The Grand Cordon Of The Order Of The Rising Sun With Pawlonia Flowers Awarded To Ribb

[W. C. Stump]

Here is another of the Grand Cross sets awarded to J. von Ribbentrop while he served as the Foreign Minister of the Third Reich. This award was made to foreigners for high merit and only a few such awards, less than 150, have been awarded to foreign recipients. Both Generals John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur received these awards. Fewer than 300 have been awarded to Japanese. This is the first time that a photograph of this award has been made available to the public. When I sold it back in 1969, it went to the fantastic collection of Warren S. Sessler and now is back in Japan in private hands.

[Ken Jasper]

Wonderful, wish it was in color.

[W. C. Stump]

BREAST STAR TO THE ORDER

This is the Breast Star to the order. Note the damage to the center cabochon. This was the only order damaged and it is not known if it was damaged when in the care of Ribbentrop or the "liberator", Col. Howard Goldsmith. It was that way when I acquired it from Col. Atwood.

[W. C. Stump]

STAR

Another try for the star.

[W. C. Stump]

STAR

Third try.

[W. C. Stump]

No color photograph for this one.

Here is the Hillbilly in 1969 with all the Ribbentrop medals spread out on the dining room table.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Wow!

[hawksy]

Mr Stump, You have been so lucky in the fact that you have owned these decorations, having them in your home spread out on the table in front of you, i doubt if i will even get to see them in a glass case in a museum.

Please keep on posting,


lee.

[W. C. Stump]

LAST OWNER OF THE RIBBENTROP COLLECTION

The photo of the Ribbentrop collection on my table was the last time the entire collection was ever assembled. It was impossible for me to keep the collection intact at that time. It would have been one heck of a museum collection, but it just wasn't meant to be. It was a brief honor to have owned these pieces of history. Like the Third Reich, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and the collection of medals, It is now part of history.

[Dez H]

That is some collection, I think von Ribbentrop would have rivalled Goring in his collection of medals. Thank you for sharing these pictures Mr Stump. I remember reading your story surrounding the Ribbentrop collection over on the German Daggers forum and it was brilliant. Thanks once again.


Regards

Dez

P.S. Is that a German Eagle Order down in the bottom left hand corner?

[hawksy]

I understand you were going to write a book on the third reich medals/ decorations, i hope you don't mind me asking, but why did the book never get published, with the vast amount of knowledge and what you had in your personal possession, i reckon it would of been one hell of a reference book.

lee.

[W. C. Stump]

ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE

"Is that a German Eagle Order down in the bottom left hand corner?"

YES IT WAS THE SPECIAL GRAND CROSS IN GOLD. HERE IT IS IN CLOSE UP WITH HIS SASH AND OFFICE DOOR PLATE.

[W. C. Stump]

STAR CLOSE UP

Here is Ribbentrop's Breast Star close up obverse.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Door plate AND cap badge

That guy was way more thorough than Bill Clinton.


Fantastic photos of a time that can NEVER be replicated. Thanks very much for sharing !

[W. C. Stump]

STAR REVERSE

Here is the reverse of the star.