Elmar Lang

Hello,

During San Giorgio's sale of Orders & Decorations of June 11th, 2011, the complete group of the Royal Hungarian St. Stephen's Order awarded in 1867 to General Edgar Napoléon Ney (1812 - 1882), reached the record price of 40.000,- Euro (start at 7.000,-). Since in my opinion it will pass much time, until it will possibly appear again on the market, after having been kindly authorized by the buyer, I would like to post here some good pictures of the group.

It is interesting to note that the sash badge is of the transitional type as awarded in 19th Century; in other words, a cross from 18th Century with the one-sided crown transformed from being a ribbon "buckle" to a suspension, after having the rear loops removed and changed with a long ribbon-ring with a link connected to the cross's upper loop (pictures shall say much more than my poor English); the breast star is typical of the type awarded between 1860-80. Having the order been awarded in 1867 there are silver marks introduced in Austria that year.

This interesting piece has now a new home after a short bidding fight between two collectors, reaching a hammer price of 900,- Euro.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

The photo posted by Freiherr depicts v. Zoellner early in in 1917, while the one posted by me is v. Zoellner's last public appearance in September 1944 for his 60th military jubilee. As said, he was already very ill. I consider that image, in its historical context, as very touching.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

this piece was auctioned yesterday, for a hammer price of Euro 4.000,-

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Yesterday, Gen. von Zoellner's group has found a new, caring home.

It was won in auction with a bid on the whole group, winning on the sum of all single bids.

In my opinion, this is how it should have ended. The heirs of the General are happy knowing that the military memories of their ancestor won't be divided.

Best wishes,

E.L.

reverse:

Just to add something new to this thread, I would like to post the pictures, obverse and reverse of a 1st type Urdhri i Flamurit in gold. It belonged to an Italian partisan and it will be auctioned tomorrow, June 11th.

I hope that the images would be good enough.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Actually is a piece of the finest manufacture. The piece is unmarked, nor signed by the jeweller who made it (but it should have been someone mastering his art). The case bears no marks either.

More details and better pictures can be found at http://www.sangiorgioaste.com/eng-site/auctions/scheda.asp?codice=52&asta=019&parte=1&lotto=0181&categoria=ORDINI+E+DECORAZIONI&titolo=An+exceptional+Star+of+the+%22Grand+Army+of+the+Republic%22&ris=

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

...and a clip from a contemporary newspapers, announcing the presentation of the star to Mr. Stuart.

The decoration is still in the original "portfolio-shaped", black leather presentation case.

E.L.

The reverse side, with recipient's picture "framed" on the ribbon's reverse face and engraved dedication:

Hello,

the star of the Grand Army of the Republic is quite well known in the collecting community.

What I consider an exception is the star I'm going to illustrate in this topic: it was made as a present to a veteran of the Civil War, in the first years of 20th Century, in an outstanding quality. Two-colour gold, enamels and brilliants.

This piece will be auctioned in Italy in the coming weekend.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

I agree with you: the best thing would be to keep the group together: orders and papers. The picture (here, an enlargement) , as previously said, v. Zoellner's last public appearance in Sept. 1944. He was already very ill (see how "oversize" his uniform appears to be...) and died in March 1945.

From what I've been able to know, after his Military Jubilee he almost never went out of home, except on air-raid alarms, due to his failing health. After the funeral, all orders were arranged in a frame and, saved from the last air raids, remained at his heirs' home until the date when it was decided to offer the group in auction.

Best wishes,

E.L.

An enlargement of a picture taken in September 1944, on Gen. von Zoellner's last official appearance, on the occasion of his 60th Military Jubilee: all the decorations belonging to the group, illustrated in the first page of this thread, are visibly worn.

Letters to von Zoellner (on top, one from the Reichsarbeitsführer K. Hierl)

"Rang-Listen Auszug"

more service papers

Hello,

I would like to add some more details to complete this thread about General von Zoellner's group: some of the related papers and the last photo of the general, taken in 1944 on the day of his 60th military jubilee.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Hello again,

searching in a recent and very well documented book (Wojciech Stela: "Polskie Ordery i Odznaczenia - Polish Orders and Medals - vol. I 1943-1946"; Warsaw, 2008; pages 80-83), it appears that this type of cross was made in 50 pieces only (material: gold 950/ooo), 43 of them were awarded, between 1945 and 1947 to 4 Polish; 9 USA; 5 Norwegians; 6 French; 17 USSR; 1 Czechoslowakian; 1 Yugoslav.

So, it should be a very rare version of this highly interesting and beautiful order.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

How can this piece be judged?...

E.L.

P.S.: I agree, Josef has a sharp hawk-eye.

Hello,

this type of cross was neither named, nor numbered, but the person who received it, is known.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Hello,

would it be possible to see a picture of the complete piece? That would help a lot to determine the maker's area and period of manufacture, besides to appreciate a beautiful order.

Elmar Lang

Hello,

a Virtuti Militari Cross in gold of the type made at the USSR mint of Krasnokamsk, will be auctioned in the coming June. The piece is also in the original, leather case.

Below, an image of the piece.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Well, the problem with the use of German with Hungarians can be true, considering those difficult times. It's also a fact that in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the use of Latin was very wide also in older times.

Anyways, if we think at the modification of the Signum Laudis' suspension between FJ and K...

Perhaps, I'm too romantic...

E.L.

Hello,

all the orders, decorations and papers composing the von Zoellner group are visible at http://www.sangiorgi...I+E+DECORAZIONI (lots 37 to 47), with some good detail pictures.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

Hello Sascha,

actually, Gen. v. Zoellner didn't receive the MMJO, he became Ritter -as you correctly noticed- when was awarded with the Order of the Bavarian Crown. Among the papers that will be part of the group, there is the letter from the Königl. Bayerische Reichsherold (dated Sept. 4th, 1917) announcing the award of the Crown Order (happened on Aug. 23rd 1917), the elevation to the Ritterstand and a heraldic proposal for a coat-of-arms "Für den Fall, daß sie ein eigenes Familienwappen nicht besitzen sollten...". Among the various papers, there also is a framed picture, that I find very touching: his last official appearing on Sept. 1st, 1944, on the occasion of his 60 years military jubilee, wearing his Bavarian uniform and Pickelhaube, orders and decorations.

Best wishes,

E.L.