pre-WW2 Honorary Badge of the 3rd Polish Rifle Regiment for A.S. Taylor

A unique honorary badge of the officers of the Polish Army in France, custom-made and presented by the 3rd Polish Rifle Regiment (later the 45th Borderland Rifle Regiment). The decoration was most likely awarded to Arthur Stuart Taylor, the first secretary of the YMCA for Poland from November 1919, in recognition of his support for General Haller’s Blue Army in France.

Crafted with the highest level of jeweler’s artistry, the badge takes the form of a gold rhombus with a delicately engraved texture. A stylized crowned Polish eagle, made of silver and attached with two rivets, is mounted on the front. The reverse features a horizontal gold pinback, hallmarked on the side. The rhombus bears the engraved inscription:
“Token of Gratitude, 3rd Polish Rifle Regiment, January 1, 1919”  – „Dowód wdzięczności 3ci Pułk Strzelców Polskich 1 Stycznia 1919 r.”
On the back of the eagle, the name “Taylor” is engraved.

Material verified through spectrometric analysis: the rhombus is made of gold with an approximate purity of 17 carats (about 70% pure), and the eagle is crafted from silver of approximately 950 fineness (about 95% pure).

Good condition, as shown in the photographs.