heusy68

Hello Gentlemen, Very sad to announce that David Tasic, passed away in late October 2019. I only knew him through phone contact & email, a good person, knowledgeable & reliable, he will be missed. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, A high italian award (ie Order of the Crown Grand Cross), on a Monténégro General make sense, one of the daughter of King Nicolas 1st of Monténégro ( Helena ), was the wife of King Vittorio Emanuele III from Italy. For the St Stanislas, on the last photo, it's clear, it was the Military Division of the Order of St Stanislas (with Swords). Regards. Emmanuel

And side by side, to compare size. The WWI version at left , due to its workmanship, likely french made. We know Godet in Berlin did manufactured the Cross of Valor smaller ranks (for WWII), but as I do not have the cases for these 2 Awards, I cannot state anything. Regards. Emmanuel

Hello Paul, I know you have a very sharp memory. I will later in the Week post the scan of the catalogue of JP Stella. If I remember, his words, in the catalogue were : Brésil Mérite Géographique (in french). He never stated that it was a governemental award. What wrote Enzo (Elmar) is also very important. I know him in real life, and his knowledge in phaleristic is huge, he also has a sharp memory. Having been to Roma in June 2018, I sadly witnessed that Cravanzola is not any more Via del Corso, but I knew from past visit in their shop from 1997 to 2010 that they were still keeping some medium size stock of unsold material (I bought many ribbons from them). So when Enzo state that some of these crosses surfaced in Militalia Fair in Milano, it's important. Also true that there is a huge italian Community living in Brazil. And not only in Brazil, but in Buenos Aires (Argentina), and in Panama. It's fun to know, that the Company that supply the Government of Panama for their National Orders, order them from a company in Firenze ( Florence in Italy ). Not a surprise to know that the owner of that panamean company is of italian roots. I also agree with you, that Portugal, and Brazil have a lot of private Awards. Jérôme (QuiviveFrance) knows very well the brazilian market. Regards Emmanuel

This post would not be complete if i would not upload a Cross of Valour, Commandor neck badge, from WWII. It's in metal-gilt, or silver-gilt (but no hallmarks), Size of the cross : 41,5 x 48 millimeters. Total heigh : 70 millimeters. Weight : 32 grammes. Regards. Emmanuel

Hello BalkanCollector, I agree with you. I never been to Skopje, but it's in the plan for the next years. By the way I do believe, that Republic of North Macedonia had a Policy of award Order very sparingly. I bet sooner or later Order of Merit might comes to market, but higher Order as Order of the Republic, or Order of 8 September, we will have to go to Museum to take photo. There might also be a range of medals for Armed Forces, and for the Police (purely macedonian), that we are not aware (yet), they exist. Dragomir Acovik , who I met in Belgrade in the summer of 2015 had published a very very well made book on Order of Yugoslavia, with a chapter on all information available on Orders of the 6 Republics, after the collapse of Yugoslavia. A lot of photo, and including a lot of photo of Awards ceremony. During your visit to Skopje, any museum wth Orders there ? Regards. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, I have a similar cross in my collection. The cross is 43,5 x 50 millimeters, but total heigh with the crown 68 millimeters. Weight : 21 grammes. Dimension in AUDAP catalogue slightly differ, but their expert Jean-Christophe is a friend, he might have took total heigh from Bottom till middle of suspenion loop. There was such a Cross in one of the famous french auction of the 1980ies by Daniel Renaud. My cross comes from a greek dealer. Regards. Emmanuel

Hello Micke, Do not always believe auction house, especially Spink New York ( Spink London Ok, but NY ought gosh ). So they will write what they might consider "believable". I do remember an auction in October 1996 by Jean-Pierre Stella in Paris, where there was such a cross, the identification was (if my memory is good) : Brazil Order of Geographic Merit. I still have that catalogue, sure for end of this week, I might scan and post. Of course it would be the opinion of one expert ( JP Stella ), against other, but the reputation, and the huge amount of knowledge he has might put the balance in his favor. For those who never heard of him, Jean-Pierre Stella was starting his life in Orders & Medals selling in the mid 1960ies in a shop in St Ouen (outskirt of Paris, just the other side of the Peripherique Boulevard). He later move to a shop Quai de la Tournelle (opposite bank of the Seine to Notre Dame). He stopped business there in December 2016. But he's still well and active, now he live in South of France. For those who were in the business in the 60ies, 70ies and 80ies, getting information was ever challenging. Keep in mind that on these years people were writing a lot of letters to Embassies, Manufacturer, Minister, to enquires about elusive insignia, often without reply, sometimes with luck. I did that too !!! In those years, manufacturers (I mean the original manufacturer were still alive, end some of them keen to share their knowledge). Regards. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, While in visit in Sofia last month, I visited the Military History Museum. Among the Awards of President Zhelyu Zhelev ( President of Bulgaria from 1990 till 1997 ) was his Order of 8 September. It's the first time of my life, I see an Order of Macedonia ( FYROM ), with my own eyes. President Zhelev was awared this Order for recognition he showed to North Macedonia for recognising this country. Regards to all. Emmanuel

