Memorabilia

WWI US Victory Medal Collector's Lot
Lot of five WWI US Victory Medals. Three feature Navy service clasps, one with Salvage, one with Asiatic and Overseas, and one with Europe, Armed Guard, and Patrol.  Two feature Army clasps.  The first of these has the (very rare) Lys bar, Champagne-Marne, Somme Offensive, Ypres-Lys, St. Mihiel, and Defensive Sector.   The second of these has a facsimile Vittorio-Veneto bar attached to a replacement ribbon.
I believe ALL of these to be collector-assembled pieces.  The Navy clasps are likely from the large hoard of loose original clasps that was discovered a few years ago, but it is not correct for US WWI Victory Medals to display more than one Navy service clasp.  The medal with Army clasps was initially very intriguing, but I failed to discover any organization that would qualify for that combination of bars.  The medal appears to be correctly assembled, and it is possible that I am overlooking something like some Reserve Mallet drivers who were eligible for upwards of nine bars.. but the combination of bars just does not check even against the nine-bar Reserve Mallet set that we had years ago.  But even as such, the Lys bar on its own is a very difficult one to find.
$100 - $200

WWI US AEF Medals &  91st Division Insignia Lot

US WWI Victory Medal has St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector clasps on a soiled original ribbon with wear on the corners.  Second US WWI Victory Medal has nice original ribbon with France clasp.  French Croix-de-Guerre has 1914-1918 reverse.  An interesting die-cut wool 91st Division shoulder insignia with yellow embroidered "91st" designation; stitch holes around the edge and fading on the obverse and edges all suggest that it was once worn on a uniform and has been removed.  Also includes a green enameled pinback 91st Division insignia, and a very nice enameled service banner motif picture frame with blue star and outer edge.  This frame is 5.2cm wide x 7.5cm tall (2" x 3").  

$100 - $150

WWI Interallied Victory Medal & Table Medal Lot: France, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, & US Navy Service Clasps

Includes the following WWI Victory Medals: France, Italy (two examples), Belgium (two examples), and Great Britain.  The British medal has rim impressed with the name of an Indian soldier serving in the 25th Cavalry.

US Navy WWI Victory Medal clasps are mounted on a piece of ribbon for display.  There are nine, including Mobile Base, Grand Fleet, Aviation, Submarine, Transport, Atlantic Fleet, Destroyer, England, and Italy.

Lot further includes a 62mm diameter bronze "American Doughboy" table medal by Marcel Lordonnois; depicting a US soldier charging across a WWI battlefront; reverse has Cross of Lorraine insignia and "1917 / FRANCE / 1918".  On the reverse of the medal, the artist's signature "C BY M. LORDONNOIS 1919" appears along the lower right edge beneath the soldier's left foot. "BRONZE" stamped along the medal's rim edge.  Includes one bronze color and one silver color small (26.5mm diameter) watch fob versions of the same artwork.  

$200 - $300

AEF 27th Division Purple Heart with Oakleaf Cluster to Twice Wounded 106th Infantry Corporal

Original 1932 issue Purple Heart with Oakleaf Cluster has split brooch suspension, worn but intact original ribbon is mounted by subsequent award oakleaf cluster appurtenance.  Rim has number "364".  Reverse is officially engraved "EDWARD C. LEE".  A copy of his medal card notes "Awarded for wounds received in action September 2, 1918 and Oct. 17, 1918.  His New York Abstract of WWI Military Service notes participation in engagements at Dickebusch, Mt. Kemmel, East Poperinghe, Ceirstraat Crossing, Quillemont, the Hindenburg Line, and La Salle River.  It further notes that his September 2, 1918 wound was "slight", and his other wound listed here as transpiring on October 15 was "Severely".  Lot includes his lapel pin, and medal ribbon bar also with an oakleaf cluster.

$300 - $500

Imperial German WWI Medals, Insignia, & Ephemera Lot

Lot features 1914 Iron Cross First Class, a nice convex pinback example hallmarked "800" on the reverse under the pin attachment.  Also a 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, silver wound badge, Prussian buckle, and a Prussian pickelhaube cockade.  Cockades for field caps include enlisted sew-through Reichs and Prussian, and a nice Prussian cockade with the Landwehr cross.  Also includes a large 16cm x 16cm (6-3/8") pressed pasteboard 1914 Iron Cross that was once in an album or mounted on paper, as it has spots of glue residue in the corners on the reverse.  Other material includes a single enlisted shoulder strap from Field Artillery Regiment 59, an 1890's CDV image of a one-year volunteer Infantryman with Gew.88 rifle, a turn-of-the-century Military Pass (Militär-Paß) for a soldier who served in JR 18, three casualty mourning cards, and the tags from two WWI temporary grave markers.

$300 - $400

British WWI Memorial Plaque: James Henry Buffey, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Bronze memorial plaque with original carton; "JAMES HENRY BUFFEY".  Records indicate that Private Buffey served in the 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and was killed in action on August 25, 1917.  He was buried at Perth Cemetery in Ypres.  Has an old dealer's informative price sticker on the reverse.  

$100 - $150

Includes Canadian Prince of Wales Regiment of Fusiliers buckle, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry buckle, a single "CANADA" shoulder title, Artillery specialist badge, and nine cap badges of which seven are British, one Canadian, and one Australian.  

Medals include a War Medal and Victory Medal pair with rim impressed to Private "H.C. SANSOM" of the Notts & Derby Regiment, unmounted ribbons.  Also, a War Medal and Victory Medal pair with rim impressed "LIEUT. T.F. MORRISON", with ribbons mounted to a suspension bar.  Special Constabulary Service Medal isa George V issue, impressed on rim "LIEUT. HUGH A. CARTER".  Lastly, a War Medal and Victory Medal pair of miniatures.

