Ed_Haynes

So many dealers and accumulators/investors don't care for the research and just throw it out, being more interested in the "thing" and, perhaps, in the "type". Sad.

While there may be fake MBEs out there, I have never seen or heard of one. It is fairly common and not at all high priced (maybe ?80 for an MBE). Likewise, the sort of fixation with maker's marks or hallmarks that collectors of German awards evidence seems strange to the collector of British awards. I have never seen (or, to honest, even looked for) hallmarks on the second variety MBE (any more than there are hallmarks on silver decorations and medals), though they are seen on the first type badge. If you are buying from a reliable and knowledgable dealer there is probably no problem. I'm sorry to say that, from the sound of it, you may not be dealing with such a dealer. If you want some names of reliable dealers, send me a PM.

M NIB 07 -- Mongol Export

While I am not sure what the link to the Stark is, I would agree that he is surely one of the major figures of the 20th Century. Let us not, please, stray into "bloody shirt" territory . . . .

N NIB 02 -- Construction Factory

N NIB 01 -- Outstanding Worker of the Architectural Design Service

Yes, and most OP Vijay Star recipients were posted to navy folks stationed in Delhi (it was the navy that pressed -- guess why -- to have a "pocket" of combat elegibility extended to folks sitting in Naval HQ -- INS Delhi -- in New Delhi). Now, both the OP Vijay Star (for combat service) and the OP Vijay Medal (for "being there" have the same three stripes for the three services, though wider on the star. Sure to generate confusion, as it has already generated politics. It is all a reflection of the fact that there is no high-level knowledgable supervision of the honours system these days.

Not sure I find it "sad" that these are going home to Russia. I just wish I were more certain that such lovelies were going to research-loving collectors rather than to "New Rich" accumulators and shameless investors. In any case, no matter where Igor sets his prices, things do seem to sell . . . eventually. An interesting exercise in ECON 102.

Thanks, Laurence. Those were almost exactly the sorts of images I was going to post. Now I don't have to. Hope they answer the question? Interest unofficial naming on your MBE, by the way!

Yes, the ribbon for the OP Vijay Star has been redesigned, to add a dark blue stripe (representing the navy and presumably acknowledging all those ships sailing in the high Himalayas?). See:

Just as a cross-reference (and to minimize redundant and duplicate cross-posting) a number of documented construction badges are shown as a part of the group to Colonel (at least) Byamba Gezegt, http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=14479.

O NIB 03 -- Socialist Laborer of the Wood Processing Plant, Ulaanbaatar Rail Road

U NIB -- 5th Pioneer Conference

W NIB 12 -- Gymnastic Competition Badge

D NIB 01 -- 50th Anniversary of the People's Justice Court of the MPR, 1926-76

R NIB 16 -- Best Pupil

P NIB 11 -- Transport Driver

P NIB 10 -- Leading Driver Without Accident No. 3 A variant of P 03.

Thanks Jaganji, and good to see you over here (too)

Interesting, though I wonder how many others serving in Iraq were sold "his" awards? I know of at last one other who claims to own them. Sure, I believed he'd have had more than one set made up, but I also smell the distinctive acrid odor of free-wheeling Iraqi capitalism.

Saddam medals on show in SA 16/01/2007 20:08 - (SA) Johannesburg - A South African soldier's passion for military memorabilia led him to buy a set of medals belonging to executed Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein - and they are now on display in Johannesburg. "Medals tell the story of a country. The medals are very, very colourful and the medals and medallions tell a story," said William Endley, a retired national defence force colonel now working for a United States de-mining company. "The Middle East has its own way of doing things... ours are much more formal." Endley was speaking from southern Sudan, where he is clearing explosives and landmines so food aid can be transported, and teaching locals to do the same. Wanted only to be a soldier He started collecting military memorabilia at the age of 14 with items left to him by his grandfather. "I was five years old when I decided to become a soldier. It's all I ever wanted to be." In mid-2004 he was working in Iraq when he was offered a set of Saddam's awards by a former soldier who probably bought them from a Baghdad medals dealer. Endley immediately bought the collection. "It was quite an expensive little exercise." In January, he loaned Saddam's medals to the SA National Museum of Military History where they are on display to the public. The collection is in excellent condition and includes sashes, medals and orders. There is a photograph of Saddam, taken more than 20 years ago and wearing full dress uniform with his awards. Museum staff say there has been great interest in the collection, particularly from military experts. "It's quite a coup," said museum spokesman Allan Sinclair. Museum acting director Sandi MacKenzie said it was unusual to get such a collection so soon after the original owner's death or fall from power. "It normally takes us 100 years to get something like this." Experts believe the collection is genuine. MacKenzie explained that heads of state often have duplicate sets of medals and orders, for travelling. MacKenzie said the first four medals Saddam was awarded were for gallantry and these he got before taking power. "He earned them as a soldier would earn them." His awards include the rare Wisam al-Jadara or Order of Merit - awarded to only three or four Iraqi rulers - and for the 1948-'49 Palestinian War, for crushing the Kurdish rebellion, for the 1963 and 1968 revolutions, for co-operation with Syria, for peace in 1970, and for the 1973 war with Israel. Pride of place His Order of the Mother of Battles has a star and a sash in the red, black and white of the Iraqi flag with "Allah Akbar" (God is Great) on it, for the 1991 Gulf War against Kuwait and the US. Saddam received the Order of the Two Rivers, which Endley described as the piece of which he was proudest. This was a civilian and military award, and had republican and royal versions. Saddam wore a military version. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/...2055801,00.html

What variety? What era? Are you seeking a specific maker?? These are outside the sort of concerns that most British collectors express, so forgive my confusion.

I don't know of such a book either, though it would be a nice one to see and have. It would be difficult to research, however, and would likely require a close relative working for a good international airline so you could fly all over the world for free.

I am not quite sure what you are looking for, but see: http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3706 (first variety) or http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/un...-kingdom024.htm I can put up MBE or OBE scans later, if you wish. Recipients would be listed in the London Gazette and can be searched online when it is in a good mood: http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveSearch.asp

Thanks for the translation and background, Tang Si!