Dieter3

Darn tootin'! ;)

I wonder if it was reselling the piece that rub you the wrong way (quite natural and understandable reaction ) ...

Na, not that. It's not the first time for that buyer/seller to do that - it's just business! But the photo thing - all right, now that's gettin' personal... :lol:

Now something really interesting...

New receipt

Take 1 authentic box for 1st class set from Meiji epoch

Take 1 authentic 1st class badge from Meiji epoch

Mix these with fake breast star.....

How do you know the breast star is fake? I've never seen one of these in person - what's the giveaway?

That person did purchase it from me. Well, not me - my wife. Her business, I just do the photos! I guess it is public domain once it makes it onto eBay, I don't know for a fact that even though the website and content are copyrighted that it necessarily extends to eBay. Not a huge deal, but it does kinda rub me the wrong way. My wife doesn't care at all!

These angles ...

Looks like they are quite popular

Feel flattered?

More like violated!

Yeah, not exactly what I'd call a "rare" mint mark, but hey, embellishment always gets better prices...... ;)

Furry beauty ...

Great color on that material!! What do you think it is? Felt?

Yeah, dunno about that ribbon for this medal though! I've seen a lot of these actually, including special member's ribbon, especially woman's since it is so easy to change the original medal! Gotta admit, it is cool though!

See here:

http://bakerartenter....com/Page_9.php - Copyrighted material (not that that means anything these days....)

See here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...ME:B:SS:US:3160

Hmmmm.......awfully similar......

Not even photo credit? :sleep:

Not to become political, but until leadership changes in this country, I don't foresee the dollar gaining any strength.

Label on bottom of case:

Here's a few more of that 3rd variant, close ups of the cross - kinda get the feeling of the textile material, and the two-piece construction of the metal portion. I very much doubt the case is original, but the time period I believe fits the medal. Still, can't help but wonder if maybe these were available for purchase through such places? Hmmmm......

Hi Richard,

Yes, Yahoo! Japan does not come without a price, but it opens up a market nearly unavailable on eBay. Now, if we could just get the dollar strengthed against the yen, it'd cetainly be more worth it!

Oh, I would - but not at that price! $550.00 like that other one, yeah, that's more my price and more in line with what they sell for on Yahoo! Japan. True, they don't come up all that often. But they do come up!

Clearly, I was asleep at the keyboard!!

Complete with "M" - but I'm still puzzled by the use of these cases - I mean they definitely come from a time when lacquerware was the thing, so what's up with these?

Too rich for my blood!

Wow! What a great thread! Where on God's green earth was I when you wrote this one? Nice work!! :beer:

Variation 3 (stuffed Red Cross with retainer)

This one is really rare and very interesting.

Now I understand what you meant by "stuffed" - not enamel! Is this variation always without enamel?

Another current one (up for auction) - but I don't think this one is as old as the first one shown in this thread:

Mystery# 2,743 an counting....... :lol:

Indeed Brian! There is simply not enough time or $$$$$ or space to have such expansive collecting goals, but things like this DO make it a great temptation!! I watch those shows like "Hoarders", and that new one "Collection Intervention" - HA!!!! I'm waiting to see one of my fellow GMIC members on that one!!! ;)

One might occasionally find them in these boxes as well, but one finds all kinds of badges in medals in this "generic" commemorative box. I think the paper ones are proper!

Nice! I collect sake cups more or less exclusively from the Russo-Japan War era, but I do not have any documents like this. Very cool!! :)

No, I don't think it is a coincidence either. It seems the majority of pieces marked "M" will have these rosettes, but these rosettes are not exclusive to "M" marked pieces of course. It is quite interesting!

The Red Cross rosettes and medals I believe should coincide with their marks, with some exceptions being certain later medals that have unmarked rosettes, and orders since they are unmarked. Or so my observations lead me to believe! Observation also leads me to believe that "SU" marked rosettes are from the very late 20's to early 30's. I wonder though who made these?