kunsho

Hi Stijn, the Leopold I is bronze gilded (fantastic fire gilding). Could you tell me what "IMHO" means? Here comes the close up...

Hi Wolfgang, "monsun" that must be you! Warmest welcome to the most expierienced "monsun boat" collector I know in the western hemisphere :-) ... originally I thought I can still post your beautiful pictures here and earn the collectors admiration alone... Matthias

Share yours! Allied "Boatpeople". This one is for Gordon Williamson.

A 5th class in the "exotic" box for foreigners or members of the diplomatic service... There are also two different types of these "cord tazzle" boxes existing. One is illustrated like the shown one with paulownia decoration all over the exterior and the usual inscription is on the inner surface, the other one has only the inscription on the exterior, without paulownia decoration (with only one single paulownia on the top of the inscription). Matthias

2, 3 and 4) A captured automobil in Tsingtau China. Car together with German driver, captured by (a lot of) Japanese soldiers. Picture was taken shortly after the fall of Tsingtau (see relaxed Japanese, the German soldier looks a little cramped).

5) Camp "Bando" in Japan. Bando was next to Marukame the largest prison camp in Japan. German prisoners at the occasion of a shinto (!!!) funeral service near the prison camp Bando in Japan.

..hhmm, I do not believe that this is a mistake of an overcharged ribbon bar sewer. This was their (the bar sewers) business and the bars had to be correct (think about the strict military regulations of this time to this topic)...from the principle I agree here completely with Rick...but the pictures shows the difference... Best Regards Matthias

...looks exactly like "unknown maker #13" in Frank Heukemes "definitive guide" to the GAB (page 310)... ...sorry somehow I have "managed" it to post the same thing twice and now I do not know how to delete the redundant post...

...looks exactly like "unknown maker #13" in Frank Heukemes "definitive guide" to the GAB (page 310)...

Here the ribbon- and the medal bar of a mayor of a small city in Bavaria. Party member 57215 (according to the numbered party badge). I have received his medals from his daughter. An untouched ensemble. Recognize that first comes the 10 and then 15... looks like that this practice is more usual than the "officially correct way". ...and now ? :-) Matthias

I considered briefly and think that (to loosening the "GAB show" here) the "man" behind the GAB should be shown also. And so here is a picture of the the "military estate" of Fw. Paul Schmid, Pz. J?g. Abt. 235...and the above shown GAB is not longer an anonymous piece of metal... Much fun Matthias

..and the reverse...(before it "moved" into my collection, this Sturmabzeichen belonged to Fw. Schmid from Pz. J?g. Abt. 235)

I can provide the following one (without any makers mark):

...another "crown" photo...

..here is the translation of the seal characters to "normal" kanji (by the example of Laurences box inscription). You can see here very clearly the abstracted form of the seal kanji.

...I agree also with Erik (or better I have the same "feeling" :-). The change to the more stricter seal characters had taken place somewhere in the thirties (and also resumed in the sixties). Seal characters are a special form of kanji which were used predominantly by court officials (mainly for seals:). Matthias

One thing more...due to the shown collar tabs on the photo Mr. Yamashita was a brave Lance Corporal/ Leading Private (or in Japanese: Heicho). Matthias

Hi coastie, my kanji encrypting is not very good but your one is an easy one. Your NCO's name is Yamashita. I marked you the relevant passage in the document (if you look at the "time expired soldiers league" document you can find the same name). His first name is more difficult and I dont want to revile him. Rick's date encryption was the right way...The reign of Showa starts at 1926, so all dates start with the Showa kanji have to be counted with 1926 as starting date. For example Showa ten means 1936. The medal is a 1937 campaign medal.... Regards Matthias

I have still one more.... Oaken Crown Magnificient early example of the sash badge of the Grand Cross. Made by court jeweller Adrien Frederic Bron most likely before 1850 (this model type was definitively only manufactured by Bron. This type were not further-manufactured by Becht and Elbers).

... there has occurred to me just the Wuerttemberg Major Albert Pasquay... In the above mentioned wehrmacht-awards thread I have asked whether somebody knows when definitive the change of models has taken place? Because in the year 1925 the Order of the Crown had still the "old" or first type design discussed here (look Guadagnini -Storia degli Ordini Equestri). Is there somebody who can date the time of the model change profound and exactly (I assume in the 40's)? Matthias

Oh, thanks a lot ! ..and thanks to Jacques. He encouraged me to post this one... As an "addition" the medal bar shown on the photo:

Hi SPM, HuS differentiates very well and very exactly between casted and coined medals. The informations HuS provides is not by any means blurred, but also actual and current (up to few corrections) still today. Neither HuS nor Heyden ever speak of casted crosses and so you can assume that an exeption is very, very improbably. In connection with this cross only the word coinage is used. The Bavarian 1866 campaign-crosses shown by you are each and all coined not casted. Generally one can assume (up to a very few exeptions) that the decorations of the German states in original execution have to be coined. Sorry Matthias

Refering to my statement above: Absolute Nonsense! This Order was abolished by Chiang Kai Shek in 1928. Originally the Striped Tiger was the first (and first new founded) Order of the Republic of China in 1912. Founded by the new President Yuan Shih-Kai, December 6, as a military merit order (for Chinese officers as well as foreigners). The Wen-Hu came in 9 classes (last three of them for NCO and enlisted men). According to the three on the order attached stars, the shown piece is a fourth class. ... now it should be correct Matthias

Wow! Glenn, thanks a lot! You are right stogieman, amazingly how much information I got now within this short time (encourages me to look again in my "shelfs" to get out still another case like this)... BUT I would be no collector if that already would be sufficient me... have somebody possibly a picture of Colonel Bauer? Thanks Glenn + Rick (I will need your assistance still more frequently :-) Matthias PS: Rick, the return of the medals is a topic for itself...considering on valid regulations and their conversion in practice (by the way in the 1904 Almanach the Epstein article is missing, but no problem I have access of most regulations ).

Very nice ones! These are Chinese Nationalist Orders, in the shown case: Order of the Striped Tiger (Wen-Hu). The medal should be numbered at the reverse. Awarded by Chiang Kai Checks Kuomintang until approx. 1946. Matthias