The following military badges were studied by Wolfgang Bertsch for his pioneering publication ‘Tibetan Army Badges’ in The Tibet Journal, Vol.XXVI No.1, Spring 2001, pp.35-72. The army was divided into regiments, identified by a letter, of up to 1,000 men in each. The regiments were divided into ‘ru’ of 250 men, and then into ten ‘lding’ of 25 men each. Each soldier of some of the regiments seems to have had two badges, one cross shaped and one ‘angular’ shaped. The cross-shaped badges seem to be modelled on a European prototype, such as the Victoria Cross, but these badges were not awarded for valour.
Military Badge: Ordinary cross-shaped brass badges (3): ‘Ga’ Regiment 1, ‘Ru’ 1, ‘lding’ 2, No.27; ‘Ga’ Regiment 1, ‘Ru’ 2, ‘lding’ 7, No.408; ; ‘Ga’ Regiment 1, ‘Ru’ 3, ‘lding’ 10 (Bertsch 1). All very fine, rare.
(3pcs)
Estimate: US$100-150