OEFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PRESIDENT THE ORDERS AND MEDALS SOCIETY OF AMERICA JAMES R. WILKINSON PLANTATION, FLORIDA VOL. 21 JUNE 1970 NO. 6 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF MEDAL & ORDER INSIGNIA The Third Dimension by Robert T. McNamara CO~.~A~RATI~TE A ~NATO~/ OF ?i~o~J~S & ORDER INSIGkrfA by R, T, ?.~cNamara (all rights reserved by the author) X, The Third Dimension !n the careful study of insignia to establish as many points of com- parison as possible for significant conslusions, no detail should escape scrutiny. Of course, it is obvious that both faces of a piece of insignia get close attention, including accurate measurement of height and ~dth. The third dimension - the profile - ho~.~ever, is often overlooked as a sig- nificant factor. !n medals especially, differences in thickness are often the first clue to classification as originals, later strikes, or outright copies. There are more subtle differences in order insignia, but these are no less significant, in many cases. Unfortunately, most descriptions and illus- trations ignore this detail, so it cannot be used in connection ~th study of oieces sho~ in catalogs or books, l~en we are studying actual pieces in front of us, though, the profile should not escape attention. In the accomoanying illustration, three crosses of the Royal Greek Order of the Redeemer have been photographed against a prism so that we get a siwaltaneous bottom vie~ of each piece. It ~¢ill be noted that the pieces are quite similar, except for the crown suspension of the cross at the left, and other quite minor differences. However, the profile of each piece differs rkdically from the others. Cross #l has a tapered cross arm, the enamel height diminishing from the medallion to the cross V, and still further from the V to the cross tips. The metal edge profile is thus one which is quite slim at the V, tapering eveh thinner at the cross extremi- ties. Cross !2 has less ~elli~g to the enamel area, thus the profile, while still tapered toward the tips, is substantially thicker at all points. Cross #3 has a strictly rectangular edge, ~lthout significant change in contour of the enamel, and none at all in the metal. Cross #l requires a heavier cross construction, with edges against the white enamel even thick enough to provide space for a tolled groove; the enamel mnst be "shaped’~ to the compound curves in both directions both in ~ lav~n~ in of the ~owder and the finishing. Cross #2 demands much less ~$k i~-t~e metal, since a thin sheet is used at the edges of the ?ross ~tline, and finishing the simpler enamel contour is easier and qum~k~r. !ross ~3 is the most economica! to construct both in metal usage ana mn ,namel finishing. Thus, in arranging ~he pieces in the order of desending complexity in ~rkmanship and metal, we have also arranged them in the proper sequence tom more expensive to less expensive...andby the inexorable working of cono~ic law, we have also arranged them in the proper chrono~o~ica~ ~rder, tom oldest to newest. The same arrangement could have been memucem zrom ompari ~ other details of the pieces, but the process would have been more ab0rious and time-consu~ing. Thanks are due to ~illis E. Ayres, Jr., for lending crosses #i and #2 or this study. THE DECOCTIONS OF GENERALFELD~RSC~LL BLUCheR by Edward S. Haynes As is we!! known, Generalfeldmarschall Furst Blucher von Wahlstadt was awarded the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross with star (see article by Dan ~7. Ragsdale in June 1967 ~edal Collector). This was not the only fa- mous decoration worn by this great military leader. In 1817, after the completion of the Napo!eanic ~Jars, GFM Blucher was wearing the follo~lng decorations. Order of the Black Eagle Grand Cross of the Iron Cross with a Special Star Demmark, Order of the Elephant Britain, Order of the Bath, First Class, with picture of the Prince Regent of England Hannover, Order of the Guelph, Grand Cross Hesse, Order of the Lion Netherlands, Military ~Jilhelm Order, Grandcross Austria, Order of ~.[aria Theresa, Grandcross Russia, Order of Saint Andrew Russia, Order of Saint George, First Class Russia, Honour Sword of Bravery Sweden, Order of the Seraphim Soain, Order of Saint Carlos h~urttemberg, ~~ilitary ~erit Order, Grandcross This information has been drawn from the Rar~ -und Quartier-Liste der K~6~liche Preussischen Armee fur das Jahr 1~7 (Berlin, ~ilhelm Dieter- ici; 1817). T~ DECORATIONS OF GENERAL DER I~$ANTERIE VON ~TTENBERG by Edward S. Haynes After the conclusion of the Napoleanic ~,Jars and the Bar~shment of the Emoeror to St. Helena, only two of the holders of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross of Prussia remained in the service of Prussia. ~ Generalfeld- marschall Blucher has been the subject of a previous artice by ~yself; the other remaining holder was General der Infanterie Graf Tauentizien yon ~ittenberg. In 1817 General yon ~,~ittenberg was serving in Berlin as Com- manding General, General Command in Brandenburg and Pommern. The entire compliment of decorations ~hich he was eligible to wear is as follows. Order of the Black Eagle Grand Cross of the Iron Cross Johannlter Order France, ~ilitary Merit Order, Grandcross Austria, Order of Maria Theresa, Commander Russia, Order of Alexander Nevsky Russia, Order of Saint George, Second Class Russia, Order of Saint Anne, First Class Sweden, Order of the Sword, Commander of the Grandcross This information has been drawn from the Rang-und Quartier-Liste der Kg$che Preussischen Armee fur das Jahr 1817 ’(Berlin, Wilhelm Dieter- Ici! 1817~ For an excellent coverage of the Iron Cross, 1813, see the article by Dan W. Ragsdale in the June 1967 Medal Collector. .