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Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing that, gosh what a splendid photograph that is.

Cheerio,

Roy

Collecting/wanted ABW insignia if anyone has some spares?

My website: www.wilkinsonfscollection.com

The rosette itself seems to have ben one of those strange habits of the British for adaptation. The modern replacement copies are made of grossgrain ribbon certainly, but when discussing this factor many years ago with Hugh King on Steven Bosleys stall at Stratford Arms Fair he told me that he'd heard that the originals were made for wear by a London Hatter who specialised in Panama Hats popular at the time and that they were fashioned from the panama hat ribbons of the same colour and made of watered silk. Indeed, if you take a genuine I.Y. rosette and compare it with one of the modern replacements you can feel the difference immediately.

On ebay I see advertised repro rosettes [distressed or as-new] and one for sale described as original. I am no expert in this area.
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