BIG BARGAINS IN FOREIGN TITLES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 18 March 1911, Page 9

BIG BARGAINS IN FOREIGN TITLES

MARKET PRICES FOR WELL-KNOWN DECORATIONS. These lots for sale: Duke, £1000; earl, £750; marquess, £500; count, .€450; baron, £250; knight, £200; and a splendid assortment of orders and decorations at privcs ranging from £2O to £SOO. Although foreign countries do not thus openly advertise their readiness to do business with those who aspire to aflix a handle to their names, the fact is generally recognised that a considerable traffic in titles is carried on. It is interesting to note, however, that a great deal of the money thus acquired is devoted to charitable works. The tiny republic of San Marino, for instance, which does a roaring trade in titles of nobility at fixed rates, devotes the greater part of the profits to the maintenance of its foundling and orphan asylum. It will make you and all your heirs, or only yours heirs male if such is your desire, ii duke for £IOOO, or an earl for £750. Italy, too, will make you a prince or a duke for £IOOO, and a marquess for £50(1. The title of count will cost you £450, and that of a baron £250. An idea, of the trallie done in.titles may be gathered from the fact that a German firm trading in Sweden sends out a circular, marked "Private and Confidential," offering to secure any orders and decorations required. The circular goes on to say that the firm have first-class connections, which enable them to procure such decorations, and that they have been doing big business for the last thirty years. The list includes Papal honors—for the Pope does a little business, too, and will make you n count for £450 or a baron for £250 —honors of Persia, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Roumania and Austria, the cost of which vary considerably.

The Portuguese Order of Christ, for instance, according to the list, may be had for between £2OO and £3OO, while the Order of Isabella of Spain, with a ribbon identical with that of the Prussian Red Eagle, costs from £2OO upward*. The Austrian Iron Crown runs to £IOOO, although the Order of FrancisJoseph may be had for half that price. For £175 to £3OO one can secure the well-known Order of the Medjidieh, and £IBO will purchase the picturesque title of Swedish Knight of the Order of the Polar Star. The Orders of St. fieorge vary in price in different countries. In Sicily it costs £75, in Russia £lO more, and in Havana more than twice as much, but yon may become a knight of Montenegro for as little as £ls.

The King of Greece does rather a prosperous business with the Order of the Redeemer, whieli can he had for £3O, while Sen-iii bestows the Order of Takovn for a like siiin. The Prince of Monaco has for disposal the Order of the Star, for which he asks £35, and for ClO less one can secure the Order of (he Sun of Xasr-ed-don from the Shah of Persia. Another plume of this traffic in titles is revealed by carefully-worded Advertisements which have appeared in London papers from time to time, offering for sale the titles of impoverished noble families of France, It is not so long ago since three titles, two of which were French—one a count and the other a marquess, and one of an Austrian prince—were put up for sale in London, the prices ranging from £40,000 to £IOO,OOO.