Elmar Lang

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

Dear Veteran,

I am assuming that the photograph is an enlargement, according to Falkenstein the medal is 27 mm. As far as I can see from the image I can see no cause for alarm as to the authenticity.

Maria Theresia was King (yes king) in Hungary and the Magyars tended to be the HRE's cannon fodder. I would suggest that the medal is at least scarce, if not rare.

All the best,

Paul

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

Hello Gentlemen

Knight of the St.Stephen ( not mine ) One of the most beautifully designed. Can any member give a time frame to this one?

Hello,

I would like to remember again that the St. Stephen's Order is a very rare one and all original award pieces were in gold. Yes, there existed silver-plated pieces available for private purchase (besides the copies made by Rothe & Neffe after WW2 and the very poor copies now made in Hungary), but they were of the highest jeweller's quality.

In my collection I have 5 surely original pieces only, of this order (no commander's cross though) and I feel myself quite lucky...

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

it looks like a fine Chamberlain Key from the reign of Emperor Franz I (1804-1835). The piece was shortened, probably for reasons of an easier wear in the typical "pocket" of the uniform.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

I would like to remember that the Grand Cross star with KD and swords of the St. Stephen's Order was awarded to Archduke Joseph during WW1 from Emperor Charles I.

More, it is interesting to note that the Order's Treasure re-issued older pieces, for example "adapting" the crown once attached to the sash into the later suspension type (they appear as hollow on the reverse, sometimes with traces of the old ribbon-loop).

All the decorations of this order were officially awarded in gold only. Any gilt insignia should be considered as a privately purchased piece (or a later copy). Not forgetting that messrs. Rothe & Neffe of Vienna re-produced this order in its various classes until the late 70s in gold also, from the original dies.

In my opinion all current copies can't deceive collectors, because of their poor quality.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

thank you for the information. I can imagine that few medals would have been awarded to the Maltese Pioneers (I don't think that it was a huge unit...).

As a matter of interest, I've seen a very old photo (from the era of the "calotype" process) of the Cheops' Pyramid and on one stone block there's a large inscription "CAMILLERI". Who knows, perhaps it was my medal's owner...

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

I would add this book:

Friedhelm Heyde: "Das Eiserne Kreuz 1813. 1870. 1914 (Preu?en-Sammlung Max Aurich)"; Osnabr?ck, Biblio-Verlag, 1980.

It's a good reference book although illustrated in b/w only.

Now it's out-of-print, but it happens to find it at collectors shows.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello Johnsy,

please excuse me for the lack of details: the medal is the GSM 1793-1814. The inscription on the rim is exactly as transcribed.

Thank you and best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

in my collection I have a General Service Medal with single bar "EGYPT" named (officially impressed) for "LORENZO CAMILLERI MALTESE PIONEERS".

May I have more informations about the unit and the medals awarded to it for the Egyptian Campaign?

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

rergarding Razputin's EK2-1914 with Austrian-type ribbon, I would like to remember my post about Austrian-made EKs ( http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19046 ), where I've shown the two pieces from my collection: a full-size and a "Prinzengr??e" one. From the picture, one can have an idea of the proportions between the two crosses.

Austrian-made pieces have the iron core blued, instead of being black-lacquered.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

the original name for this medal is: "Verwundetenmedaille"; the class indicated with the differently "striped" ribbon is "...f?r einmalige Verwundung", then "Zweimalige", "Dreimalige" and "Viermalige".

These medals were struck in "Kriegsmetall" or Zinc, but the medal that Riley posted seems the rarer version in silvered Bronze or Silver. Just check the medal's rim and look for one of the usual Austrian marks like "BRONZE"; "SILBER" or "UNECHT".

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

yes, the Mericka was an expensive book since when it was normally available at bookstores. Anyways, I think that $400.- should be considered a "top price" for it now.

I think that the cheaper (in price, but with very fine text and plates) "Oesterreichs Orden" would be ok also.

Sometimes, the Mericka appears for sale on the austrian branch of eBay.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

I don't think that there would exist a reference book covering the whole period from the Holy Roman Empire until the Anschlu?, except some price-catalogues: the old Neubecker-Nimmergut: "Oesterreich Katalog - Orden und Ehrenzeichen ab 1430 bis zur Gegenwart" (1978); the Steiner: "Orden und Ehrenzeichen der ?sterreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie" (1992; no Austrian Republic, though) and the Marko: "Auszeichnungen der Oesterreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie und der Zwischenkriegszeit" (1997). The first one gives a simple listing-prices-b/w-illustrations, while the other two, besides the of course out-of-date "market prices" give some useful details about ribbons, number awarded, variations, etc.; in any case, none of the three volumes can be considered as "reference books".

As mentioned in my preceeding post, a good thing is to pay a visit to the webpage of the "Oesterreichische Gesellschaft f?r Ordenskunde" ( www.ordenskunde.at ) and search through the publications' page.

It is also a good idea to search through the websites of bookstores and numismatists.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

yes, I've forgotten to mention that the Michetschl?ger exists as a reprint, although reduced in size. Many years ago, I've dangerously damaged my student's bank account, buying the original edition at an auction in Vienna... but it was worth the fear!...

Best wishes,

Enzo

Hello,

the Mericka is still the most beautiful post-WW2 book on the Austro-Hungarian orders and decorations. Some details are now out-of-date in spite of recent researches but the late dr. Mericka remains one of the greatest experts on the subject, that's perfectly reflected in the text. The splendid illustrations are mostly from the wonderful and huge collection of the late prof. dr. G.Fattovich from Venice, Italy, who was, from the '50s until 1986 when he died, a great collector and a connoisseur.

Another very fine book is the more recent "Oesterreichs Orden", Graz, ADEVA, 1996, with very good texts and illustrations;

In English there is Jos. von Falkenstien (Dan Ragsdale): "Imperial Austrian Medals and Decorations", Tucson, 1972: it is now rare to find (in Europe...) and there are some technical and historical mistakes, but it remains a fine reference book.

About the 1st Republic and other faleristical topics you can visit the library page of the OeGO at http://www.ordenskunde.at/publikationen.html .

Besides the mentioned books and those listed at the webpage, a collector should look for some "classics" like the "von Heyden" or the lavishly illustrated (and expensive, besides rare) huge book of Michetschl?ger: "Das Ordensbuch der gewesenen Oesterreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie", Vienna, 1919.

Best wishes,

Enzo