Ministry of Communications "Early" Diligent Service Badges/逓信省勤功章

Badges were introduced in 1880.
Original line drawing.

1st class badges "purple star".

1st variation.

Obverse

Symbol 〒 https://asiamedals.info/threads/symbol-of-japanese-post-yubin-maku-and-its-history.24108/

reverse

逓信省 - Ministry of Communications

Marked with Ando workshop mark - cross pattée.

安藤七寶店謹 - Ando Shippo /shippo (ʃɪˈpəʊ) Japanese cloisonné-enamel work on metal or porcelain/ 宮内庁御用達 - Purveyor [Goyōtashi] to the Imperial Household.
Workshop was the main manufacturer of these badges.

Specimen without fixation pin.

 

2nd variation.

Reverse

逓信省 -Ministry of Communications

Original case.

Made by Ando workshop.

壹級 - 1st class

勤功章 - Diligent Service Badge

Another specimen of 2nd variation.

 

2nd class badges "red star".

Reverse

逓信省 - Ministry of Communications

Marked with Ando workshop mark.

Original case.

貳級 - 2nd class

勤功章 - Diligent Service Badge

 

3rd class badges "green star".

Reverse

逓信省 - Ministry of Communications

Original case.

参級 - 3rd class

勤功章 - Diligent Service Badge

 

Another cased example made by Ando workshop.

 

Rare full set with outer case.

Note that case has 三 /3/ instead of old style 参 /3/.

Made by Ando workshop.

Color of the star enamel is closer to turquoise than to green.

Size 30mm.
Weight 8.7 g.

Marked with Ando workshop mark.

 

4th class badges "turquoise star" /no original cases are known so class attribution is conjectural/

1st variation.

Original dowel was replaced with improvised pin.

Reverse

逓信省 - Ministry of Communications

Marked with Ando workshop mark.

Example with almost blue enamel.

 

2nd variation.

Two badges made by Ando workshop.