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Bonjour Messieurs, Thanks for your reflections ! Why but they do look a bit funky, don't they ? Schie?platzmeister along the lot came a CDV (same kind of uniform, but obviously of different manufacture - and much less character) taken in "Photographisches Atelier vom A. RUSSLER in Bamberg". Yankee I don't think these uniforms could be Austrian (at that time, apart from the J?ger and such, they'd still be wearing their trademark white uniforms). That said I agree they do indeed look rather Spanish/South American/Hungarian/Gipsy - go figure ! nesredep, well here are more of the same (some of which looking more Bavarian indeed) : And that's the end of them ! Cheers, Jerome

Bonjour, Here are a few loose portraits of Bavarian officers - not really my collecting theme, but I was attracted by their excellent tones and wonderful expressivity. Those albumin prints are mounted on CDV backs - sadly no photographer's mark or name, and as they have no medals, not much will be known about them - Still portraits of old warriors to enjoy ! One thing I was intrigued about was to find out the last two officers are sporting ... earrings ! (I don't know much about Bavarian uniforms btw, so if someone's got any knowledge, I'd be interested in hints) Cheers, Jerome

Merci beaucoup Rick ! I love it when a mystery is solved Cheers, Jerome

Bonjour, Here's an interesting Bavarian Cavalry Officer photograph : Luckily signed and dated at the back : So he's Oskar Freiherr Unterrichter von Rechtenthal. We learn much about his career thanks to "Die bayerische Kriegsakademie (1867-1914)" : Born 25.7.1847 in Ritten by Bozen, died 18.9.1904 in M?nchen. Married Elisabeth Hirsch in 1885 (one child). He joined the 6.Chevaulegers-Regiment as a Junker in 1865. In 1866 the 6.Chevaulegers-Regiment was attached to the 4th Infantry Division Generaleutnant Ritter von Hartmann. Unterrichter (Unterlieutenant since the May 21st Armee-Befehl No.16) took part in the Ro?dorf (July 4th), Kissingen (July 10th) and Ro?brunn and Hettstadt (July 26th) fights. During the 1870-71 war, he was an Ordonnanz-Offizier by the General-Stab of the I.AK. He was present at W?rth, Beaumont, Sedan, Orl?ans and siege of Paris. He was belobt in the 30. August 1870 Armee-Befehl (Verordnungs-Blatt No.43 published August 31st) for W?rth, awarded the EKII (for Orl?ans) through Armee-Befehl No. 68 of November 25th 1870, and awarded the Bavarian Milit?r-Verdienstorden 4. Classe throught the December 2nd Armee-Befehl (Verordnungs- Blatt No.70 published December 4th). In 1871-72 he attended the Kriegsakademie I. Kurs. He was promoted a Premier-Lieutenant into the 2.Uhlanen-R?giment K?nig on February 18th, 1873. In 1873-74, he was "zur Equitationsanstalt kommandiert". In 1874 he became Adjutant der 4. Kavallerie-Brigade. In 1876 he was made a Kammerjunker. On April 4th 1877 he was appointed back to the 2. Uhlanen-Regiment (interestingly the April 4th Verordnungs-Blatt say that he had been "? la suite des 2. Uhlanen-regiments K?nig, bisher Adjutant der 3. Cavalerie-Brigade") In 1878 he was promoted to Rittmeister (December 3rd) and Eskadrons-Chef, back to the 6.Chevaulegers-Regiment. In 1883 he was appointed to the I.Chevaulegers-Regiment. In 1887 he had a year off ("beurlaubt"), before being promoted to Major. He was promoted to Oberstlieutenant ? la suite der Armee on february 27th 1892, and retired with the rank of Oberst on June 1st 1895. His decorations show nicely on this CDV : But that's where the question comes in : the 1880 bavarian Army List describe them as Milit?r-Verdienstorden 4. Classe, Kriegsdenkm?nze f?r 1870-71 aus Bronce, Armee-Denkzeichen 1866, and EKII. (It also says he is a Kammerjunker, and "Matrikelzeichen als Tyroler (?) adeliger Landmann".) My question is about the eagle decoration he is sporting from his neck ? At first glance it looks much like the Hohenzollern Adler - though the eagle does not seem to be carrying the usual devices. To be complete, it seems the Unterrichter von Rechtenthal arms are sporting, among other symbols, an "einw?rtssehender schwarzer Adler". I must admit to being completely out of my depth here - any information welcome ! Cheers, Jerome

