Germany, Imperial. The Decorations & Award Documents of Kanonier Johann Griesbacher

(Abzeichen und Verleihungsurkunden). A lot of decorations and award documents to Kanonier Johann Griesbacher, an artilleryman in a Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment, including:

1. A medal bar featuring four decorations, including a Bavarian Military Merit Cross, III Class with Crown and Swords, constructed of coppered bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central raised monogram of King Ludwig II, within a stylized belt and buckle bearing a raised inscription of “MERENTI” (“MERIT”), the twelve o’clock arm with a crossed sword clasp, the reverse bearing a central raised Bavarian lion rampant, within a stylized belt and buckle bearing a raised institution date of “1866”, the twelve o’clock arm with a hollow crown suspension and integral loop, unmarked, measuring 42.82 mm (w) x 63.73 mm (h), weighing 20.3 grams, with some oxidation and loss of finish evident, in overall very fine condition; a 1914 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1914”, the twelve o’clock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the twelve o’clock arm with initials “FW” topped by a royal crown, unmarked, measuring 43.68 mm (w) x 46.98 mm (h), the frame of the six o’clock arm has been bent and there is some oxidation evident, in overall very fine condition; a Bavarian Merit Decoration, III Class, constructed of silvered bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 33.20 mm in diameter, in better than very fine condition, and; a Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, on loop with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée, the obverse bearing central wreathed dates “1914-1918”, with crossed swords through the centrepiece, the reverse maker marked with the logo of L. Christian Lauer, Nürnberg, measuring 37.66 mm (w) x 41.84 mm (h), weighing 14.8 grams, in very fine condition; three of the medals are affixed to a 135 mm-long zink bar with a horizontal pinback, the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 was added later and has since separated from the bar, in overall very fine condition.

2. An award document for a 1914 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Kanonier Johann Griesbacher of 2. Batterie, Bayerische Ersatz-Feld-Artillerie Regiment, issued on 18 August 1917, measuring 215 mm (w) x 185 mm (h), with tearing, creasing, and soiling evident, in fair condition.

3. An award document for a Bavarian Military Merit Cross, III Class with Crown and Swords, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Unteroffizier Johann Griesbach, issued on 20 September 1918, measuring 212 mm (w) x 165 mm (h), with some soiling and creasint evident, in overall better than very fine condition.

4. An award document for an Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Unteroffizier Johann Griesbacher, issued in Pfarrkirchen on 22 May 1935, measuring 210 mm (w) x 147 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

5. A Militärpaß, constructed of a red paper stock binding and retaining all 20 paginated interior pages, issued to Griesbach in 1913 and featuring handwritten entries through 1919, measuring 86 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), age-appropriate material fatigue is evident and the spine has been reinforced on the exterior with tape, in overall very fine condition.

6. A pair of wartime photos, including a studio photo depicting Griesbacher in uniform with a comrade, the reverse with a handwritten name, undated, measuring 78 mm (w) x 112 mm (h), with a crease to the lower right corner, in overall near extremely fine condition, and; a small photograph taken in the field, depicting Griesbacher in uniform with three comrades, the reverse with a handwritten name, undated, measuring 82 mm (w) x 57 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.