Auction Catalogue

30 June 1998

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Arts Club  40 Dover St  London  W1S 4NP

Lot

№ 348

.

30 June 1998

Estimate: £2,500–£3,000

A fine group of decorations conferred on Thomas Norman Manners, Commissioner of Posts in China

China, Republic, Order of the Striped Tiger, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, two silver stars on upper arm, central medallion a little chipped and cracked, contained in its black lacquer case of issue with rosette; Order of the Golden Grain (Excellent Crop), 4th class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, enamel chipped on obverse centre, with neck cravat and rosette in its fitted case of issue; Order of the Golden Grain (Excellent Crop), 6th class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with rosette in its fitted case of issue; Order of the Golden Grain (Excellent Crop), 7th class breast badge, silver and enamels, with rosette in its black lacquer case of issue; Red Cross Medal, silver-gilt and enamel; War Lord Medal, unidentified gilt badge with central portrait; Laos, Royal Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, together with another similar badge, this with enamel damage, both contained in fitted cases of issue, unless otherwise described, generally good very fine (8) £2500-3000

The lot is accompanied by seven illuminated award scrolls relating to the above Orders, all in their original tubes; three Warrants granting permission to wear the Order of the Excellent Crop 4th class (February 1921), 6th class (March 1916), and 7th class (July 1914), all personally signed by king George V; two letters from the Vice-Consul at Longtcheou & Nanning relating to the Royal Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, dated August and September 1919; Certificate of Registration from the British Consulate at Canton to T. H. Manners for the year 1916, with attached photograph; and eight photographs, mostly featuring Manning in China, two of which are inscribed on the reverse ‘Photo taken in Emperor’s Palace by Baron Mannerheim, May 1908.’

Thomas Norman Manners was Acting Deputy Postal Commissioner, Chinese Post Office, Canton, during the Great War, and later Commissioner of Chinese Posts at Longtcheou and Nanning, Laos.