Waow ! Superb stuff Glenn, Merci beaucoup ! Cheers, Jerome

Bonjour, I'm looking for information about the career of Freiherr von Barnekow. I hasten to add that I'm after the one who commanded Th?ringisches Husaren regiment Nr.12 from 1863 to 1868 - and not one of his many namesakes ; there seems to have been Barnekows everywhere and I must admit to being a bit lost among them ! I'm interested as I have the Militair-Pa? of a Husar in his regiment - which he signed (lower left page) : It came along a document group that can be viewed here :http://www.hussards-photos.com/Allemagne/A...12HR.htm#Muller Many thanks for your help ! Jerome

Bonjour, Just a little snippet that does not seem to have been mentioned yet : you can say he belongs to the Reserve from the photograph : if you look at the cockade on the band of his Schirmm?tze, you can see it contains the Landwehr cross. Cheers, Jerome (as always amazed bythe wealth of knowledge around).

Bonjour Rick, Well, one could imagine I'd at that... but you're actually not far off ! It's really the other way around though... Modern Circus develloped in the late XVIIIth and early XIXth Century - the first shows were really equestrian ones (hence the form of the traditionnal circus arena), and many Hungarian horsemen swept over Europe to ply treir trade. Some of them former Hussars indeed. The shows evolved to more diverse activities - the all favourite hussar-dress remained. And, Christer, there's been a proud tradition of swedish Hussars as well (dating to 1757, when some Hungarian mercenaries were brought in to counter the threat of Imperial Russia's irregular cavalry, the dreaded Cossacks) : http://www.hussards-photos.com/Suede_home.htm Cheers, Jerome

Bonsoir, It looks like several medals were actually struck to commemorate the reinstatement of France as a Naval Power. The first one appears to have been struck in 1665, with the the same general look (Louis XIV on one side, a sailing ship on the other one), but the legends : "LUDOVICUS XIIII. REX CHRITIANIS" and : "NAVIGATIO INSTAURATA M.DC.LXV." Another medal would be struck - that would be yours - with the date "1668" (there are references to a "M.DC.LXVIII" legend as well, so there could be several variations out there). In 1670, yet another medal is recorded - with the legend "Res navalis instaurata" These medals were apparently PR operations, striking a statement (a repeated statement...) inside -and outside- France that there was a Naval Power to reckon with... (sorry no pictures available) Salutations, J?r?me

Bonjour Gordon, Two suspects here : According to the 1908 "Schematismus der K. K. Landwehr und der K. K. Gendarmerie", your man could be : - Franz WALINER (Rittmeister in 1908, rank dated 1st November 1896) ; - Gustav WELSCHAN : SCHEMATISMUS 1905: Major (6.Landwehrulanenregiment), Kmdt der 2. Div. (rank dated 1st May 1901) Milit?rdienstzeichen f?r Offiziere 3.Klasse Bronzene Jubila?msmedaille SCHEMATISMUS 1908: Oberstleutnant (6.Landwehrulanenregiment), Kmdt der 2. Div. (rank dated 1st November 1905) Milit?rdienstzeichen f?r Offiziere 3.Klasse Bronzene Jubila?msmedaille Oberstleutnant (6.Landwehrulanenregiment) Gustav WELSCHAN had previously served in the KUK Armee : he was in the 1878 promotion of the Wiener Neustadt Theresianische Milit?r-akademie (this is a 1897 article) : WELSCHAN Gustav, Rittm. 2. Cl. bei Alfred F?rst zu Windisch-Graetz-Dragoner Nr.14, r?ckte am 1. Mai 1894 zum Rittm. 1.Cl. bei F?rste von Liechtenstein-Dragoner Nr.10 vor, wurde mit Allerh?chster Entschliessung vom 20.April 1895 in den Activstand der k.k.Landwehr ?bersetzt und bein Landw.-Uhlanene-Reg. Nr.1 eingetheilt. The 1879 Schematismus had him Lieutenant in the 5. Steierisch-k?rnthner-krainerisches Dragoner Regiment (in Klagenfurt and Marburg) (rank dated 1st September 1878). The 1884 Schematismus had him Oberlieutenant (and Prov.-Offizier) in the 5. Dragoner Regiment (Marburg) (rank dated 1st May 1883). The 1892 Schematismus still had him as 2.Rittmeister in the 5.Dragoner Regiment (rank dated 1st January 1891). Very nice tunic ! Cheers, Jerome

