1905 St Olav Commander Star

The German Admiral Hermann Jacobsen was awarded the St Olav Commander in 1905. The Commander Star was still the same type as used since 1882. The hallmark states Kristiania.

The crowns of the Os are open.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/hermann-historica-ohg/catalogue-id-srher10004/lot-fd23ff89-1f22-4493-9526-a46e00965145

Admiral Hermann Jacobsen (born on April 23, 1859, in Rendsburg; passed away on November 14, 1943, in Darmstadt) was a distinguished German naval officer. His career spanned significant roles within the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) and included notable achievements:

Early Career:
- After completing his elementary education, Jacobsen joined the Imperial German Navy in 1875.
- He underwent basic maritime training at the Marineschule Murwik from October 1875 to April 1876.
- Following a period of service at sea, he returned to the Marineschule and completed his training in April 1880.

Assignments and Duties:
- Jacobsen served as an adjutant in the Marineinspektion fur die Schiffsartillerie (Marine Inspection for Naval Artillery) from 1891.
- He later took on various roles within the Oberkommando der Marine (High Command of the Navy).
- In 1899, he traveled to San Francisco for an overseas assignment.
- Upon his return to Germany in 1900, Jacobsen assumed the position of Director of the Nachrichtenburo (News Bureau) at the Reichsmarineamt (Imperial Naval Office) in Berlin.

Role at the Nachrichtenburo:
- As Director, Jacobsen led the Nachrichtenburo, which aimed to promote intense propaganda efforts in support of the Imperial Navy.
-The bureau focused on disseminating information related to the navy through briefs, bulletins, and summaries to newspapers, journalists, and company press offices.
- During his tenure, the Nachrichtenburo also began publishing its own maritime literature, including the journal “Nauticus – Jahrbuch fur Deutschlands Seeinteressen”.
Admiral Hermann Jacobsen’s contributions left a lasting impact on naval communication and public perception of the German Navy during a critical period

1906 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1906-1924 model

Jeweller.: Tostrup .Period...: 1882-1992 Owner....: Collection Cicoia Awarded:

Height (mm): 76 Width (mm).: 76 Weight (gr)..: 55 Tracking #...: N046

This is the 1906 - 1924 model. The hallmark still states Kristiania.

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1906 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1906-1924 model

Jeweller.: Tostrup .Period...: 1882-1992 Owner....: Awarded:

Height (mm): 77 Width (mm).: 77 Weight (gr)..: 55 ca. Tracking #...: N334x

This is a 1906 - 1924 special model with different Os. This could have been privately made or a prototype. The hallmark still states Kristiania.

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1912 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1912 catalogue

Jeweller.: Chobillon catalogue .Period...: 1912 Owner....: Awarded:

Height (mm): Width (mm).: Weight (gr)..: Tracking #...: N343x

Chobillon in Paris produced orders for the whole world. When you look at this one it is much like the 1882 Tostrup one. Maybe they just copied that for the catalogue?? We do not know if they made their stars or just had it in their catalogue. Good copies can be very difficult to distinguish from the real thing. If you look at the St Olav badges they produced then the differences were significant. Like the text on the reverse said 'Ret og Sandhed' - on one Chobillon produced the last word was spelt 'Sandred' insted of 'Sandhed'. It was a significant mis-spelling. On this one I cannet see much difference from the Tostrup version.

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1912 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1912 estimated

Jeweller.: Chobillon probably .Period...: 1912 Owner....: Awarded:

Height (mm): Width (mm).: Weight (gr)..: Tracking #...: N366x

It was saud that this piece was made by Chobillon. For sure it is probably not made in Scandinavia. Firstly the central Lion does not look 'correctr'. It looks like the hair in the back is on fire. Also behind the red central enamel it has a radial pattern, here it is a circular pattern. The white and blue enamel ring around the entral Lion has the blue as the inner ring. Normally the blue is the outer ring.

The Os have open crowns.

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1925 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1925-1930 model

Jeweller.: Tostrup .Period...: 1882-1992 Owner....: Collection Cicoia Awarded:

Height (mm): 76 Width (mm).: 76 Weight (gr)..: 57 Tracking #...: N101

This is an interesting piece. Oslo changed from Kristiania to Oslo in 1925. In 1930 the small pinholes penetrating the arms of the St Olav stars disappeared. So this variant was produced for 5 years only. An estimation indicates that about 350 Commander stars were awarded during these years. As for the Grand Cross Star there were about 90 awarded during the same period. Most likely there were fewer produced that the number of the awarded ones. They do not turn up so often.

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1930 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1930-1958 model

Jeweller.: Tostrup .Period...: 1882-1992 Owner....: Collection Cicoia Awarded:

Height (mm): 76 Width (mm).: 76 Weight (gr)..: 67.8 Tracking #...: N048

In 1930 the small pinholes penetrating the arms of the St Olav stars disappeared. There is one special issue with this piece shown here. The button/halmark on the back is a lot thicker than the ones you see on the other Cammandeer and Grand Cross Stars. Why? It could just be a new batch of a little variation maybe.

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1942 St Olav Commander Star

Country........: Norway Order name.: St Olav Type/subset.: Commander Star Date..............: 1942 model

Jeweller.: Spink .Period...: 1942 Owner....: Awarded:

Height (mm): 80 Width (mm).: 80 Weight (gr)..: 65 Tracking #...: N367x

During WWII the Norwegian government had relocated to London. A need surfaced to have some St Olav orders in London. An order for some St Olav orders to be made for the government was sent to Spink on December 1st, 1942. The following orders were delivered:

Grand Cross Badge and Star
12 sets - 4 known in private collections today

Commander with Star Class 1
17 sets - 2 in private collections today

Commander Class 1 was this Commander Star and the same badge as the Grand Cross badge which is normal in Norway.

Commander Class 2
31 sets - 3 in private collections today

The Commander Class 2 is smaller than the combined Grand Cross badge/Commander badge. It is the only Commander badge made ever in Norway of the St Olav order. And as such only 3 of these made by Spink are known. It is the only 3 Commander badges made purely as Commander badges in Norway. Pretty rare items!

Knight Class 1
52 sets - 4 in private collections today

Knight Class 2
6 sets - 2 in private collection today

Military versions: Officially Military badges with swords were not delivered. Later a Knight 1 with sword has surfaced and is being considered as a prototype from the reference stock at Tostrup in Oslo.

The Commander Class 2 was smaller than the combined Grand Cross badge / Commander badge. It is the only Commander badge made ever in Norway of the St Olav order.

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