Blue Max

[bluemax52]

Blue Max Medal

I inherited a Pour Le Merite from my grandfather and I was looking to get some feedback on how to find out if it is real or fake.What to look for in the medal.
I have heard the one thing to look for is the detail on the eagle. From what I can see the eagles wings and feet seem to look very detailed.
The story goes around 1950 my great grandfather bought a medal from a jeweler who bought some medals from the factory that closed down that made the medals for the German military. My great grandfather gave it to my grandfather who now has given it to me.

[bristol scout]

Is the enamel light blue or dark blue?
are the arms bevelled slightly, but noticeably, or are they flat?
is the suspension ring curled round 'twice' or is it solid?
If the latter ----then i think you have a replica---( don't think as early as fifties) there are some very good ones out there---but a picture would help.
Dave.

[VtwinVince]

Please post scans of the medal. For every genuine example, there are a thousand replicas floating around. You can also do some research at GMIC.co.uk, a good site for Imperial German medals.

[bluemax52]

I tried putting a picture on but im haveing trouble right now.

It is a dark blue and the ring is wrapped around twice.

[Malaula]

Hello bluemax 52,
The best book for information on the Pour le Merite (Blue Max) would be Stephen Thomas Previtera's "Prussian Blue, A History of the Order Pour le Merite" published by Winidore Press Inc. Check and see if your library has a copy or can get one from another library. Tons of illustrations of authentic examples of this order. Best regards, Dave.

_______________________

Can you feel the warrior spirits gathering around us?
They have waited for us, my friend, they have waited for the coming
together of warriors from different times and different armies.
They wait to hear our words and laughter, to see our tears and feel our pain.
It is all that remains for them . . . . . . .
to be remembered.

The Iron Men - Leonard B. Scott

[bluemax52]

I am still having problems posting the picture

If you would like to see a picture of it please e-mail me so I can send you a picture.
My e-mail is
[email protected]

What do you think would be a fare price if it was indeed fake

[bluemax52]

im sorry

my email is
[email protected]

[GMU]

It would be nice to have a picture of the actual medal on both sides. As it has been said before, there are thousands of copies out there. Some are bad copies, but some are very good, like the so called "Spanish" copies floating nowadays on Ebay.

A WWI official award would have been manufactured by Godet, Wagner or Friedlander. You can distinguish them by the workmanship and certain details on the eagles, etc.

These links will show you authentic Wagner, Friedlander and Godet PLMs

The Typology of the Pour le Mérite


The Godet made Pour le Mérite


An official award, pre 1918, is very difficult to find. They are selling over 25k nowadays, when you find one.

I hope you have a real one! Would love to see a photo.

[bristol scout]

Always wondered how they got them so wrong in the film---blue enamel---silver !!!!

Dave.

[bluemax52]