French Militaria

This is a very scarce and unusual order, presented by the Senate of the French Republic to General John "Black Jack" Pershing following the end of WWI. There is no citation or paper documentation with this order, however. It is priced accordingly.

The beautiful watered blue, white and red 4 inch wide sash measures 32 inches top to bottom (that's folded, the actual length is twice that). The medallion suspended from the sash measures 3 inches in diameter. It is constructed in 6 layers, with gilded metal, red, white and blue enamels and heavy suspension ring. There are very small maker marks apparent on both pieces. On the top of the sash medallion and on the inside of the tang of the breast badge.

This is a close-up view of the sash medallion. This is from the back. This is a close-up of the breast medal front and rear.

The matching breast badge is 2-1/2 inches in diameter, also made in a complex multilayer construction.

This is an older medal, probably dating to WWI.  There is some minor enamel damage, visible in the images. It is priced accordingly.

The medallion is suspended from a carmine red ribbon. There are a couple of small holes from the usual French attachment pin (the pin is not present)

This is a view of the back. This is a close-up of the medal front and rear.

The medal is 1-5/8 inches in diameter and 2-5/8 inches long (not including the 5 inch ribbon, folded to 2-1/2 inches)

The condition is good to very good, with enamel damage front and rear, as shown.

The size is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide and about 3-3/8 inches high including the ribbon.

This is a view of the back of the medal.

The condition of the medal is near good, with moderate to heavy chipping on the blue enamel from wear in uniform. The ribbon shows some very minor fading from age, as shown.

The size is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide and about 3-3/8 inches high including the ribbon.

This is a view of the back of the medal.

The condition of the medal is near excellent, the ribbon shows some very minor fading from age, as shown.

The size is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide and about 3 inches high including the ribbon.

This is a view of the back of the medal.

The condition of the medal is near excellent, the ribbon shows some very minor fading from age, as shown.

The size is approximately 1-3/4 inches wide and about 4-3/8 inches high including the ribbon.

This is a view of the back of the medal.

The condition of the medal is near excellent, the ribbon shows some very minor fading from age, as shown.

This is a very well-made multipiece inkwell featuring a French Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 (Renault FT-17) tank bridging a fortified trench.  The ink bottle cover is a French armor artillery helmet, hinged on the back side to expose the bottle when flipped open.  The front of the inkwell has a separately applied plate commemorating the Battle at S^ir de METZ.

This is a view of the inside, the back and the front with the top open. It is marked FRANCE and 969 in raised letters on the inside.

The size is 5 inches wide overall, about 2-3/4 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches high.

The condition of the inkwell is very good to near excellent, the gilt finish shows some minor wear and tarnish from age, as shown.

This is a one-piece metal tank toy with four wooded wheels for a narrow wooden toy train track. The toy depicts a French Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 (Renault FT-17) tank.

This is a view of the right side, the left side and the bottom. It is marked U.S.A. and "95", "2" and FRANCE in raised letters on the side.

The size is 1-1/2 inches wide overall, about 2-1/2 inches long and 2 inches high.

The condition of the toy is very good to near excellent, the paint finish shows some minor wear and tarnish from age, as shown.

This was the squadron emblem of Dubonnet, Guynemer, Herbelin, Heurtaux, Raymond and Risacher -- some of France's most prolific pilot aces.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are BIJOU PARIS maker marks on the back. It has an 800 silver content mark.

The size is 45mm bill to feet.

The condition is very good to near excellent with wear and deep tarnish from age and a slight bend in the beak, as shown.

This was the squadron emblem of De Bonnefroy, De Rochechouart de Mortemart and Pinsard, some of France's most prolific pilot aces.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are BIJOU PARIS maker marks on the back. It has an 800 silver content mark.

The size is 50mm bill to feet.

The condition is very good to near excellent with wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This was the squadron emblem of De Gaillard de la Valden and Hugues, some of France's most prolific pilot aces.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are BIJOU PARIS maker marks on the back. It has an 800 silver content mark.

The size is 50mm scythe to back foot.

