Prussia, Kingdom. A Medal Bar & Documents Of Naval Captain Heinrich Johannes Bleeker

A Prussian Medal Bar: A four-place medal bar consisting of a War Commemorative Medal for 1870 1871, (Kriegsdenkmünze) Instituted 20 May 1871. A circular medal constructed of silvered bronze, the obverse centre bears an iron cross paty with rays in the quadrants between the arms, the dates 1870 1871 lay in the centre of the cross and is encompassed by an oak leaf wreath, the reverse centre bears a crowned cipher “W” (Wilhelm), underneath is inscribed “Für Pflichttreue im Kriege” (For duty in war), circumscribed with “Gott war mit uns Ihm sei die ehre” (God was with us To Him is the honor), measuring 29.06 mm (w) x 33.91 mm (h), on a red, white and black striped ribbon; An Imperial China Campaign Medal for Non-Combatants, (China-Denkmünze für Nichtkämpfer) Instituted 10 May 1901. A circular medal constructed of steel, the obverse bears a crowned eagle clutching a defeated Chinese dragon in its talons, encompassed by a laurel wreath border, the reverse bears a crowned cipher “W” (Wilhelm) in the centre, circumscribed by “VERDIENST UM DIE EXPEDITION NACH CHINA” (MERIT FOR THE EXPEDITION TO CHINA), encompassed by a laurel wreath border, measuring 32.63 mm (w) x 35.50 mm (h), on a red, white, yellow and black striped ribbon; A King Wilhelm Honour Medal, (Kaiser Wilhelm Erinnerungsmedaille-Zentenarmedaille) Instituted 22 March 1897 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. A circular medal constructed of bronze, the obverse bears the right facing portrait of Wilhelm I wearing a pickelhaube helmet, to the upper left is the inscription “WILHELM DER GROSSE DEUTSCHER KAISER” (WILHELM THE GREAT GERMAN EMPEROR) and to the right is the inscription “KOENIG VON PREUSSEN” (KING OF PRUSSIA), the reverse is inscribed with “ZUM ANDENKEN AN DEN HUNDERTSTEN GEBURTSTAG DES GROßEN KAISERS WILHELM I 1797 22 MAERZ 1897” (TO REMEMBER THE HUNDRED BIRTHDAY OF THE GREAT EMPEROR WILHELM I 1797 22 MARCH 1897), below is a cushion bearing Hohenzollern crown, orb and sword with a laurel branch to the left and an oak branch to the right, measuring 39.94 mm (w) x 45.40 mm (h), on a yellow ribbon; A Reserve Long Service Decoration Bar (Landwehr Dienstauszeichenungen). Instituted 16 January 1842. A rectangular bar constructed of gilded bronze and enamels, the obverse bears the cipher “F.W.IV” in gild on a blue enamel background encompassed by a black enamel border, with arabesque suspension, the reverse is plain, measuring 30.05 mm (w) x 20.92 mm (h), on a blue ribbon, all on a rectangular medal bar with navy felt backer and horizontal pinback, apparent material fatigue throughout but otherwise very fine;

Two Studio Portraits of Captain Heinrich Johannes Bleeker, depicting Bleeker in an Imperial naval uniform with cap and medal bar, captioned “Cpt. Bleeker”, measuring 178 mm (w) x 252 mm (h); An Imperial Navy Military Passport belonging to Heinrich Bleeker, measuring 85 mm (w) x 142 mm (h);

A document pertaining to performance during service to Heinrich Johannes Bleeker, in black ink (both typed and handwritten) stamped with the official seal of the navy, measuring 235 mm (w) x 377 mm (h); A letter from the city of Emden, measuring 429 mm (w) x 330 mm (h); A Service Certificate to Heinrich Johannes Bleeker, in black ink (written and typed), measuring 123 mm (w) x 195 mm (h);

A page from a proof of ancestry document, measuring 127 mm (w) x 210 mm (h); A photograph of Captain Heinrich Johannes Bleeker in uniform, standing on the deck of a ship, measuring 90 mm (w) x 120 mm (h), light material fatigue on some documents, otherwise very fine.

Footnote: Heinrich Johannes Bleeker was born 3 September 1850 in Emden, Germany and was orphaned. At age 14, Bleeker was dismissed from elementary school and tried to sign onto the ship of Captain Foelrich; however, Foelrich deemed him too small. After a year of office work, Bleeker reapplied to Foelrich’s ship and was accepted. From August 1870 to March 1871 he was in Volunteer Sea Defence in Geestemünde. From October 1872 to 1874, Bleeker served as a Seaman in the Wilhelmshaven 2 Matrosen Division. He was honoured on 1 August 1877 by the Reichs Chancellor due to his outstanding achievements in a practical exam for long journeys. In 1881 he passed the test for captaincy and in 1883 married a woman named Anna Maria. He commanded several ships and journeyed to North America, East Asia and Australia. In 1901 at the end of the Boxer Rebellion, Bleeker was entrusted with the task of transporting Prince Chun II, brother to the Emperor of China, to Germany. That same year Bleeker retired from seafaring due to health reasons. In 1914 Bleeker died due to a heart attack.