Bulgaria FAKE BULGARIAN ORDERS ON THE MARKET

[Graf]

Hi 922F,

 

Very nicely described the concern about this Set  Thanks

I suspect the seller is aware about those things he listed with reasonable low price Mainly to attract novices Experienced collector will detect hose issues

Buyer Aware rule applies.

[922F]

Hello Graf!   

 

I see vendor now expresses this opinion about that set: 
Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.

 

A refreshing development!

 

I shall continue to look for the fake case and post images when found.

[Graf]

It is interesting

I wonder whether our comments have contributed  to this warning

Can someone helps with the translation of the text ?

18 hours ago, 922F said:

Hello Graf!   

 

I see vendor now expresses this opinion about that set: 
Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.

 

A refreshing development!

 

I shall continue to look for the fake case and post images when found.

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Graf

[Graf]

I also have a box made in the 60-70 s similar like the one listed i will try to find it and list pictures

 

Still waiting someone the help with the translation

 

 

[922F]

Hello Graf,

Just returned to GMIC.   Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.  

 

translates to English as:

 

My opinion is this is a superbly made collector's item.
Please see the pictures and judge yourself. 

 

Will look forward to comparing our 'replacement' cases.

[Graf]

Thanks for the translation

I suspect either we have made him to add this text or some questions from potential buyers

8 hours ago, 922F said:

Hello Graf,

Just returned to GMIC.   Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.  

 

translates to English as:

 

My opinion is this is a superbly made collector's item.
Please see the pictures and judge yourself. 

 

Will look forward to comparing our 'replacement' cases.

 

[Graf]

Here is the  replacement box

[Graf]

inside the box

the back of the box

[Graf]

Compare the copy box with an original one with an original Set as well

[Graf]

The Set on eBay Germany was sold for 1132 EURO Five bidders

 i suppose no member on GMIC has bid

 

[922F]

Graf--Here, finally, are images of my Ist class [step] 'replacement' case.  Note raw wood risers in case bottom interior and pad bottom red material.  Case lid upper exterior edges are beveled about 45 degrees.  Only apparent differences between ours may be class and type of sword designation on outer lid and perhaps overall size.   I may have another similar case but cannot find it at present [collection not stored at home] and do not remember what desigination insignia it supposedly accompanied--even what Order.  

 

First class case dimensions:  30 Cm. X 12 cm. X 5 cm. 

 

Have seen 7 or 8 cases of this type since about 1998, including on offer & in collections in Sofia, Bulgarian, French & British dealers, and ours.   All contained badge & star sets of one grade or another.

[Graf]

Hi 922F,

 

Yes yours and mine boxes are identical , Only Class and size difference. It looks like the same "maker'

Any way they are good to hold  the corresponding Sets in case of lack of original one

[922F]

I agree--do you think that's the use for which they were intended?

[Graf]

 Yes and No. The might have been made to fill the gap in the market. many originals were damaged over the time

  I also suspect that they have been used  for the small waive of fake high classes Sets including the Order of St Alexander Any way they are very nice if the originals are missing Better then nothing. The only problem has been when they are sold the sellers did not disclose knowingly or not knowingly that they were late reproduction

On 25/10/2022 at 23:09, bbrandon said:

Unfortunately during the last month, the market seems to be covered with fake Bulgarian Hero Medals as they can now be found regularly at the usual hotspots (see pictures for 2 examples).

Most of them seem to come from Bulgaria, so I estimate that the faker is also located there.

The fakes are very rude/rough made in fantasy versions and the sellers even confirm that they are "replicas" - as the quality is to bad to convince anyone it is original anyway - but they dont hesitate to claim that it is an "original mint made wearers copy" asking already unbelievable high prices for their s-h-i-t.

I am sure, nobody would fall for it - but I feel the fakes soon will get better with time and this faking buttholes are yet again ruining fun for collectors of yet another medal.

 

Lets hope that molten iron flows down on the fakers feet, burning away their wish to spread their fakes forever. 😝

 

On 29/10/2022 at 17:36, Graf said:

They could be already on the market.  Numerous Stars  and high end  Socialist decorations appeared for sale on few Auctions in Europe. This is not coincidence. It is interesting fact that some of those awards, although  different, come in very similar stereotyped boxes/cases

It looks like similar scenario when several years ago a faker from Bulgaria loaded the market with fakes Royal Orders and few sellers and dealers bought the cheap and knowingly and/or unknowingly  sold  them on profit  to unsuspected collectors.

The same trend can be seen with the high end of the WW2 German Iron Cross, in particular Knight Crosses of the Iron Cross. The market suddenly get supplied with similar Items in a very good conditions by several sellers/dealers at the same time on waives

Well, if there is a demand there will be always people who can "help' with the supply

 

 

Those decorations, sold on the recent Auctions around Europe ,had one thing in common- the boxes looked so identical like the have been made for this purpose

[new world]

On 12/01/2023 at 20:11, Graf said:

Here is the  replacement box

Here's another set with reproduction box of same style

[Graf]

 

Hi New World,

 

Obviously,  they made boxes for most of the high classes of the Order of St Alexander

Surprisingly i have not seen any for the other Bulgarian Orders??!!

[new world]

There were repro boxes for lower classes too - I saw some for sale few years ago, there were of low quality - basic communist era style box with crude gold print on the lid, nothing near the quality of high class boxes. I need to see if I can find photos.

[Graf]

I think i have picture of one of them

I will find and list it

[new world]

More of the fake boxes, similar to the ones posted earlier:

Here's something different, I had a chance to inspect it in person, bright red material - similar in color to original boxes, but different smoother texture

Edited January 27, 2023 by new world

[Graf]

Hi New World

 

Thank you for listing more boxes.

As i stated it looks like only boxes for The Order of St Alexander were made.

 

[new world]

I think they made boxes for only one award because it's time consuming and expensive to replicate stamp for name, cypher and swords, and they simply wanted to test the market to see if they can sell enough to recover their investment. 

Considering that they stopped with Saint Alexander it's safe to assume it wasn't a profitable project.

[922F]

Thanks New World & Graf for this additonal information and images--may have one or two like New World's & will confirm when/if located.   

[new world]

Years ago there was a famous seller of fakes, he was based in Bulgaria, I recall he went by name Kaissa/Caissa on eBay. Some of his sets were offered in bright red boxes like the one in the last photo in my above post with photos of the boxes.  

[Graf]

Yes I remember this seller. The question is whether those St Alexander high classes boxes were made for his fake Sets or he used the one already made for his sinister activity

I am still looking my files for low class box

[new world]

Being sold as Bulgaria after WW2 Royal Order for Bravery Officer's Cross of 1st Grade, 4th IV Class. Regent Issue. 
This is a fake with some original parts. I had similar medal years ago and it did not look real at all - base is of very low quality.