The condition is very good to near excellent with wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This was the squadron emblem of Barny de Romanet and Guiguet, some of France's most prolific pilot aces.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are BIJOU FRANÇAIS PARIS maker marks on the back. It has an 800 silver content mark.

The size is 50mm bill to feet.

The condition is very good to near excellent with wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are BIJOU FRANÇAIS PARIS maker marks on the back. It has an 800 silver content mark.

The size is 55mm bill to feet.

The condition is very good to near excellent with wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This is a view of the reverse.

There are no maker marks on the back.

The size is 32mm bill to feet.  There is a hook on the bill to keep the stork properly aligned in wear.  It has a hinged simple hook pin.  It is slightly bent, as shown in the images.

The condition is very good with wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This patch was used for less than a year during the Bosnia campaign. It was discontinued and unauthorized when the press noted it closely resembled the Third Reich death head insignia used by the Germans in WWII. There is another variant in bronze silk on black known to exist, which is apparently even rarer.

This is a very rare sleeve insignia in mint condition. It is very well-constructed, BeVo woven in gold silk floss machine woven on black silk. It measures 68mm by 90mm (2-5/8 by 3-1/2 inches) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.

The condition is near mint.

This organization was thought to be very pro-nationalistic toward France, which caused some issues with the German Youth organization and they distanced themselves from it fairly early in the war.

This is a fairly scarce sleeve insignia in mint condition. It is very well-constructed, BeVo woven red, white, sky blue, dark blue and gold silk floss machine woven on black silk. It measures 70mm by 90mm (2-3/4 by 3-1/2 inches) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.

The condition is near mint.

This is a fairly scarce sleeve insignia in mint condition. It is very well-constructed, BeVo woven red, white, dark blue and silver silk floss machine woven on black silk. It measures 38mm by 75mm (1-1/2 by 3 inches) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.

The condition is near mint.

This is a fairly scarce well-marked insignia in mint condition. It is very well-constructed, with  red, white, sky blue, dark blue enamel on silver metal. It measures 12mm by 25mm (1/2 by 1 inches) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.  It has BERAUDY-VAURE-AMBERT / J. DECAT ABREST VICHY maker marks.

The condition is near mint.

This is a fairly scarce well-marked insignia in excellent condition. It is very well-constructed, with  red, white, dark blue, and green enamel on silver metal. It measures 25mm (1 inch) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.  It has JEUNESSE DE MEURTHE ET MOSELLE indentication marks.  Note the emblems at the bottom, including the Boy Scouts Fleur di Lis, a bee, and the Vichy winged helm. Under the crowing rooster is the word LABOR and a rising sun.

The condition is near excellent. There are no maker marks.

This is a fairly scarce insignia in near mint condition. It is DÉPOSÉ marked with red, white, and blue enamel on silver plated steel. The flags of the Allies (Russia, US, UK, and France form the fins of a bomb.  The Resistance Cross of Lorraine is on the body of the bomb. It measures 57mm by 12mm (2-1/4 by 5/8 inches) as shown.

Here is a view of the back.  The hinged pin is missing, but can be easily replaced.  The hinge mount is intact as is the simple hook catch.

The condition is excellent to near mint, excepting the missing pin.

The text of the reverse was modified to be in conformity with the law on the national fields and the currencies of confidence. The scene points out the oath of the festival of the Federation of July 14 1790 which commemorated the storming of the Bastille and the Li in which links the Nation, the King and the People. It is Talleyrand at the time, bishop who had celebrated the office. According to various work, the production exceeded 70 tons, a manufacture of approximately 2,334,000 coins with an average weight of 30 grams per coin.

This is a view of the reverse.

This coin was permanently mounted into a silver frame long ago.

The size is 1-5/8 inches in diameter, not including the ball ends.

The condition is near good. with wear to the reverse side from centuries of handling, as shown.

At one time, there was a suspension loop at the top of the medal. It is absent. The copper banner and brass city coat of arms are separately applied.

This is a view of the reverse.

The size is 1-1/4 inches in diameter.

