bulgaria First type of star St. Alexander, 1st vs. 2nd variations

[Igor Ostapenko]

The Order of St. Alexander was established by Prince Alexander of Battenberg at the end of 1881. 

 

As in the Russian Empire, the stars of the first and second classes did not differ in size.

The class of the order depended on the location of the cross.

 

It can be assumed that the project of the order has already been approved ( in 1881 ) and the insignia of the order have been ordered and were made by Ivan Osipov in St. Petersburg. 
 

We know these stars - size 77-78 mm 

But all these stars have “double mark with serif” ( двойное клеймо с засечками ) . 
 

This silvermarks was in use from February 1882 y. 

[Igor Ostapenko]

In book of prof. Pavlov we can see bad pictures of order belonging to Bulgarian Exsarch Iosif I , with document from 19.2.1882. 
Number of document is 19. 
 

Vary bad picture of reverse, but silermark - double without serif ( before February 1882 )

This is 1st variation of star of St. Alexander order . 
 

I call this variant- small laurel branches 

 

I have few pictures of this order from exhibition in Bulgarian Archives in 2005 ( of course only averse )

[Igor Ostapenko]

Exsarch Iosif I with awards 

[Igor Ostapenko]

With star 1st variation “small laurel’s branches” come cross from gold 14K ( russian 56 ) , marks for gold - “double without serif” too , before February 1882 

 

picture of order of Exsarch Iosif from Pavlov’s book 

Some cross with lost crown sold few years ago 

[Igor Ostapenko]

Medalions of stars 1st and 2nd variations , “small laurels branches” vs. “big laurels branches” 

Star 2nd variation - “big laurels branches” come with gilded silver cross with russian 84 , with “double mark with serif” 

 

Peter, thank you for pictures !!!! ?

[Igor Ostapenko]

Prinz Heinrich Moritz von Battenberg from Hesse-Darmstadt ( Prince Henry Maurice of Battenberg ) , brother of bulgarian Prince Alexander of Battenberg with star of Order St. Alexander 1st type 1st variation - “small laurels branches” 

July 1885, wedding with Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom ( fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert ) 

 

 

Grand Duke of Hesse Ludwig IV with order “small laurels branches” 

[Igor Ostapenko]

Prince of Bulgaria Alexander Battenberg with star of order St. Alexander “small laurels branches” 

[Graf]

Hi Igor,

You have done a superb research.

The Cross is really silver gilded with Gold central medallions

You can see the marks on the reverse of the crowns arms

 

The size is 55 mm wide.

 

Comparing with the next Prince Ferdinand  Model of the 1st Class Cross It is slimmer, however the width and the height are the same -55 mm

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Graf

[Graf]

[Igor Ostapenko]

Stars “small laurels branches” with gold crosses, first pattern from 1881 year come in black boxes 

Stars “big laurels branches” with gilded silver crosses was in red boxes 

[Igor Ostapenko]

star “small laurels branches” with attached later hessian swords, belonging to Prince Alexander, in museum 

[Igor Ostapenko]

Order of St. Alexander in museum Koburg ( cross only ) 

[Igor Ostapenko]

from 1881 to 1886 yy - 195 stars awarded .

( 7 with swords )

[Graf]

I am amazed the numbers of foreigners awarded compared to the Bulgarians ,especially 1st Class Sets.

 

  Hi Igor, 

  Nice find of the Group photo of the awards  in the Koburg Museum

[Igor Ostapenko]

Prince Ferdinand with order St. Alexander first class ( “big laurels branches” ) with swords 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Igor Ostapenko

[Igor Ostapenko]

On 14/12/2021 at 10:43, Igor Ostapenko said:

star “small laurels branches” with attached later hessian swords, belonging to Prince Alexander, in museum 

Another Gold Cross with swords, from chain, belonging Prince Alexander 

[Graf]

Hi Igor,

 

That is another nice find.

 

Is any way we can ask the Museum in Sofia to measure those Stars

The Prince Ferdinand Star looks bigger size

I can assume that the Stars for the Monarchs

 

Prince Alexander Collar looks spectacular

BTW It is interesting that on the table listed in one of the earliest post it shows that the Collar was not awarded

I assume that as Monarchs Prince Alexander and Prince Ferdinand automatically were classified for them without the need to bet recorded in the lists

[Igor Ostapenko]

Hi Peter , 

 

I have contacted this museum with some questions and have not received any answer  

 

The Order of St. Alexander in the photograph of Prince Ferdinand looks the same size as the Russian orders.
Russian orders of this type were 78-82 mm in size. 
 

 

Officially, the chain appeared in the statute only in 1888.

 

see nr. 19 

 

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
 

most likely, the chain of gold, the cross of the order with swords and swords on the star were made before the abdication of the Prince

Edited December 16, 2021 by Igor Ostapenko

[Igor Ostapenko]

bulgarian text from 1889 

[Graf]

 Igor,

 

That is a great work

 

I am amazed how you can get all those Documents

It is obvious that your passion is the early Prince Alexander period and you focused your efforts on this period

 

BTW You managed to restore and clean this Star very well

 

Cheers

[Igor Ostapenko]

Peter, 

 

restoration of the star was not required, it was covered with an old varnish, I removed it with acetone. 

[Igor Ostapenko]

6 hours ago, Graf said:

 Igor,

 

That is a great work

 

I am amazed how you can get all those Documents

It is obvious that your passion is the early Prince Alexander period and you focused your efforts on this period

 

BTW You managed to restore and clean this Star very well

 

Cheers

Statute 1889 y. from https://ilib.libsofia.bg/bg/lister.php?iid=DO-L10038126&page=1

 

Statute 1888 I take from Brazil ? 

[Igor Ostapenko]

About museum in Sofia. 
 

We can this star ( “big laurels branches” ) with swords in museum 

but this star in awards group of general Genev, with neck cross of Scheid production 

on the photo of general Genev we can see star from Scheid too 

could it be a star from a photograph of Prince Ferdinand ? 

[Graf]

Hi Igor,

 

Nice Awarding Document Congrats

That was much easier job then i expected. On the eMedals Auction the Star looked in a worse condition Well sometimes the pictures can give you a wrong impression

You got it on bargain price. He still is trying to sell the other Star for $7500  Congrats

 

The Star of General Genev is not from King Ferdinand photo It is later model

[Igor Ostapenko]

Hi Peter,

Star in museum exposition is not Scheid production ( as on photo of general ) , it’s Osipov’s production “big laurels branches” with added letter hessian swords 

Edited December 17, 2021 by Igor Ostapenko