Ethiopia bullion Master Parachutist, Type 2 (black),old

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This is an old but excellent condition Imperial Ethiopian thick bullion Master Parachutist badge worn by active duty airborne officers (black background/Type 2). In 1968, a senior military officer in Ethiopia advised me that "some officers have had wings embroidered in gold to wear on their dress uniform, but this is not authorized by the Armed Forces." They were however tolerated for wear. At that time, t were 3 classes of parachutist wings in gold bullion with red background worn by officers in the active airborne unit; 3 classes of parachutist wings in gold bullion with black background worn interchangeably with the red background by officers in the active airborne unit (perhaps on a different uniform?); and 3 classes of parachutist wings in gold bullion with a green background for officers in Special Forces. I have just received updated information (30 June) from an advanced collector indicating that the black background was for officers who were airborne qualified but not assigned to an airborne unit. These badges were painstakingly hand-embroidered by one man in a tailor shop, which is the reason why it took so long to have one made. The stitching of this badge is covered on the reverse with a black leather backing. This badge was part of an old collection that I bought many years ago. I have no other provenance for it, so please consider that when bidding. I believe this badge became obsolete many years ago. IF I SHOULD SUDDENLY not answer your emails, or not put items into my usual Sunday auctions or not send Ebay Invoices for items that you have just won, or all of the above, please be patient. It means that I have had a small emergency. I will answer your emails, put items into my Sunday auctions and send you Invoices as soon as I return. Don't worry about paying for items that you have won until you get an Invoice. Your items have been reserved for you. For reasons known only to God and Ebay , unless I schedule my items ahead of time, Ebay doesn't seem to be able to put all of my 15 items under my Milbadge User ID for 6 - 8 hours after I put them on beginning at 0745 PST (0745 Arizona time) every Sunday morning. They are t - you just can't see them for 6 - 8 hours. If you don't see them beginning at 0745 PST on Sunday morning, please look again in 6 - 8 hours for all 15 items. ONE SUNDAY, IT TOOK 28 HOURS BEFORE EBAY PUT THE LAST 13 OF MY ITEMS UNDER MY USER ID. Payment may be made with a US$ personal check, US$ money order or US$ in cash (your risk). For my overseas collector bidders ( OVERSEAS COLLECTORS ONLY, PLEASE ) I will also accept PayPal if the buyer agrees to pay all PayPal fees. I believe the PayPal fees are somewhat the same as the old BidPay. If you are paying with US dollars, those fees are 2.9% of the winning bid price with shipping + .30. If you are paying with any currency other than US dollars, PayPal also charges a 2.5% exchange fee to convert to US dollars. If you wish to pay with PayPal, let me know your location and if you will be paying PayPal with your currency or US dollars. I will then let you know what your total payment should be with PayPal fees. PLEASE DO NOT SEND A PAYMENT BY PAYPAL UNTIL I LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE CORRECT TOTAL PAYMENT SHOULD BE. If this method is too expensive for you, please use one of the other payment methods that I have listed. NO WESTERN UNION PAYMENTS, PLEASE - It will cost you a lot more than PayPal and I have to travel several miles to find a Western Union office. US Postal Rates went up on 14 May 2007. The new rates are still based on weight but now also size. I will continue to send all metal items and certain thick bullion items in padded envelopes to protect them. Current shipping anyw in the US is $1.70 by uninsured mail. Optional insurance (available in the US only) is $1.65 additional up to $50, $2.05 additional up to $100, $2.45 additional up to $200, $4.60 additional up to $300, $5.50 additional up to $400, $6.40 additional up to $500, $7.30 additional up to $600, and $7.30 + .90 additional for each $100 over $600 ... read more

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