19th Hussars (The Elephant Family).

[1stTankie]

Hi Alan

Simply amazing! What a stunning badge.

Can you tell us anything about the provenance please?

Best wishes

Gordon

[mooke07]

Hi Alan,

Fantastic badge and wonderful to see it. Sets a high benchmark.

For interest I post a cast silver example of the same badge with four long lugs plus a white metal example with two shorter lugs.

I am happy with both despite having had my emotions roller coasted when I joined the forum and read the voluminious threads on this badge and authenticity. I have seen the good copies and the very bad.

I worried for a long time about the cast silver having the tail not having a long gap from the body but I sleep at night still! Let us see how I fair tonight upon posting these to my more learned colleagues.

Again I post these as a comparision but they are short of yours in wow factor.

Again thanks for sharing, Dean.

[alan g]

Gordon,
With regards to the provenance all i know is that the gentleman took it to the auctioneers to see if it was worth anything !! if not he was going to make it in to a brooch for his wife, i am trying to find out more but it would appear he did not know the history or rareity of what he had
regards

Alan

[1stTankie]

Hi Alan

Just amazing, it gets better and better!

What are the chances of something like this happening? You couldn't invent a story like this.

Many thanks. If they come back with a point of contact please let us know the outcome.

Best wishes

Gordon

[Peter Brydon]

Interestingly , and not surprisingly, in the lastest MHS Bulletin recieved today ,the Wallis and Wallis advert on the inside back cover features the badge which is described as "The rarest cap badge in the British Army "

P.B.

[alan g]

P.B. Quite rare yes but not sure about the rarest, i am trying to find out how many were made by bent and parker, but assuming from what people say that there are only about ten or so genuine double scroll o/r badges then there probably wouldnt be many officers badges around. Hopefully some info will come to light, interestingly i have a HM 1889 19th arm badge by smith and wright i wonder if they could have made a cap badge as well ?

[Alan O]

I am intrigued as to why these are so rare. The previous version seems a lot more common yet has a shorter period of wear given to it.

[alan g]

Alan, I thought the double scroll badge was only worn for a short period, like a sort of trial badge

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by Alan O

I am intrigued as to why these are so rare. The previous version seems a lot more common yet has a shorter period of wear given to it.

The story I've heard is that they were all dumped in India prior to the regiments' return to Britain. I suppose a few slipped through but HM officers' badges would have had an expected life span so I'd have thought there are probably as many if not more around than there are OR's.

[GriffMJ]

Having seen the two (jaw dropping) solid silver badges on this post....... was there a more "economic" version, just an ordinary die stamped silver (I see Mooke has shown a white metal)?

[mooke07]

Hi all,

Yes another elephant but this time from the Australian jungle! K&K 798.

I think this one obeys the three T's that Andy has eloquently described:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=961

Cheers Dean.

[kevin1947]

hi what are thoughts on this belt & epaulettes hallmarked silver etc a valuation would also help

[wright241]

Originally Posted by kevin1947

hi what are thoughts on this belt & epaulettes hallmarked silver etc a valuation would also help

They all look very nice and genuine to me and I am sure a serious
19H collector may offer you a price for them.
Leading question: do you want a valuation for the purposes of selling
or for insurance? Maybe its me, but personally and in my opinion, I didn't
realise that valuations were part of what this forum was all about....
I would suggest you send some pics to a Militaria auction house or a
dealer who specialises in this type of militaria - they may give you an idea.
If you put them on ebay I am sure they will find their value without
incurring auction hose fees etc.
David

[GriffMJ]

Epaulettes are the Lancashire Hussars (Yeomanry) circa 1850 - Officers.

[1stTankie]

Hi Kevin

The scrolls are in the wrong order; the top one should be "Assaye" that to be followed by the elephant and that to have the scroll "Niagara" under it. The second elephant is superfluous, only one was worn.

Best wishes

Gordon