$100 - $200

French WWI 237th Infantry Regiment Soldier's Medals

30cm x 40cm (15-3/4" x 11-3/4") pasteboard mounted certificate is mounted by this soldier's medals including WWI Victory, Belgian WWI Commemorative Medal, French Croix-de-Guerre with "1914 - 1916" reverse and showing a star appurtnance which designates the recipient having been mentioned in dispatches.  Also a French WWI Combatant's Cross, Wound Medal, and WWI Commemorative Medal.  All of these are glued to the certificate by the ribbons, as this was how these were intended to be mounted.  (These certificates were not put together with long-term preservation in mind!)  The planchets have worked themselves free, but of course have adhesive residue on the reverse.  That is the down side.. but it is considerably offset by the fact that on such a certificate we can associate the medals with an individual Poilu!  In this case, it is Jules Brisse, a soldier in the 237th Infantry Regiment who was wounded three times in service.  

The French 237th Infantry Regiment served with distinction during World War I, participating in some of the most intense fighting on the Western Front. Formed as part of the French Army's mobilization in 1914, the regiment was engaged in the Champagne region and the Somme, where it played a crucial role in repelling German assaults. Notably, in July 1915, the 237th Infantry Regiment successfully defended its positions near Souchez, using hand grenade fire to drive back the German 63rd Infantry Regiment in a fierce night battle. Throughout the war, the regiment was recognized for its steadfast defense and aggressive counterattacks, contributing significantly to the French Army's efforts to maintain the front lines and protect vital sectors. The service of the 237th Infantry Regiment exemplifies the courage and resilience of French soldiers during the Great War.

$100 - $150

French WWI Croix-de-Guerre Medal Lot including 1914-1916 and 1914-1917 Awards

Includes five Croix-de-Guerre Medals with a variety of appurtenances.  First has 1914-1918 reverse, mounted by bronze palm (mentioned in dispatches / cited at the Army level).  Second has 1914-1917 reverse, with silver bar suspension, ribbon mounted by gold star device (cited at the Corps level).  Third has 1914-1916 reverse, with one bronze star (cited at the Regiment or Brigade level) and two silver stars (Cited at the Division level).  Fourth has 1914-1918 reverse, with unadorned ribbon.  Fifth has 1914-1918 reverse, with false bullion metal numerals "21" on the ribbon.  The collector who owned this set attributed that to a medal belonging to a soldier of the 21st Regiment (Czech Legion).  The patina on the piece is consistent with these numerals having been there for a very long time, but I was not successful finding any other examples of this practice to confirm the assertation.  Last medal is a Croix de Guerre des Théâtres d'Opérations Extérieures with a single bronze star device on the ribbon.  The 'TOE' was established in 1921 to recognize acts of heroism in combat outside of territorial France.

$150 - $250

Russian WWI Saint George Cross IV Class, Photo, & Family Form Letter Lot

These materials were not specifically related to one another, but display nicely together.  Features a Cross of St. George IV Class: a silver Cross Pattée with obverse displaying raised depiction of St. George slaying a dragon, the reverse bearing a central raised disc with Cyrillic characters “СГ” (“SG”) as the saint’s monogram, the three and nine o’clock arms etched with an accountability number of “516062”, the six o’clock arm bearing an inscription of “4 СТЕП” (“4th CLASS”), the twelve o’clock arm with an integral loop connecting to a suspension ring with a pentagonal backplate and period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 34.15 mm wide x 40.84 mm high.  Has a dark age-toned patina; ribbon and backer mount are correct but condition would indicate that they are likely replacements to this medal.

Includes a 16.5 cm tall x 10.5cm wide cabinet card image of an Imperial Russian soldier wearing a complex pack arrangement, posing with his Mosin-Nagant rifle with fixed bayonet, and a bayonet scabbard on his belt.  (The use of bayonet scabbards in the Imperial army was not the norm.)  Also includes an illustrated pre-printed form letter home, for the use of illiterate or semi-literate Russian soldiers.

$200 - $300

Turkish WWI Gallipoli Star & (reproduction) Pilot Badge

Lot was displayed with a commercial photo postcard of Oberleutnant Richard Falke, the famed aviator from Flieger-Abteilung 300 wearing his Prussian observer badge, 'Gallipoli Star', and Turkish pilot badge. 

Includes a very nice original example of the Turkish award: presented to German and Turkish troops for gallantry at Gallipoli and other campaigns in the Middle East, commonly referred to as the Eisener Halbmond (Iron Half-Moon) or 'Gallipoli Star'.  German made example; star shaped silver planchet has red enamel over a guilloche background; silvered crescent moon and tughra of Sultan Mehmed Reshad V with date "1333" (1915).  Nice warm patina, and no enamel damage.  Reverse has flat pin attachment, no markings.

The Turkish Pilot badge I believe to be a nice high quality reproduction.  

$100 - $200

WWI Allied Medal Lot: Belgium, France, & Italy

Belgian medals include a WWI Victory with heavily worn ribbon, Yser Medal with ribbon, and Yser Medal planchet only without ribbon.  French medals include a WWI Victory Medal with modern replacement ribbon, Croix-de-Guerre with 1914-1918 reverse and palm device symbolizing mention in Army dispatch.  Also includes two WWI Grand Guerre commemorative medals, one with a heavily worn ribbon, and a pair of artillery branch collar tabs for the overcoat, with "219" unit numerals.  Italian medals include a WWI War Merit Cross and two examples of the 1915-1918 War Medal.

$100 - $150