I have searched for 1 hour now. I found no data on the web. Incl in the official web site related to Nelson Mandela. That does not mean that Nelson Mandela did not get the Order of Excellence of Guyana, but I do not found evidence. In the meantime, while searching, I found reference with photo (but Getty Image credit), that Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was awarded Order of Excellence of Guyana on 25 November 2010, in a ceremony in Georgetown. Emmanuel

The Cacique Crown of Honour is a civilian award : C.C.H. A recent award had been made on October 2016 to businessman Inderjeet Beharry. Dimension & manufacture details, are same than for Cacique Crown of Valour, If any one has a Cacique Crown of Honour for sale, just drop me a message. Regards to All. Emmanuel

Next to the Order of Excellence & Order of Roraima, is the Cacique Crown of Valour : C.C.V. It is Guyana award for Gallantry. It is similar in shape to the Cacique Crown of Honour (which is a civilian award). Just on reverse is the word VALOUR, and ribbon is different of course. It was manufactured by Spink of London, in silver-gilt & enamel. It's 46 millimeters in diameter, and weight is 53 grammes. Yet ONLY 1 award was ever made, in 1969 ( so I assume retroactively ), to Major Roland da Silva ( Operation Climax from January to August 1969 ). Regards to all. Emmanuel

The Order of Roraima, got his name to tribute to Mount Roraima, at the borders of Venezuela, Brazil & Guyana. Mount Roraima, stands at 2810 meters, about 2200 meters above the Amazonia Forest. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote "The Lost World" about Mount Roraima, and the possibility that prehistoric life form had survived there. We now know, it's not the case. But a nice novel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Roraima Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here are some photo of recent Awards of Order of Roraima by Guyana President David Granger. The first photo to Brazil Minister of External (sic) Affair Mauro Luiz Iecker Veira on 2 March 2016 The second photo to Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on 25 May 2016 There shall be others Awards. I know what every body will object : ribbon are different. Yes, ribbon are different, but maybe, they made a mistake at the Chancellery, because it seems the Roraima Order awarded to the Brazil Minister of External Affair is the ribbon of the Cacique Crown of Honour (a lesser award from Guyana). I also post a list that I print from guyanaguide in 2001, from the person, who in 2000 had been awarded the Order of Roraima. Regards to all Emmanuel

For about 20 Years, source have refered the Order of Roraima, as to be hung from an asymetric ribbon. This error was due to the too small, and not so nice photo on guyanaguide.com . But for very long time, this was the onliest photo available. On the photo, you can clearly see, the ribbon is bented. in suspension loop. Emmanuel

In 1976, Guyana established a second Order, the Order of Roraima : O.R., in honour of a famous mountain which is at the border of Venezuela, Brazil & Guyana. This Order is limited to 35 recipient. As you can see, it was NOT manufactured by Spink, but was made locally. For those who like facts, it is 65 millimeters in diameter, and 76 grammes heavy. The ribbon is 50 millimeters wide : Green 13 millimeters, Red 5 millimeters, Yellow 14 millimeters, Red 5 millimeters, Green 13 millimeters. It is not made of silver, but well locally made of embossed gilded metal Regards to all. Emmanuel

To be able to compare side by side, here is the breast star of Order of Excellence of Guyana ( photo from Megan Post in 2013 ), and the breast star of Order of Excellence of Guyana, from the group of Awards to Todor Jivkov, on display in Military History Museum in Sofia. It is clear that on the breast star belonged to Todor Jivkov, colours of centers have faded away, despite being (now) in a dark room, without any direct light from the sun. If Megan could confirm from which source she had got her photo, that would be great. Regards to all. Eammnuel

