Imperial EK ribbon question.

Greetings all

I have a question regarding 1914 and 1870 EK 2 ribbons. Is there any difference between these? Would you be able to tell the difference between a 1870 EK fitted with a ’14 ribbon? Did the process change at all-even from the original 1813 EK ribbon manufacture? Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.



Dez

anybody?


Dez

As long as the ribbon is silk, nothing particularly to tell them apart. I can't speak about 1813 EKs, or 1870s much, but I'd think the silk would simply be much more fragile and likely to fall apart on a really old one. A minty-fresh unissued silk EK ribbon on a battered old dingy 1870 would be obviously "replaced," but how much that would affect VALUE, say, only the "pre-1900" guys can tell you.

Certainly, a non-silk modern replica ribbon is going to decrease value.

[George Stimson]

I've seen ribbons on 1914 EK 2s that were so worn that they looked like they could have been on an 1813.

George

Thanks Gentlemen, Your comments have been helpful. I was just curious as I’ve been offered a 1870 EK2, the ribbon is old, it just feels like an 1914 style ribbon, very fragile and loose threads.


Dez

[stogieman]

.... The ribbons I have seen from 1820-1870 pieces were usually woven cotton and very soft from age. The white seems to tend to the cream/yellow side of the white spectrum. I've handled only one, original, 1813 ribbon and it was again, woven cotton. I once purchased an original document group from the war of 1813 that included the award document for the 1813 EK2. Very impressive, almost entirely hand written in gothic script. The paper had a very high fiber content to it. The family had glued each document to a piece of linen. No awards were with the group, but each of the award documents had a long strip of original ribbon glued to the right side of each document! It was very neatly done and very neat to see. The group was sold (and found) in California. From me, it went back to Germany where it resides in a private collection. Documents included various 1840-1860 war medals. It also included the invitation, menu and program from a banquet held in honor of the veterans at the Hohenzollern Castle, given by the Kaiser & Kaiserine!