What is a good source for information about Imperial Medals?

[Sgt Stavka]

I was wondering if anyone knew any good books about Imperial Russian medals. I would like to add a few of these to my collection, but don't know enough about them to avoid a Tsarist version of the "104% genuine KGB/Cosmonaut/Spetsnaz medal" that I see on the internet :)

[CtahhR]

Imperial Russian awards are faked just as much if not even more than Third Reich awards so the market is completely swamped with fakes. Finding the real deal can be impossible sometimes.

Unfortunately due to the nature of the vast number of Russian awards and their variations there is no absolutely definitive reference.

There are so many fantasy stories out there that purchasing only from the very finest of sources will usually end in heartbreak. Even the most common of commemorative awards will have more fake than real out there and always someone ready to take your money.