Ed_Haynes

Another . . .

Another . . .

While work is still actively underway on refurbishing and redisplaying their medal collection, I have attached some preliminary snaps of the medal collection held in the United Service Institutution (India) in New Delhi. Most are mint specimens from just before WWI, though some are named. Things are (mostly) ribboned, short descriptive notes have been added to most cases, and the lighting system has been revised (no more overhead natural ribbon-fading light, but now florescent tubes that reflect badly in horizontal glass -- better, but not perfect). The pictures are not the greatest, sorry.

That does (intentionally) obscure the details of otherwise high quality pictures. What trade-offs are worth making?

Still there http://www.historicalresearch.com/ not very actve of late, alas.

Congratulations on the new arrival! Like any other book, not perfect, but darn nice. Try to find time to get some sleep in between your power-lifting exercises with this wonder. It will indeed be a sad day when the (probably close) moment arrives when these are no longer to be had.

"Thunderbolt" is a better translatioon for "vajra" than the unfortunate "precious rod" with which we have been stuck. See, of course, http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5412 Antonio seems to be representing the second class ribbon?

Pretty stuff

Amazed, I'd think there'd be someone out there would make up such FAKE groups.

It is good to see authentic medals and documents, up close and personal. By having such examples before us, we may be better armed against the fraudsters. Many thanks, all!

And one of the many (MANY) prints, many on military themes. Hope to have word on medal access "soon". They do not, apparently, have a catalogue.

A large painting from and of the 1911 Durbar.

Another

Your wish is my command, especially as I still have good internet access. A few snaps on the way to breakfast:

Glad to see this thread. I have always considered these to be one of the more dangerous awards out there. There are so many very good fakes!

And my favourite frame there.

One you have seen before I think, but another 'teaser'.

Close-up on some of the goodies.

OK . . . finally . . . some medals. A frame I don't think you have seen before.

The interior of the bar, though with a different cricket match on.

And Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.

Maharaja Bhupendra Singh of Patiala, famous collector of medals (both personal and as a collector -- and infamous collector of women too).

The other wall, with a much more phaleristically fun couple: Bhupendra and Ganga.

A few more photos, as I am in a good place to take them The entry area -- a not-so-fun couple named George and Mary.

An interesting group, to be sure, and quite plausible. Such things do occasionally surface, but are not easy to explain. My guess -- and it is no more than that -- is that this was a duplicate wearing group, purchased at cost from the mint. Value? I'm not much good at this. Unnamed state will detract substantially, though if there is an asserted provenance that will help, but only a little. I'd think in terms of 70% or 75% of the Medals Yearbook value. As I am away from my sources now, sorry I can't look them up. Maybe someone else could.