Bonjour Enzo, You'll find some information about the Maltese Pioneers here : http://www.google.fr/books?id=DmouAAAAMAAJ...altefe+pioneers John Young, in this book, states their force at 500. Here's an extract from "The Malta Year Book" (no publication date alas) : "The third unit was "The Maltese Pioneers", raised in December 1800 for Service with the British Expeditionary Force in Egypt. Anderson, referring to the artificers of this unit in his well known journal of the Egyptian Expedition says "The Maltese appeared to be very well acquainted with mechanical trades, and formed the major part of our Corps of Artificers, in which situation they proved themselves equal to the nicer and more difficult branches of their respective professions " The Maltese Pioneers returned to Malta on the expiration of their terms of service and were disbanded early in 1802." Cheers, Jerome

Hi Mike, That was an interesting batch of photos ! You can't really see that with the new ebay system, but (I scanned most auctions and had put in a few bids) the "massive" bids came from Russian Lands (2 different bidders : nubirus and gogol-spb), so you're spot on. A couple points of interest re. the prices realized here : - The condition of the photo is great. - The photo is signed by "Bergamasco", a prestigious photographer. - Photo of Alexander III don't come up that often. And, what "makes" the price of this photo : - This photo is Cabinet format (16,5 cm x 11). Though invented in 1866, that larger format ("larger" compared to the somewhat tiny CDV, 10cm by 6) overcame the CDV only in the late 1880s. This one can definitely be considered an early Cabinet - quite rare displaying such a subject. Though it's not the photo that made the most : Chevalier Garde CDV You'll note that this one is "only" a smaller CDV ; but photos depicting Chevalier Gardes are very, very rare. On a broader note, with such photos you are adressing the photography collectors market, getting outside the "niche" of Militaria collectors. The photography market being widely connected to the Art Market, there is NO upper limit to the price of photographs (if they are signed/attributed). Cheers, Jerome

Isn't there ? But more from 1857 : Despatch From Brigadier J.Hope Grant, C.B., commanding the Cavalry Brigade, Delhi Field Force (...) - Dated Delhi, 17th September 1857. I have the honor to report, for the information of Major-General Wilson, that, according to instructions recieved, I proceeded before daylight on the morning of the 14th with 200 of Her Majesty's 9th Lancers and 410 Natives from the Guides, the 1st, 2nd and 5th Punjab Cavalry, and Hodson's Horse, three guns of the 1st Troop Horse Artillery and four guns of the 2nd, to the neighbouring of the 1st Field Battery, where I remained till the assault of the town had commenced. (...) 4. I beg especially to bring to the notice of Major-General Wilson the names of the officers in this despatch, and also that of Captain Hamilton, my brigade-major, a most excellent officer in every respect, ready and willing to do his duty whenever he is called upon. His horse was shot upon this occasion. (...)" A "Delhi Spearman", is he ? Most Classic stuff ! Cheers, Jerome

There you go : London Gazette, 30 June 1857 9th Light Dragoons, Lieutenant William Hamilton to be Captain, without purchase, vice Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, deceased. Dated 9th April, 1857. It is to be noted that "9th Light Dragoons" was then the "official" name of the 9th Lancers. London Gazette, 18 February 1859 9th Light Dragoons, Lieutenant Robert Mills to be Captain, without purchase, vice Brevet-Major Hamilton, deceased. Dated 6th November, 1858. So you certainly have an interesting story here ! Cheers, Jerome

You're welcome Jani, Good news is that he's seen more action (bad news meaning there are more medals out !) Hart's List 1852 : still a Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 9th Lancers. "Capt.Anson, Lieuts.Campbell and Hamilton, and Qr.-Master Allan, served with the 9th Lancers in the battle of Punniar (Medal) ; the campaign on the Sutlej in 1846, including the battle of Sobraon (Medal) ; and in the Punjaub campaign of 1848-9, including the passage of the Chenab at Ramnuggur, and battles of Chillianwallah and Goojerat." A "Captain William Hamilton", 9th Lancers, served in the Indian Mutiny as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General to the Cavalry Division under Sir J.Hope Grant. He served during the operations at Lucknow in March 1858, and was mentioned in despatch : "Major Hamilton was most useful" Major indeed, as he was granted a Brevet of Major on 19 Jan. 1858. It needs to be checked that it is the same William Hamilton - but I'd be surprised if they were different characters. Cheers, Jerome

