DutchBoy

The Unitas Medal, celebrating the joining of the SADF and the armed wing of the ANC, and to celebrate the peaceful transition of power in 1994.

reverse...

SADF Long Service Medals: Bronze for 10 years, silver for 20 years. There is also a gold one for 30 years, and a bar for the gold medal for 40 years service. These have the later-style ribbon from the 1980s.

The General Service Medal.

The Southern Africa Medal, awarded for action in the Border Wars. Interestingly, it is made from nickel from a captured Soviet tank! (The Angolans were armed by the Soviets and were assisted by Cuban military advisors.)

reverse...

The Pro Patria Medal. This is a general campaign medal for the campaigns in South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola, the so-called "Border Wars". There are two variations: the first one with a ring suspension, and a second type where the medal and the suspension are made as one piece.

And the reverse...

Since there aren't that many South African items on this forum, let me post the ones I have. They are Apartheid-era medals from South Africa and the "homelands." First up, the Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal (left), for services of a higher order which cannot be recognized by another award. And the Pro Merito Decoration (right) for "outstanding service of the highest order and the utmost devotion to duty during peace or war."

and the reverse...

Groete uit T.O.! Verwoerdburg eh? Been there many times being so close to Pretoria. I was born in Holland, then moved to SA, now I'm in Toronto (TO). Here's some pics of SA medals to start: Southern Africa Medal, and the Pro Patria medal. Matthijs.

I saw the same thing. All his previous orders were added to the new booklet issued for the Slava 1st in 1968, instead of the Slava 1st being added to his original order booklet. That can happen of course if the old one is tattered or lost, but it makes it a little harder IMO to accept the group as authentic. Matt.

Hi Stefan, I will post some pics of SA medals in a few days. Meanwhile, you should check out this book. It is no doubt out of print, but since you're in the RSA you may be able to find it. "South African Orders, Decorations, and Medals" (1986) by E.G.M Alexander, G.K.B. Barron, & A.J. Bateman. Published by Human & Rousseau (pty) ltd. It is a great resource for Apartheid-era ODM. Matthijs. p.s. Where in SA are you? I used to live in Pretoria...great place!

I have a selection of South African medals that I can post at some point. Anything in particular you are looking for? Matthijs.

Gents, That is quite possibly the nicest order ever. That collar rivals the Order of the Garter collar I saw at that same Dutch museum a few weeks ago. That was a stunning piece, and this is equally beyond description! I think you guys have got me hook, line and sinker into this field! So much for plans of a new car this year.... Matthijs.

Wild Card, To start off with I'm going to collect the other states' versions of the Prussian iron cross. I've seen a number of those like the Brunswick merit cross and they look really attractive and a good beginning. Also, the Brunswick House Order of Henry the Lion is fantastic! I recently saw the grand cross of that order at the Dutch Chancellery of Orders museum in the Netherlands and it is unbelievable...maybe a 5th or 4th class for me then! p.s. Dan Murphy, shame on you for showing that! It's like giving whisky to an alcoholic!!

Damn, I just knew this would happen......gimme gimme gimme!!

Thanks for the great welcome and the great advice! Rick, you're right, I should specialize, and soon. Aimless collecting is pointless. SPM, I will get that book ASAP. Reading about the hobby is almost as fun as buying the pieces I think. Also, having collected Soviet stuff for a few years I've learned a lot about fakes...hopefully that knowledge will translate to this field. Ralph A, that site is gold! Thanks a lot! And Daniel, I will do a lot of research before I buy any major pieces, but I agree with the sentiment to buy the best you can afford...that leads to a collection that's both valuable and interesting to others. Cheers, I've got a lot of reading to do... Matthijs.

I'm totally new (and mostly lost) when it comes to the ODM of German States. I"ve been collecting ODM of many other nations for years, but I'm becoming really drawn to these German medal bars...they're awesome! I tried nazi-era stuff, but it's too overpriced for what you get, and i don't think they're anything compared to WWI and previous German stuff. So my question is: as a beginner, which states are good for a novice to try, and are there any I should probably avoid for the time being? I've been reading as many threads in this subforum as possible, but if there is also a book someone can recommend as a good overview that would be great. Thanks for the help! Matthijs.

