What is this uniform !?!

[Chris Boonzaier]

He seems to have an 1870 medal?

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Chris,

my quess is a Royal Coachman from one of the Prussian or German States, the guys who take the Kaiser and the misses for a public jaunt around town.

Kevin in Deva.

[Guest Rick Research]

Yes indeed. A Leibkutscher or Hofkutscher. Can't tell from where since you'd need to be able to see the coat of arms on his buttons to tell who his boss was. Or is there a photographer's name and address on the card?

He's a young guy early in his service. From the Lippe-Detmold award rolls, by the time this sort of "Hoflakai" retired, he could have 3 or 4 decorations-- and often got the odd random gong here and there from picking up and dropping off visiting royals to the local railway station (another good spot for picking up nifty wearable dinguses).

I know it's blurry, but can you zoom in on the medal? It is hanging too far down from the ribbon to be an 1870/71 Medal, I think.

[Chip]

Notice the Livery aigulette on his right shoulder.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here you go...

It is taken by Ernst Bingel Hof Photogr. Hersfeld im Stift.