Ramblinfarms

It really is a shame that this hobby is as bad as collecting SS, or EKs. I guess it is to be expected when there is very limited supply, coupled with high prices and a lack of general knowledge in the collecting community on what constitutes a "good" badge. Thanks to you, Chuck and the other members, my knowledge has increased exponentially to the "know enough to be dangerous" level. I lack the years of experience handling good original pieces as you have been able to do. Things will get better as we all learn and communicate, and good reference books become available.

Andolenko says that up to 1880, this badge was in a dark bronze with a reddish cast. silver thereafter. It would seem that either the scanner is off, or this repro is trying to have it both ways.

Very nice. Congratulations. I gather that these are very rare.

Best I could do:

George. These are really nice. Is there a history that goes with these items? The Vladikavkaz Cadet School badge is beautiful. Do you know where it was made? Chris

Note the Kulm Cross. He was also awarded the EK, Red Eagle Order, and several other higher Prussian Awards. This is the Officer's Version. The one from Manion's is the enlisted/NCO version of silvered brass with a guilded eagle. Eduard is the manufacturer.

From Andolenko and Werlich, "Badges of Imperial Russia" (1983 ed) : Thirty-Sixth Orel Infantry Regiment of Field Marshall The Duke of Warsaw, Count Paskevich-Erivansky And by sheer coincidence, something I picked up on E Stand several months ago: Commercial Miniature Portrait of the good Field Marshall, late 19th, early 20th Century Russian, water color on ivory.

Thanks George. I'll add it to my fakes gallery.

Gentlemen: I wasn't planning on bidding, but for learning purposes, what do you think of this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/RUSSIAN-IMPERIAL-LAW-A...1QQcmdZViewItem Thanks for looking. Chris

Didn't Brandenburg become part of the Prussian Kingdom in 1701 or 1707? I know the Red Eagle Order was originally a Brandenburg Order, adopted and incorporated by the Prussians.

Can someone post a picture of a Brandenburg Eagle from the Freedom War era? Your story does make sense. Before the rise of the Prussian Empire, I had always found it fascinating to see which various German states fought with whom. Saxony fought for the French. Prussia changed sides after Napoleon's "defeat" at Moscow and subsequent retreat. Quite remarkable. That first PLM sure is ugly, though. The Crown is horrible without even getting into the eagles. Were Russians awarded the EK? I know they received the Kulm Cross, but did the Prussians consider it a "real" EK? And I cannot see some Russian General putting a painted piece of tin on his dress uniform. There must have been jeweler made "improvements."

So you are saying Russian jewelers did private purchase Prussian Awards? Are there Russian made 1813 EKs, too? That can be documented as Russian? I'd love to see 'em. Bah ha ha -ha ha! Bah ha ha-ha ha. Brtrtrtrtrtrtrrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtr!

We'll see if we can take you up on that offer. My Dad retired as a teacher, and now lives in Queensbury. He's been there since '81. I grew up in Westchester, and spent about half the summer on the LI shore with my Grandparents, and the other half in Lake George when we would go visit my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle retired after 40 years in the building business. His Construction Co. built about half the motels on Route 9. (For better or worse. lol.) I miss ice fishing for smelt on Lake Champlain. I like to think cold thoughts like that when it hits 99 degrees here on the Prairie like it did today. Think coooool thoughts, I say! Chris

Actually, it kind of looks like Woody Woodpeckers. So could this be the Prussian Peckerwood Award?

Beautiful!! How are things in the North country this summer? I miss swimming in Loon Lake and Lake George.

thanks Dolf. You know, I think I've heard that slogan before.

Those are beautiful. Here is a basic newbie question: What is the literal translation in English of the inscription on the Red Banner? Chris

The screwplate is stamped with the manufacturer: "R. Feigelson." Anyone hear of this manufacturer? For what it's worth, that makes me feel better than if it were another one of the flood of "3. Kortman" issues we've been seeing all over ebay. Actually, I STILL don't have the badge in hand. Apparently there were delays about getting it out of Russia with UPS red tape. The Dealer emailed me, and promised it this week so we shall see. He has promised me a 100% refund and a free reference book for the inconvenience if it doesn't get here this week. He also says that there may be a very small quantity of other Imperial Badges that may be coming over with this shipment, but he is not certain it will actually happen. If he sends me photos, I'll post them for comments. We shall see .... Chris

I Understand. I want to just get started with online, but I realize there is no substitute for a good research reference library. I enjoyed the thread about the "Red Bible" for instance. Comparing awards between countries is probably like the cliche about "apples and oranges", but it is a useful navigation point for a newbie, I suppose. Thanks for starting me down the hiking trail, but I realize that I have only really just signed the Registration Book.

I don't think they have an in-house expert on Imperial Russian. I have several friends who work there, and none of them know anything about the subject. The regimental badge I purchased from them I believe is original, but they misidentified it. (See other thread.) Same thing with an "Imperial Russian Long Service Award", which actually turned out to be a Romanian Civil Service Award with a Bulgarian collar device superglued to it. It went back to Manion's, needless to say. What has been your experience with "Collect Russia"? They seem to specialize in Soviet, but do have some Imperial. Chris

Thank you very much, Darrell. I've got some good reading ahead of me this quiet Sunday afternoon. (Wife and Children are visiting "Grandma.") Chris

Thanks Doc. Your assistance is much appreciated. The posts on these awards has really opened my eyes to a very interesting field. Chris

Could any of you Gentlemen steer me towards an online resource for a good overview of Soviet Medals and Orders? Reading these threads and seeing the photos has really peaked my interest. I doubt I'll collect them, but I would like to learn a little. Out of curiosity, what is the Soviet "equivalent" to the Iron Cross, if such a beast exists? Chris

Thanks George. I may be getting a little better at this as I came to the same conclusion. The enamel work is poor, and the detailing seems to be lacking. The one thing I have noticed is that the real badges have a beautiful, jewelry-like top quality that jumps out at the viewer. These don't have it. And I have noticed that a lot of these fakes are being marked "3. Kortman", too. I would love to see an extended thread of the "real deal" someday! Chris

Last one: http://www.manions.com/bid/bid.aspx?itemid...mp;pic=20060703 I dunno, but the quality seems to be lacking to me. Chris