02-19-2003, 11:31 AM
I'm sorry to have brought such a mess! Tal, I do my best to find data about this, but the catalogue must have been done only on paper, very lucky if itself has a photo...I'll try to get the name of the expert auctioneer, first by my friend. But I believe these infos reliable. French market is by far different, not inferior; we admit for example German houses are more expert about soviet union.
For the reputation of Koenig, see this:
Grand Cross of the legion of honour
Compagnon de la Libération (1038 ones! the most prestigious of the country)
numerous military french medals (...)
• Médaille Militaire
• Croix de Guerre 14/18 (2 citations)
• Croix de Guerre 39/45 (4 citations)
• Médaille de la Résistance avec rosette
• Distinguished Service Order (GB) !!
• Compagnon of the Order of the Bath (UK) !!
• Commandeur of the Legion of Merit (USA) !!
• Gold Medal of the Congress (USA) !!
• Souvorov order 1st class (USSR) !!
• Grand Cross Magistrale of the order of Malta
• Grand Officer of the order of Léopold (Belgium)
• Grand Cross of the crown (Belgium)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Orange Nassau (Nederlands)
• Grand Cross of the royal order of Danebrog (Danemark)
• Grand Cross of Saint Olaf (Norvège)
• Virtuti Militari (Poland)
• Order of white lion for victory (CSSR)
• Grand Cross of Georges 1er (Greece)
• Grand Cross of Oak crown (Luxemburg)
• Grand Cross of Saint Charles (Monaco)
• Grand Cross of the white elephant (Thaïland)
I didn't put other grand cross belonging to the former colonial empire.
As you can see I don't think the credibility of the auctioneer can be doubted. About authentication? from the family of a marshal? and we had not a lot of marshals...Would you ask to authenticate the victory order of the Eisenhower library? (american director will kick you like his french colleague!). I was told there were the documents with the pieces. I think they certainly sold many others souvenirs like papers.
Your remark about price estimation not done is interesting, Tal. As a (poor) explanation, I remark our Suvorov is lost amongst very numerous and prestigious orders...
I won't tell any more due to lack of infos, and I think even fellow collectors can miss a rare piece... but please don't believe I get fun to get into this forum for spreading fools infos!
I found the info and the explanation.
The auction was held on sunday feb 9 and organized by the étude Orsenat.
The report says the estimations exploded, multiplied by 5 or ten. Notably there were Russians, English, Americans and Belgians. The themes: militaria, books.
The order of Liberation, estimated 250 euros!! (Tal you're partly right about the estimation...they're mad) sold at 4300, it is retained by the State (normal it is high french history, Bir Hakeim...we had not a lot of great victories in this war....).
The suvorov has been retained by the State, so it can explain perhaps why the bids didn't grow further. The price is well 6000 euros. It was estimated between 300-400 euros (!!!!). Its estimations was pulverised. It has been sold with the nomination letter to the rank of colonel general (corps d'armee) in date of april 8, 1946, and with the order booklet and its statutes.(follows a curious description of its ribbon...soviet is REALLY exotic for them).
They sold Koenig's bamboo stick (a bit like Montgomery's one), start 550 euros, with 42 decorations and photos: final 3100 euros.
5500 euros for a letter from general de Gaulle for the Koenig's widow, hand-signed by De Gaulle president de la République.
The DSO (UK) and box sold at 5800 euros, the Legion of Merit Commander, USA, in gold, bronze, enamel and ribbon, with box and citation of President Roosevelt: 4 800 euros.
A 1944 photo album from the general staff of koenig: 2600 euros.
And compare: 8 100 euros for a desk in rose wood style Louis XV, XIXth ...
That's all folks! more seriously you can taste of this style of auction; they're very numerous and highly costly pieces.
hope having been helpful
For the reputation of Koenig, see this:
Grand Cross of the legion of honour
Compagnon de la Libération (1038 ones! the most prestigious of the country)
numerous military french medals (...)
• Médaille Militaire
• Croix de Guerre 14/18 (2 citations)
• Croix de Guerre 39/45 (4 citations)
• Médaille de la Résistance avec rosette
• Distinguished Service Order (GB) !!
• Compagnon of the Order of the Bath (UK) !!
• Commandeur of the Legion of Merit (USA) !!
• Gold Medal of the Congress (USA) !!
• Souvorov order 1st class (USSR) !!
• Grand Cross Magistrale of the order of Malta
• Grand Officer of the order of Léopold (Belgium)
• Grand Cross of the crown (Belgium)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Orange Nassau (Nederlands)
• Grand Cross of the royal order of Danebrog (Danemark)
• Grand Cross of Saint Olaf (Norvège)
• Virtuti Militari (Poland)
• Order of white lion for victory (CSSR)
• Grand Cross of Georges 1er (Greece)
• Grand Cross of Oak crown (Luxemburg)
• Grand Cross of Saint Charles (Monaco)
• Grand Cross of the white elephant (Thaïland)
I didn't put other grand cross belonging to the former colonial empire.
As you can see I don't think the credibility of the auctioneer can be doubted. About authentication? from the family of a marshal? and we had not a lot of marshals...Would you ask to authenticate the victory order of the Eisenhower library? (american director will kick you like his french colleague!). I was told there were the documents with the pieces. I think they certainly sold many others souvenirs like papers.
Your remark about price estimation not done is interesting, Tal. As a (poor) explanation, I remark our Suvorov is lost amongst very numerous and prestigious orders...
I won't tell any more due to lack of infos, and I think even fellow collectors can miss a rare piece... but please don't believe I get fun to get into this forum for spreading fools infos!
I found the info and the explanation.
The auction was held on sunday feb 9 and organized by the étude Orsenat.
The report says the estimations exploded, multiplied by 5 or ten. Notably there were Russians, English, Americans and Belgians. The themes: militaria, books.
The order of Liberation, estimated 250 euros!! (Tal you're partly right about the estimation...they're mad) sold at 4300, it is retained by the State (normal it is high french history, Bir Hakeim...we had not a lot of great victories in this war....).
The suvorov has been retained by the State, so it can explain perhaps why the bids didn't grow further. The price is well 6000 euros. It was estimated between 300-400 euros (!!!!). Its estimations was pulverised. It has been sold with the nomination letter to the rank of colonel general (corps d'armee) in date of april 8, 1946, and with the order booklet and its statutes.(follows a curious description of its ribbon...soviet is REALLY exotic for them).
They sold Koenig's bamboo stick (a bit like Montgomery's one), start 550 euros, with 42 decorations and photos: final 3100 euros.
5500 euros for a letter from general de Gaulle for the Koenig's widow, hand-signed by De Gaulle president de la République.
The DSO (UK) and box sold at 5800 euros, the Legion of Merit Commander, USA, in gold, bronze, enamel and ribbon, with box and citation of President Roosevelt: 4 800 euros.
A 1944 photo album from the general staff of koenig: 2600 euros.
And compare: 8 100 euros for a desk in rose wood style Louis XV, XIXth ...
That's all folks! more seriously you can taste of this style of auction; they're very numerous and highly costly pieces.
hope having been helpful
Sebastien
"a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism"
(a well-known german bearbed)
"a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism"
(a well-known german bearbed)