Among recipient of Order of Excellence of Guyana, are (were) US President Jimmy Carter in 1993 ( Honorary ) (for his critical role in the return of electoral democracy in Guyana) http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/07/24/president-carter-was-awarded-order-of-excellence Bulgaria President Todor Jivkov, President of Bulgaria from 1971 to November 1989 Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( 11 June 2019 ) https://motp.gov.gy/index.php/3625-ghanaian-president-conferred-with-order-of-excellence-at-state-luncheon-held-in-honour-of-visit https://dpi.gov.gy/ghanaian-president-conferred-with-highest-national-award/ The photo below is the 11 June 2019 ceremony of award of Order of Excellence to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, by Guyana President David Granger. In Year 2001, I had printed on paper the content of www.guyanaguide.com/orders.html it seems this link is now broken, but list the list of person who were awarded Order of Excellence of Guyana from 1970 to 2000. Between 2002 & 2011 there was no award of Order of Excellence given. Todor Jivkov should have been in this list, but he's not, so there might be others recipient. Regards to All. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, I was recently in a short City Trip to Sofia, I knew their Military History Museum was great, and I spend 2 and half hours taking photo of almost all Orders. Incl the Awards of Todor Jivkov, who was President of Bulgaria from 1971 till 9 November 1989. He was, among many others Awards, awarded the Order of Excellence of Guyana : O.E. ( Post Nominal letters ). Colours on center of breast star awarded to Todor Jivkov seems to have faded away, more than on the breast star posted by Megan, who started another post on ODM of Guyana.. If Megan could tell us, who the set she post the photo was awarded to, it would be great. I know in one of the Spink Promotional Catalogue from the 1980ies, there was a photo of an Order of Excellence set. I did tried to reply on the post started by Megan, but whatever from my PC or from my Laptop, it seems the follow was broken. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, For those who know me, they might know, that I do not collect ribbon bar, but when I see one, that is exceptionnal, as every collector, it's hard to resist. Almost all similar ribbon than the bar above, but this person, was awarded the OM RAM PATTA (second row of ribbon at right hand side) + on the last 2 rows, british era ribbon and some foreign (ie Royal Victorian Medal, Spain Order Isabel Catolica, Denmark Order Dannebrog, ?? UK Army LSGC ??, MBE (or OBE) Military Div, Egypt Order of the Republic, WWI Interallied Victory Medal, Federal Republic Germany Order of Merit). Note on reverse upper & lower rows the safety pin to hook on uniform. We know Ernest Blass had travel to Nepal, but did he bought stocks from military outlifters in Kathmandu ? I bought this ribbon bar from a german web site, well active in 2010 to 2015, and who was selling a lot of items from Ernst Blass collection. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, This is a photo of a 1st Class (silver-gilt) of Order Capitan General Santana. Some sources refer this Order as a 5 Classes Order, but one thing is sure, this Order is seldom seen. Since the post I did in 2011, I have seen the 1st Class in Santo Domingo, and I now know, a silver version exist (which make sense). But does it exist othesr classes, or does it exist a breast star ? A sash badge. I visited Santo Domingo in January 2015, no Museum that I was said were displaying Order. There was actually one very small, but interesting museum about the 1961 Coup against Trujilo, but very few medals were displayed Inside. So, is the badge which the photo is shown here, a 1s Class, or a 3rd Class, it's still an open mystery. Regards to All. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, My small coopration to this forum, but at least, I put on the light another medal Estonia Estonian Peace Operation Center Medal. Regards. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, It recently came to light this Order of the Red Banner of Labor Type 3 variation 2, number 000985, with award document. What is your opinion about ? Awarded to Ivan Zukhov in Nov 1949 ( not family related to the Marshal of Soviet Union ), document printed in 1948. Weight is 51 Grammes. The suspension ring had never been cut. I'am tantalized, but I never saw a so low number on Red banner of Labor. Regards. Emmanuel

The Istiqlal Museum of Azerbaijan, is in this Museum on 3rd Floor. Keep in mind that in the "ex russian sphere of influence" , the Ground Floor = Floor 1, and thus the 3 Rd Floor correspond to a european/american floor. This museum is very easy to find, on the great boulevard that is along side the Caspian Sea. Regards. Emmanuel