Collecting is an interesting and exciting hobby. However, it can be frustrating without the necessary information.

When I started out – about 25 years ago – collecting German orders, decorations and medals, I had little – actually, absolutely no – knowledge about this complex topic. Needless to say, the first 15 pieces, bought from hard earned money, all turned out to be fakes.

Looking back to this incident, I realize that it was a good learning experience. I should have striven for more information. Instead, I just wanted to accumulate as fast as possible all those pretty and interesting medals.

I don’t think that this should happen to anyone else, especially since there are so many different sources of information in today’s world. The number of publications, books and collectors, even organizations, is in any case quite different than it was 20 or 25 years ago. Getting the right information is much easier these days and make our hobby more enjoyable and fulfilling. Building a collection is even more fun when information is shared among collectors.

I would like to share my experience with all those who not only are accumulating their treasures, but who also are looking for the history behind orders, decorations and medals.

Have fun working your way through my Web Space and always keep in mind that I still am looking for rare orders, decorations and medals for my own collection.

Andreas M. Schulze Ising