1870 EKII with 25 Year Oaks Your Thoughts!

[Hagar]

Hi guys,
I need some expert opinions on
1) the cross which I think is good!
2) opinions on the 25 year oaks
3) opinions on the ribbon

I wish to purchase this piece

appreciate your help
regards Peter


http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleIma...v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleIma...v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleIma...v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleIma...v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleIma...v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D

[Erik Mott]

I'm no expert . . . but I sure like it! I think it's good because I've never seen such a worn non combatant and never with a 25 oak leaves. You'd think the fakers would put the efforts in the black ribbon combatant award.

Again Im just guessing, but something tells me its good.

Let's see what others say.

Anybody know where Mr. Rick is? Either one would know.

There are others here that would also know . . . . let's see what they say!

Erik

[regular122]

Erik,

I wouldn't constitute my opinions as expert but a few observations.

First, I like the cross and the shape of the crown.

Second, the decomposition of the ribbon is hard to reproduce, making it an older example.

The only thing that catches my eye is the placement of the oaks. They typically were worn lower, near the ring. Many were designed to be worn on the ring itself as an attached loop device. This set of oaks seems to be in the middle of the ribbon. That is still possible. Just don't see it much. If the oaks though were placed there orginally, it seems that with the wear of the ribbon, there ought to be signs of metal aging on the ribbon where the oaks have been for some time.

Those are my thoughts. It still looks like a decent cross unless there are some astounding fakes that match the crown, etc. If that is the case, I also defer to the experts as I do not own one of these. Steve

[gregM]

Erik,
We don't see you in Imperial very often

The ribbon worries me a little. It is definatly not the typical starched,
bright white new repo. But I have not seen many ribbons come apart
like that. Could it be a new ribbon that has been aged in a cup of
coffee or tea ? I'm not sure.

The cross is good and the Oaks are good

[Tim Tezer]

I've seen a lot of old ribbons come apart like that. I have a WW1 group that had been removed from its mounting at some point, and every single ribbon was falling to pieces just like this. So the ribbon is certainly old, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's original. No way to tell that for certain.

Other than that, the cross is a very nice early piece, and the oakleaves look perfectly good.

Tim