1898 Belgian Congo Oval Gold Ticket or Pass for Congo Railway by Congo Kid

[CSJournals-migration]

Extremely rare medal in gold designed by the famous and talented Isidore de Rudder (1855 - 1943)

 

I just added this magnificent medal to my Belgian Congo Collection.

 

1898 Belgian Congo Oval Gold Ticket or Pass for Congo Railway.

COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS BY SUBJECT, Exploration and Travel, Africa, Congo Railway (Chemin de Fer du Congo), Inauguration, 1 July 1898, oval Gold Ticket or Pass, by Isidore de Rudder (Belgian 1855-1943), semi-naked female seated before locomotive, rev legend and initials within art-deco 'frame' named at base "a Mr Jones ...", 41.5mm x 23mm, 15.97g, in small blue leather case of issue by Wolfers Frères, Brussels (BDM V, 264; Swann -). A superb piece, struck with a matt surface in the Art-Deco style, extremely fine and extremely rare.

The ticket believed that presented to Alfred Jones, later (1901) Sir Alfred Lewis Jones KCMG (1845-1909), ship-owner, manager, firstly, of the African Steamship Company then (1891) a director of Elder, Dempster & Co. Around this time he had a monopoly on the Congo-Antwerp mail traffic as well as consular duties representing King Leopold's Congo State in Liverpool. He had been described as the "Uncrowned King of West Africa". The railway ran from the port of Matadi to Leopoldville -- now Kinshasa.

 

This is a very beautiful medal and a lovely addition to this collection!

 

Biography: Isidore de RUDDER

 

Isidore De Rudder is a sculptor, sculptor, painter, engraver and ceramist Belgian Art Nouveau period born in Brussels in 1855 and died in 1943 at Uccle.

De Rudder was formed at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels from 1869 to 1879 (Academy where he became professor from 1911 to 1915 and from 1919 to 1926) and in the studio of Eugène Simonis.

In 1880 he obtained the prize of the Academy of Belgium which enabled him to travel to Germany, England and France.

In 1882 he received the second prize of Rome.

He also created models for Philippe Wolfers silversmith who had been his pupil.

His workshop in the Rue de Hennin, 74 in Ixelles was transformed from the plans of his friend Paul Hankar.

His wife Helen of Menil, a native of Ypres, was an artist talented embroiderer.

 

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[Six Mile Rick]

Congrats on the new addition to your Congo Collection. A very nice piece with a great history.

 

Rick

[Scott A]

Thanks Rick! I am quite with happy with this medal. I wish that NGC would grade it, but they already said that they don't grade these at this time.

[RWB]

The design reminds me of Bela Pratt's work.

[Scott A]

So many great artists in that era!

[Scott A]

For some reason NGC would not grade this medal, but PCGS did. It came back as 1898 Medal Congo Railway Ticket BDM V-264 Matte Gold PCGS SP63. It will be safe and sound in it's new holder. Even if they did under-grade this medal by a couple of points.