medalnet

As a Albert Order Veteran Collector I can only say that everything is possible. I had once a single sided knight second - just to point out the opposite of the beauty scale.

Hallo, the swan is just a import mark used mainly for taxation of imported and also auctioned goods. In my experience those marks were set at auction, whenever these items sold. How painfull !!! for the collector when applied anywhere else but the ring. Nice piece.

I new the Tony Colson PlM, due to me meeting with him to discuss the piece. It was a clear Godet piece made in bronze gilt. In reagrds to the dye: It is a tool and will wear out eventualy. It was common practice to refurbish tools if possible due to the extremly high cost of making one. Keep in mind that the Godet tooling must have been the oldest tooling to exist, since possibly designed after the 1870/71 war PlM style and proof. It is not a miracle to me that Godet refurbished/had to refurbish the dye during the 20th, maybe 30th to accomodate the possible higher demand during order friendly times after 1934. The fact that at least 2 new firms offered PlM's should prove this theory. Of course this is all theory, but some it is definetly proven by comparing existing pieces with catalogues of the time.

Doesn't this make it even more insane. More MVO's but still higher in price. I do believe that the Bavarians have still more collectors and collectors not just in bavaria then the Saxons do. Due to the fact that Bavaria had the western currency since the 50th helped, too. I do think that not many people remember or know that it was kind of semi legal to collect artefacts made before 1945?! Please correct me if I do not resemble this all to correct here, but I do know that the central state owned art and antiquity business managed to confiscate and sell besides regular art several militaria collections. Just to name the Oswald collection (Collected over 3 generations) being the foundation of the Dresden Military Museum. Several other oders and decoration were confiscated and sold to the West. This will also explain why there may be less collectors in the east compared to the west.

I almost hate to say it, but this one lists them all: Opus Magnum Yet, one needs to be carfull with this thing, since the author did not do primary research but summarized secondary literature. Mostly not even complete. Very expensive, too. There are several booklets on Bavarian orders, but one would have to obtain them at medal fairs since most are out of print. Try also this web page. Michael Autengruber has normally the best collection on medal books: http://www.orden-der-welt.de/

This ia amazing work !!!!!!

Wild Card, I think that this is once more a good hint towards the fact that not all those (lets call them) distributors made every single medal themselfs. the single sided piece shown here is a prime example. I it very likely that godet made those for Meybauer. I examined that piece myself during the MAX show in Charlotte. Certainly high quality, and very likely - again - made by Godet. Medalnet

OK, OK, here the name: Castell-Castell Those guys are the pencil makers. And the reverse of the lot: Interesting, isn't it?!

This is not the piece shown above from its side and reverse, but at least will fill the gap of the knight 1st class with swords avers image:

The medals do distract from the real beauty.

Nope

Indeed, all ended well. Everything is today in a family museum. The family belongs still to one of those "industrial" ones. Hence the golden Bavarian industrial medal. But nobody guessed the actual name yet.

...one more detail: The bavarian gold medal has the inscription "Dem Verdienste" on the reverse.

...you also need to see this additional item: as well at least two detail images of two of the most beautifull order decorations:

This is part of a very sad story. Some years back I got an email from a guy down in Texas wanting to sell some orders his father had liberated after WWII. He told me that he had been trying for years to track the family down in order to return those pieces. Long story short - when I was just about to book my flight ticket to pick up all these goodies he called me told me that he was finally able to track the rightfull owner down, who just had picked everything up. True story Sad for me, but happy - I guess - for the actual family. Who wants to guess the name of the family who's member picked it up?! I will show the reverse of the decorations after this riddle is solved.

I guess the bayonett troddel would give a hint.....oops, those black and white pictures do not show color...

It has always been a source of great weath for some dealers to eliminate swords for a higher retail value.

That's more like it

Also keep in mind that all those nice orders and medals represented a real business like today. Contracts were made and awarded to suppliers. Due to the fact that MVO's were sheldom awarded during the 1914-1918 timeframe it is highly unlikely that all manufactures got awarded with the no sword deal. Specific items were bought from specificly identified suppliers. Cost was certainly one of the major drivers. Just like in today's business.

Nice stuff and nice presentation !!!

Christophe, be paitent and surprised. I will only say that it will be one of the best ever published. Andreas

Have you tried to possibly scan the reverse of the bar? A full front picture would also give clues.

Believe it or not, after looking through all my computer files I have to admit, that I lost the picture of the White Falcon Knight 1st class with swords. We will therefore have only the reverse as seen before: and the side as stupid as this is:

...for those that are interested in PlM's made by Godet - click here: Godet PlMs

I do think that Bernd D is correct about this...but, good news, in the not to far future a book about the MVO will be published and will give answers to all those questions. I have seen the work and can only say that it will be one of those books one must have. Amazing research, amazing pictures, amazing, amazing amazing...and best, researched and written all in Bavaria by a true Bavarian. Lets be patient then