reassure

[Petro]

Tunisia - Order of Nichan Iftikhar - knight 1st class ,  Can you guys check if i am right ?

[paul wood]

Indeed it is 4th class, Sidi Hamed issue (1929-42)

Paul

[Petro]

thank you Paul i really appreciate it , i was searching everywhere online and never meet that information , where did you get that info ?

[922F]

I very rarely disagree with my friend Paul.  That said, however, according to several authorities [Les Decoration tunisiannes a la epoque husseinite, 1994, "Sabretache" articles and a couple of websites] the piece shown in post one is a Knight 2nd class insignia.  The Order had 6 classes as of 1882: Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight lst class, and Knight 2nd class.  Knights first class had enamel in the star points, like officer badges, and knights 2nd class did not.  These latter had enamel only in the center.   

Sidi Hamid was more formally known as Ahmad II Pasha Bey.

In my experience, including a year in Tunisia and three in Paris, one encounters Knight 2nd class insignia much more rarely than Knight lst class pieces.   

 

[paul wood]

Whoops, I should look at better images.

Paul

 

[Petro]

Interesting 922F and  thank you for correction .  Can you share some of those web sites please ?

[922F]

Happy to oblige.  In my view, published written sources with information indicating 'hard' sources like Order Statutes, surpass in reliability many internet sources.  Les Decoration tunisiannes a la epoque husseinite, 1994, in my understanding, remains the most complete study of this Order with copious references to not only the Statutes but implementing decrees and era-published administrative procedure guidance.

As to internet sources, in this instance Wiki lists the grade of knight 2nd class but includes no image.   For other easily searchable internet 'cites' [pun intended] try http://www.royalark.net/Tunisia/orders.htm, http://www.icollector.com/AUCTION-VIII_as11563_p6  lot 1330,  or

The 1882 statutes are on-line somewhere in a French collectors' organization site; I cannot locate it at present.   Google search and French eBay listings will reveal more on-line evidence. 

http://www.emering.com/medals/tunisia/index.html provides perhaps the most accessible images of various Beys' names/cyphers for English speakers.   

[Petro]

Cooooooool thank you .