This (9cm diamater) appears to be composed of two elements, the backing plate being the star of the Prussian Guard, but the central crown being more like the ducal crown of Hesse, which one finds on Hessian belt buckles in brass and anodised steel. My guess is that this is an extempore piece made in WW1 for Hessian Garde Jaeger battalions.

The Electors of the Holy Roman Empire elected the Emperor on the death of the previous incumbent. At its height, there were about 60 Electoral princes and bishops within the Empire, all of whom had the right to vote in the imperial election, but, by the end of the 19th century, it had become a formality with only heraldic significance.

This could be a side cap badge or an officer's collar insignia off the full dress parade tunic of the pre-1914 era. My guess is that the two badges were identical and that the tunic badge was simply used on the side cap.

Marked: 'Frostschutsssalbe // Wehrkreissanitarspack VI // Osnabruck // SS-Packung', also with 'Leere Tuben sammeln' ('collect the empty tubes' - the original recyclers!), this stuff was used to protect the lips and nose from the cold and possibly, in extreme conditions, the feet and hands. It would have been most useful on the Russian Front.

These buttons (each just under 1.5cm) are single-piece officer buttons as on the bum freezer uniform jacket worn by this elite unit. They are made of gilt brass, have the king's crown, and are maker marked Firmin & Sons on the reverse. They are in good condition and have all their original gilt finish.

These are typical of the first half of the 19th century, when epaulettes still had a practical function of defending the shoulder from a sabre blow. One button remains, marked 'Blandford Troop YC', one of the DY troops of this period.

This is a nice example of the king's crown petty officer's badge worn by the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Air Service in the early years of the 20th century, indeed technically right up to the introduction of the queen's crown badge in 1953.

These are slightly unusual trench art products, inasmuch as they appear to be made from sheet brass, possibly cut from a shell case, but the unusual decorative feature is the centrepiece which in each case is the central device from a Prussian waist buckle, one with a deep crown and one with a shallow one.

This is Napoleon III's medal for the 1859 campaign, mostly fought in northern Italy against Austrian troops. On the reverse is 'Campagne d'Italie' with the names of six battles, including Magenta and Solferino, perhaps the most famous one. The artist's signature is below the emperor's bust, which is surrounded by the logo 'Napoleon III empereur'.

In 1881 the 87th Prince of Wales Own Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 89th (the Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot were amalgamated to form the RIF. The eagle commemorates the capture of the eagle of the 8th French Regiment by the 87th at the battle of Barrosa in 1811.