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Kaiser Reich

Kaiser Reich

Kaiser Reich

 

Fantastic Example of the Pour le Mérite

 

 

 

Blue Max

Blue Max
Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen (ace pilot) received PM 01/12/1918.

Blue Max

 

Blue Max
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière (navy) received PM 10/11/1916

Blue Max

Blue Max
Oswald Boelcke (pilot) received PM 1/12/1916

 

Blue Max
The markings

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max
The markings

Blue Max

Blue Max

Blue Max
General Field Marshal August von Mackensen received PM 11/27/1915.

Blue Max
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring received PM 5/2/1918.

Blue Max
General and Freikorps hero Franz Ritter von Epp received PM 05/29/1918.

Blue Max
Rudolf Berthold (ace pilot) received PM 11/28/1917.

Blue Max
Hans Allmenröder (pilot) received PM 6/19/1917.

Blue Max
Werner von Blomberg (army) received PM 3/6/1918.

Blue Max
Achim von Arnim received PM 04/17/1918.

Blue Max
Hans Berr (pilot) received PM 12/4/1916.

Blue Max
General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel received PM 12/10/1917.

Blue Max
General der Infanterie (Heer) Erich Ludendorff received PM 8/8/1914

An Amazing and Special Artifact (Item KMEDAL 5-10; WWI 12-28)

DESCRIPTION: Here, Germania International offers a fantastic example of one of the most coveted medals in all of military collecting: The Pour le Mérite; the BLUE MAX, AND, this is a great variant for beginning or even advanced collectors of the subject. Not just because it has the crown suspension for the 50th Anniversary of the Recipient’s original awarding of the Order, BUT because this PARTICULAR piece is actually a PIECE of ROCK-SOLID EVIDENCE, pinpointing the era of manufacture, and therefore reason for existence of this particular manufacture style of Pour le Mérite. Read on . . . In the area of PLMs, one term that is heard FAR too often is “jeweler’s copy.” While jeweler’s copies were indeed made for recipients for numerous reasons, far too many were made strictly for collectors, and therefore are really JUST copies. Sometimes fakes. Here we have a TRUE jeweler’s copy, which can be PINPOINTED to a period of manufacture, making it most likely to have been produced for a Franco-Prussian War Pour le Mérite recipient who needed a crowned example of the Order as appropriate for the 50th Anniversary of the original awarding of the order. The PLM offered here is marked on one of the arms of the cross with the “900” silver-content marking, and a cartouche with the inner markings obliterated. The markings inside there might well have been the “FR” seen on Rothe & Neffe orders, as the eagles on this cross correspond to eagles on other known orders produced by Rothe. And there is one more mark, down closer to the center of the badge that sheds MUCH light on the piece we have to offer. Down the same arm of the cross that has the “900”and the obliterated cartouche is a small blob of a marking, not crystal clear, but DEFINITELY the post-1921 Austrian silver content mark of the Hoopoe bird in an irregular cartouche! Our PLM is marked on the suspension loop attached to the crown, JG&S for J. Godet & Söhne. Also, our PLM is in the original presentation case, also marked to the firm of J. Godet & Söhne. The WONDERFUL thing about this is that it PINPOINTS manufacture, along with the Austrian silver mark, to 1922-1924! This means, without a doubt, that the PLM we are now offering for sale was manufactured between 1922 and 1924, most likely for a Franco-Prussian War PLM recipient, to show the 50th Anniversary of his original award. The company Gebrüder Godet & Co. (brothers Godet & Co.) was founded 1761 by the goldsmith Jean Godet. The company was one of the first German manufactures of orders and honorary signs in Germany. Godet became the prime royal warrant for orders under the leadership of Jean Frédéric Godet. The company was known as J. Godet & Söhne between 1864 and 1924. The company name then changed to Eugen Godet & Co. The name changed again in the late 1920s or early 1930s to Gebrüder Godet & Co. Why would the “Tiffany” of Germany, Godet, outsource the manufacture of a Pour le Mérit to a firm OUTSIDE of GERMANY??? Let’s look at the economic climate of Germany circa 1923 (the median year in our very small window of possible manufacture). From 1921-1923 Germany experienced hyperinflation. Money was being devalued by the hour sometimes, and it could take millions of Reichsmarks just buy a loaf of bread. Now, the wealthy were still wealthy during these times, having their money safely invested or hidden in forms other than paper currency. So, it only makes sense that when a wealthy client of an exclusive jewelry firm like Godet decided to acquire his proper “crowned” Pour le Mérite for social or political functions he might attend, rather than try to scrounge up silver in a depleted, depressed, and constantly inflating country, Godet turned to a firm in their much more stable neighbor to produce the award, and then have it marked it with their maker mark. It stands to reason that only during this one moment in time might a firm like Godet need to reach out to a firm like Rothe to produce this needed award for a client. And the markings on this PLM Prove the period of manufacture, without a DOUBT. An exceptional and rare offering of a much-coveted order and handmade most likely by the Austrian Jewelers Rothe & Neffe in multiple pieces, the cross is made of two obverse and reverse cross pieces, exquisitely joined (a perfect seam runs around the body of the cross). The eagles are applied separately, and the crown suspension is riveted to a bar at top. The enamel is perfect and of the highest quality. The badge is marked to the firm it was sold by, J. Godet and Söhne of Germany, and comes in a beautiful leather and silk presentation case boldly marked by the firm, as well. This is a wonderful investment-grade Pour le Mérite and a great piece for the beginning collector of this Order, or a wonderful variation for an advanced collector of this Order.
VINTAGE: Circa 1922-1924
SIZE: Medal: approximately 2-1/2” in height and 2” in width; case: 10” by 4-3/4” by 1-1/2”
CONSTRUCTION/MATERIALS: Enameled 900 silver in two-piece construction (seam is evident); leather-wrapped board, velvet
ATTACHMENT: Hook on crown; hinge, hooks and push-release on case
MARKINGS: JG&S (J. Godet & Söhne mark) on side of loop; 900, cartouche with obliterated markings and Austrian silver mark, all on side of arm
CONDITION: 8 (excellent): The medal is in beautiful condition. I usually shy away from the word “mint,” but I feel compelled to use it this time.

PRICE: $7,500.00

 

 

 

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