The condition is near very good. with some wear and tarnish from handling, as shown.

$99.99

This badge features finely detailed wings, a parachute canopy, and star with separately applied gilt wreath.

This is a view of the reverse. It has raised DELSART 29 R DU GENERAL LE CLERC SENS 89 100 Paris maker and DEPOSE registration marks.

The size is 3 inches (70mm) across. It has the original screw bar attachment present.

The condition is near excellent. with minor wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This badge features finely detailed wings, a parachute canopy, and star with separately applied gilt wreath.

This is a view of the reverse. It has raised ANDOR 30. CH^R COLOMB 94-IVRY-FRANCE maker marks.

The size is 3 inches (70mm) across. It has the original spring pin and loops attachment present.

The condition is near excellent. with minor wear and deep tarnish from age, as shown.

This badge was found at Dien Bien Phu years after the evacuation of the French.  It features wings, a parachute canopy, and star with wreath.

This is a view of the reverse. It has raised Paris maker and registration marks, but they appear to have been included in the cast when made.

The size is 3 inches (70mm) across.

The condition is near good. with wear and deep tarnish from age and exposure to the elements, as shown.

This badge features wings, a parachute canopy, and star with no wreath.

This is a view of the reverse. It has no maker nor registration marks.

The size is 1/2 inches (15mm) across.

The condition is near excellent, as shown.

This badge is not maker marked.  It is deeply die struck with outstanding detail.

This is a view of the reverse.

The size is 2-1/2 inches high and 2 inches across.

The condition is near excellent, as shown.

This badge is maker marked CHARLY.  It dates to the 1980s.

This is a view of the reverse.

The size is 1-1/2 inches high and 1-3/4 inches across.

The condition is near excellent, as shown.

An ORIGINAL Résistance.... et Contre-attaques en Uniforme (French Resistance and Counter-Attack in Uniform) June 1940 - August 1944 Unit History.

This is a collection of documents collected, collated and bound by a career military officer of the French military, General Georges Malraison, who served as commanding officer of a number of French FFI and military resistance units throughout the occupation of France, including the 5th Bureau, the 4th demi-brigade of Chasseurs, and other positions of authority.  This book covers the time from the initial German invasion of France to the liberation of Paris, from when he was a major through the rank of colonel.

There is a long hand-written dedication to a fellow soldier named "Murphy" -- who was involved with the invasion of North Africa --at the front of the book, the book being signed and dedicated shortly after it was published in Potsdam on the occasion of the French Independence Day, (14) July, 1948.  The table of contents lists the documents contained in the book.  Each of the documents is formatted exactly as the original orders, to include signature blocks, routing, classification, and all other aspects.  Most of the documents are hand-signed by Colonel Malraison in blue quill pen, as shown in a representative example below.  The introduction, written in the Spring of 1948 in Potsdam is also signed.  There are at least 20 original signatures throughout the book in the appropriate places above the signature blocks.  There are some penned corrections and annotations by the author where the printing was unclear or obscure.

Th e content is entirely in French. It gives a very detailed insider's view of the French resistance in Part One (June 1940 to June 1942) (14 documents).  Part Two (July 1942-August 1944) (16 documents) detail elements of the French counter-attack that (with the aid of the Allies) eventually ousted the Germans from French soil.

• Table of Contents

• Sample page of detail

• Sample signed page

This is an invaluable reference if you are a historian of the French participation in World War II.  This document is incredibly rare, and very likely unique, given the profusely signed and dedicated content.

The condition is near very good, as shown.  This book is a little fragile, it requires some moderate care in handling due to the use of high-acid content post-war paper.  There is some uniform browning throughout, however the pages are still flexible.  There is some wear to the covers at the edges and corners.  There is a hand stamp at the upper left reading "Le General Georges Malraison Chef de la Mission Militaire Francais de Liaison pres le Commandant en Chef des Forces Sovietques(? not clear) en Allemande"  There is very old cellophane tape around the page with the dedication.

It measures 8-1/4 x 11-1/2 inches.