This guide will cover the 1908-1918 Fürstentum of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Ehrenzeichen für Feuerwehr-Mitglieder 1. Klasse (1st Class Firemen Long Service Badge).  The award was established in 1908 under Fürst (Prince) Carl Günter von Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen.  It was awarded for especially notable actions during a fire by Schwarzburg-Sondershausen fireman.  This award was authorized on a military uniform.  It was rendered obsolete at the close of WWI when Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was absorbed by the German State of Thuringen.  There is some evidence that a few awards were made past 1918 (and before 1923) but they appear to have not been officially published.  This badge replaced the Fürstentum of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Ehrenzeichen für Feuerwehr-Mitglieder, which was eliminated on 18 December 1907.

The Fürstentum of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Ehrenzeichen für Feuerwehr-Mitglieder 1. Klasse was made of silver with portions of it gold-plated and was hallmarked with "800".  It is in the form of a ribboned badge ca. 4.1cm by 4.1 cm with a very finely worked clasp-like device being central to the badge and the ribbon mounted in the background.  The clasp is in the form of a beveled rectangular gold-plated (sometimes gilt) silver bar with the lettering FÜR VERDIENSTE A.D. BRANDSTÄTTE.  The reverse is not decorated - but carries the "800" mark - and has a pinback clasp on a square plate (to which the ribbon is sewn) for attachment to a uniform. 

The ribbon for the Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Ehrenzeichen für Feuerwehr-Mitglieder 1. Klasse is dark blue with 2 narrow gold stripes near each end, the ends being white, about 3.1cm wide, and had a fine silk weave with an intricate weft design.  Contemporary ribbons were of silk, the weave is 17-19 rows per cm, each thread is 2-3 strands of ca. 12-16 fibers per strand, and it is UV-negative. 

(photo pending)

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Ehrenzeichen für Feuerwehr-Mitglieder 1. Klasse

These awards are very rarely seen on the market.  Lack of information makes them un-identifiable by most people, there is no hallmark (other than the "800") so most consider it to be of little value, and fireman items traditionally have had a weak but specialized market until fairly recently.  To date, no copies or reproductions have been documented although it is believed that a few jeweler's copies exist.

Current prices vary dramatically in Germany with originals being sold for as little as €1 (unknown item at a flea market) to over €150 (if well documented).   Please see my other guides and blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) for further information.   Thanks for viewing!