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Emin Relief Expedition Star 1887-9

Emin Pasha Relief Expedition Star 1887-9, issued by the Royal Geographic Society, hallmarked Birmingham 1899, extremely rare.

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SKU: J6378 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Description

Emin Pasha Relief Expedition Star 1887-9, hallmarked Birmingham 1899, unnamed as issued, top ring suspension slightly bent forwards.

 

An extremely rare and interesting medal, instituted by the Royal Geographical Society and only awarded in small numbers to the members of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition led by Henry Morton Stanley, the epic and ill-fated expedition, it lost many of its members to disease, hunger and even hostile Pygmy tribes deep in the African Jungle, who fired upon them with poison darts, even having to trade their equipment with local Arab tribes for food.

 

Henry Morton Stanley was the same man who had found Dr David Livingstone in 1871, he embarked on a grand trek from the Atlantic coast of the Congo Free State, to Zanzibar, picking up Emin Pasha (Eduard Schnitzer) along the way, which in it self was not easy, Stanley had reached Emin during 1888, leading to a year spent in argument and indecision, during which time Emin and Arthur Jephson (an explorer with the party) had been imprisoned at Dufile by troops who mutinied from August to November 1888.

 

The epic expedition was a success, retrieving Emin Pasha, and arriving home to thunderous applause, it was one of the last major expeditions exploring Africa, leading a many books and articles being published, Stanley and his officers received numerous awards, being granted honorary degrees and speaking engagements. He arrived back in May 1890, by June he published his book and had already sold 150,000 copies.

 

Unfortunately for Emin Pasha only a few years later he was approached by assassins, who enquired if he could speak Arabic. On receiving an affirmative reply they handed him their warrant instructing them to cut this throat, which they duly did.

 

Only approximately 200 medals were struck, made by Carrington and Co, at least 175 of which were sent to their intended recipients who were native bearers in Africa, Nine of which were issued name to Native Chiefs who were present.