Hi Jani, Mmmh, isn't the Punniar Star rather "1843" than "1848" - the battle of Punniar taking place on 29th December 1843 ? After a little photoshop clearing, the inscription seems to be : "Cornet Wm. Hamilton H.M. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers". And Hart's List 1846 does indeed list, among the 9th Lancers : Lieut. Wm. Hamilton, adjutant Cornet : 29 April 1842 Lieutenant : 23 October 1845 The following comments are added : "Lt.-Col. Fullerton, Captains Spottiswoode, Read, Macartney, and Power ; Lieuts. J.C.Campbell, Anson, W.R.N.Campbell, Robarts, Studdert, and Hamilton, Quartermaster Allan, Doctors Wood and Staunton, were in the action at Punniar on the 29th Dec. 1843, and they have received the Bronze Star. Major Fullerton commanded the Regt. ; Capt. Read commanded the right squadron ; and Capt. Spottiswoode acted as Brigade Major of the first Brigade of Cavalry." Cheers ! Jerome

Many thanks gentlemen ! Re. his rank I'd think him a General : his cuff braiding might be too wide to fit the Field-officer pattern ? Likely "? la suite" of a Hussar Regiment ? Cheers, Jerome

Hi, Here's a late 1860s / early1870s CDV that's kept puzzling me : I'd like very much to identify that General and his regiment. Maybe identifying his orders and medals wouls be a good start ? Is he sporting the Ehrenritterkreuz of the Johanniterorden ? Does his bar begin with a Red Eagle with Swords ? Thanks for your help ! Cheers, Jerome

Not really your men I guess, but an interesting and colourful picture nonetheless, with a Hussar adapting to Horsepower... Anyone happens to know what kind of car this may be ? Cheers, Jerome

Oh ! Many thanks for that, pluribus ! I knew about the red cavalry breeches, but that uniform color comes as a total surprise ! Cheers, Jerome

Superb stuff pluribus ! I've been long wondering about the Cavalry Regiment Badge - it's great to see your magnificent ones ! One questions btw : do you happen to know what colour the Hussar uniform of the Cavalry Regiment was ? I have quite a few photos featuring those superb uniforms, and I've been wondering for ages ! http://www.hussards-photos.com/Independanc...ome.htm#Estonie Salutations, J?r?me

Hmm, couldn't it just mean "whose quality we already wrote down" ? A way of not re-writing the whole "Laquais ? la Cour de Sa Majest? la Reine des Pays-Bas", while stating that this very quality is consubstantial to the awarding of the order in the decree. It is a bit odd in French, but then again old formal language often is - and it does make sense. Salutations, J?r?me

Bonjour Stuart, With pleasure ! Sadly I don't have the other ships ; at times I considered getting photos of the Jumna, Malabar and Euphrates - but as they all were sister ships to the Crocodile and Serapis, the photos - well they look much the same so I didn't fo after them. Two points of note : * What kind of resolution do you want the photos ? Are you interested in wide shots or close ups ? * Thanks for the attribution - though... I guess Jerome Discours will be much puzzled ! Ha I'm still grinning from that one, I'll let him know he's now officially my Cyber-Evil Twin ! Jerome D., a very nice fellow btw, specializes in the French Army - he's got a wonderful website : www.military-photos.com I -a very nice fellow myself, only bigger- have more international tastes. Oh, and a different name too... Cheers, Jerome L. PS: great photos Tony !

Just why I really enjoy those old photographs : it's such a pleasure exploring them... Cheers ! Jerome

Aaaaaah but I beg to differ - the ARE soldiers with Pith Helmets aboard ! The next closest I have is troops parading in India, here (down the page) : http://www.hussards-photos.com/UK/UK_8.htm Next photo they're already settled for dinner ! http://www.hussards-photos.com/UK/UK_7.htm Good luck with your hunting ! Jerome