Netherlands. A Civilian Star For Loyalty And Merit, Bronze Star

Netherlands; Four-piece construction, bronze with blue enamels, unmarked, 50.5 mm (w) x 56.8 mm (h) inclusive of its ball suspension, original ribbon with safety pin attachment, green oxidation evident on bronze base on the obverse, chipping evident in the blue enamels on the reverse, very fine.

Footnote: The Star for Loyalty and Merit was a civilian award established on January 1, 1894 by Governor-General Carel Herman Aart van der Wijck of the Dutch East Indies. The star replaced the old Medal for Civil Merit, which had limited prestige and status according to the Netherlands government. The star was awarded in gold to "significant and meritorious" natives, and in silver to village chiefs and leaders of the "Eastern foreigner" (i.e. Chinese) communities. Dutch (Europeans) were not eligible to receive the star. The star was considered the colonial equivalent of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (or at least the "Brother" grade associated with the Order), as well as the medals and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The star ceased to be awarded after 1949. The Star for Loyalty and Merit originally had four grades: Great Gold Star, Small Gold Star, Silver Star and Bronze Star. On January 4, 1924, Governor-General Dirk Fock created a fifth grade, the Great Silver Star, ranked immediately after the Small Gold Star. The old Silver Star was renamed the Small Silver Star thereafter.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.