Help needed to I.D Regimental Cipher

[nzef1940]

Greetings all I have just recieved this item, the auction description is detailed below, I am hoping someone may be able to help identify the regiment from the pictures attached?

Many thanks in advance

'I have been doing some homework on this silver tray and found a very similar one on an internet site in the USA specialising in Pre World War One artifacts. They had an almost identical tray as this. This tray is described as being a Regimental Cipher and was probably a gift from the officers who served or to an officer who was about to retire or be transferred. In the centre is an intertwined set of letters (RSP?) under a Prussian Crown with the dates 17.5.1910 - 24.9.1913. Surrounding it are 6 different signatures engraved into it. On back and on one side of the tray is the name of the manufacturer ' A. SCHLAMANN. In the centre of the tray is embossed the number 16737 and beside it a logo that ressembles a wine chalice and the 800 silver content identification plus the half moon and crown. '

[nzef1940]

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[nzef1940]

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[nzef1940]

I have since cleaned the tray manually and all the surface scratches have gone, its a beauty!

[nzef1940]

Anyone?

[Chip M]

NZEF,

I believe it represents the recipient's initials. I say this because it is not an official regimental cypher and there is no unit number in the design. These abbredviations are often used on the covers of regimental histories and such, but they always have a unit number incorporated into the design.

Chip

[Claudius]

Hello nzef1940;

I also believe it represents the recipient's initials. It is not a known Imp. German regimental cypher.

The tray is likely a going away gift from the six men who signed it. Military? Possibly, but hard to be sure without some other sign/symbols. The unit number would been included on the tray. Could be political or bureaucratic.

Can we see photos of the wine chalice, 800 silver content, half moon and crown?

[nzef1940]

Thanks Guys

However as the Initals "RSP" are directly below a Prussian crown I doubt the theory unless 'RSP' had some very high status, also If non military i.e political or bureaucratic I would expect some designation as to what.

An alternative theory could be "RSP" gave a tray to each of the six signatories who did him some service over the period engarved?

My gut feel is still military.

Its a tricky one but interesting.

Hello nzef1940;

I also believe it represents the recipient's initials. It is not a known Imp. German regimental cypher.

The tray is likely a going away gift from the six men who signed it. Military? Possibly, but hard to be sure without some other sign/symbols. The unit number would been included on the tray. Could be political or bureaucratic.

Can we see photos of the wine chalice, 800 silver content, half moon and crown?

[Claudius]

I forgot to mention. It's not a prussian crown. The prussian crown has a different look it. It doesn't look Bavarian or Saxony so its one of the smaller states that made up the Empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De...one_(1889).png

Try matching up the crown motif with the state. That would be great if you could say without much doubt what state it was from.

[nzef1940]

I think your crown is the Kaisers 'Hohenzollen' crown? new pics added with plate next to an Imperial Bavarian Regimental stein, note the crown on the stein is simalar to the plate.

cheers

I forgot to mention. It's not a prussian crown. The prussian crown has a different look it. It doesn't look Bavarian or Saxony so its one of the smaller states that made up the Empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De...one_(1889).png

Try matching up the crown motif with the state. That would be great if you could say without much doubt what state it was from.

[nzef1940]

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[nzef1940]

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[nzef1940]

Hallmarks

[teckman]

I have an idea, if not an answer. The dates indicate roughly a three year period ending in late September. Reserve soldier's training ended on the first of October, and cavalry units trained for three years. A Guard Cuirassier stein in Harrell's book Regimental Steins appears to have the same cypher on it. Harrell refers to it as the stein owner's initials. The tray and the stein probably don't belong to the same individual, because the stein is dated 1900 - 1903. This seems to be some type of cypher. If you are interested, the picture is number 124, and can be found on page 132.