Jubil?umskreuz f?r Zivistaatsbedienstete (for Civil Officials): Red; 3) Jubil?ums-Hofkreuz (for Officials and Military attached to the Court): Red with white side-stripes (same as the Leopold Order). Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, as a further information about the picture posted by ccj, the pin-back decoration Emperor Charles I wears on the right breast pocket is the "Franz Joseph-Kreuz", also known as "Militantibus a Latere Meo", instituted by Franz Josef on Nov. 21st 1916 (but practically created under his successor, Charles I) and awarded only 25 times to the late Emperor's closest military entourage. Sincerely, Enzo

Hello, the price of the "Ehrenbuch" shouldn't exceed the 200.- Euro, hopefully... Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, I don't think that it could be the Archduke Joseph. Could it be General Alexander v. Krobatin? Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, it is not a statistic, and obviously incomplete, but this book can be of invaluable help: "Ehrenbuch der Oesterreichisch Ungarischen Wehrmacht - die Ausgezeichneten im Weltkrieg"; Vienna, k.u.k. Kriegsarchiv / Verlag Vaterl?ndisches Archiv, 1917 In this book, besides the statutes of all the awarded orders and decorations (and fine colour plates) there is an alphabetical list of officers with details of their awards. A good thing is that the "Ehrenbuch" is not rare and it usually appears at collectors shows and/or auctions. Best wishes, Enzo

Dear Veteran, it is also possible to find your medal in some of the "classics" of phaleristic literature: it is mentioned in: Hermann von Heyden: "Ehren-Zeichen der erloschenen und bl?henden Staaten Deutschlands und Oesterreich-Ungarns"; Meiningen, 1897, page 226, no. 960. (von Heyden writes that the "R" under Maria Theresia's bust means "Rosnavia", the site of the Royal Hungarian Mint). The same piece was auctioned in v. Heyden's sale of Oct. 19th 1898; lot no. 819 (a second piece, under no. 820). Again, the medal appears in the famous auction catalogue of the Julius Collection, "Krieg und Frieden in der Medaille und in der Gedenkm?nze - II. Teil 1740-1804"; R. Gaettens, Heidelberg, 6-8 Nov. 1958; lot no. 1801 I'm happy to know that you've had the pleasure to meet Prof. Fattovich. I can't forget his patience, kindness and hospitality. When I had the honour to know him I was just a student moving my first steps in phaleristics and being lucky enough to live in Venice... I hope that these further details would be of help, sincerely, Enzo

Hello, yes, the medal is an original piece, still retaining its original gilding. The piece illustrated in v. Falkenstien's (Dan Ragsdale's) book is the one belonged to the Fattovich collection. It reminds me of long ago, but I remember that piece, among those Prof. F. liked most. It is a rare piece, although I don't have an idea of its actual value. Regards, Enzo

Hello, I consider this piece (a "Kleinkreuz" or Knight's Cross) as very interesting: all the crosses with black enamelled inscriptions are of early manufacture; the crown looks like "closed" at its bottom (where the link to the cross is soldered) and this is a type made in the 1st half of the 19th Century. Pity that the picture is not sharp... Enzo