Erik, Great groups you have there! I've never seen any of those medals, except the "vierdaagse." Great Rotterdam medal too, from my home town! Thijs.

Erik, I think the Collector's showcase section might be the best place for them. Thijs.

Erik, Thanks for the "behind the scenes" info! If they won't show theirs to the public, maybe I can tempt you to show your groups??

Hi Erik, That is indeed a shame! Tell me, do you have any knowledge of what those groups are?? It's a shame they have to hide them away where no one can see them. Bedankt, Matthijs.

continued.... Scandinavia: Danish Order of the Elephant; Norwegian Order of St. Olaf collar and grand cross; Finland, several orders and medals; Sweden, the highest classes of all the Swedish orders. Iceland grand cross. Some Italian, and many Spanish orders. Order of the Golden Fleece. Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle grand cross, and many South American orders. German States (sorry, I don?t know much about these): Order of the Prussian crown grand cross breast star; Prussian black eagle order 1st; a Blue Max; A grand cross of an order from I think Wurttemberg with light blue enamel and gold decoration on that enamel (please post the name of this order if you know it please!); Some orders from Bavaria, Baden, Nassau, Lippe, and several other states. Several from Hannover and Saxony. An unusual ?hunting order? from one of the princedoms in Germany?extremely nice enamelling and it said very rare (less than a hundred). Poland: Order of the White Eagle 1st class to Queen Wilhelmina from pre-WW2. Virtuti Militari 4th class. A group to a WW2 Polish major with the Royal Air Force, including a DFC and a Dutch DFC (vliegerkruis). Several orders from Nepal, including one with a Collar and grand cross set in a very large tortoise-shell-shaped case?very impressive. A collection of medals and orders to a general for the battle of Waterloo. Communist orders: Soviet Khmelnitsky 2nd class; Hero of Socialist Labour and accompanying Lenin (serial # 361,XXX); An East German grand cross, as well as a Karl Marx order; several communist Romanian orders. What appears to be a Cuban communist order. A pre-communist Czechoslovakian Order of the Lion 1st class; some Indonesian orders, one in a carved wooden case. Orders from several African nations, as well as the Philippines. Can?t think of any others for now?rest assured there is more! Matt.

Hi everyone, I wrote in April that I was going to go to see the collection at Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. I just returned from there and I can report that it is a truly amazing collection! I have never seen so many pieces: so many rare ones and such a variety too. I will post some pics later, but here?s a list of SOME of the things I remember seeing (forgive the rather long list, but I think it?s worth drooling over): All the Dutch orders, including the rare orders from the short-lived Kingdom of Holland under King Louis Napoleon, the Order of Union and the Foundation Order, all classes. Also the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau, extremely rare. Also included are all classes of the Militaire Willemsorde, including several awarded to famous people. All the orders of Belgium, including the colonial orders. All orders of Luxembourg. What seems to me to be all the variations and classes of the French Legion d?Honneur, as well as many French ministerial orders; also the French royal orders pre-revolution. As for British orders, the most stunning set is the full Order of the Garter set awarded to the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina. It includes the actual garter in case, the sash and badge, and the grand cross breast star; as well as the Garter collar which is such a beautiful piece no description will do it justice. Also a full set of the Order of the Bath grand cross (civil) including collar and robe. Also there are several other Bath pieces, a breast star of the Order of the Thistle, all five classes of the Order of the British Empire, and a grand cross St. Michael and St. George. Many pieces of the Teutonic Order, including orders, robes, and presentation swords; The Order of St. john and Military Order of Malta, several types and variations. They also have a (mostly grand cross class) collection of imperial Russian orders, imperial Ethiopian orders, and imperial Iranian/Persian orders. Some old imperial Chinese orders, including a 1st class Order of the Double Dragon in case, including large award document. Imperial Japanese orders: Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum grand cross to the Dutch Prince Hendrik in the 1920s or 1930s. Order of the Rising Sun 1st class in case; Sacred Treasure 1st and 2nd class in case. And a small selection of Japanese Red Cross medals.