MILITARY ORDER OF THE SERPENT

ist. Degree 2nd. Degree

3rd. Degree 4th. Degree

"THE SERPENT" is gilt on black~ the book and serpent are in raised relief of gilt, with a black serpent on the book. The ribbon measures 34mm, half red, half yellow, and is suspended from the standard USWV eagle and wreath brooch bar. The badge was obviously worn with the proper side showing at its respective membership meeting and functions.

The enameled USWV obverse has been noted by the author as a watch fob on several occasions, and it is possible that the above described type with an additional enameled Serpent side may have originally been made as a watch fob also, but because of its handsomeness, it became an unofficial badge for general wear.

Combination US?~-Serpent Badge

LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

The following report is submitted in accordance with the by- laws of the Orders and Medals Society of America.

The library has had a good workout this last year, since the publication of the 1972 Handbook, the responce from the membership has been fantastic. I still have waiting lists on a great number of books that have seen exceptional mileage this last few months. Todate an average of 70 percent loan out on a month to month basic has been the rule for several months. I would like to request any members who may feel their requests have gone unnoticed, to please be patient. All requests have been noted, and names are on respective lists, and material will be forwarded as sonn as possible.

Since the last report of the Librarian in the Medal Collector, ~ve have received a great number of donations to the Library. The attached list should be added to your handbook for reference to new material, also it contains the names of the donors of the new material. I wish to thank these people again for helping to improve our Library and hope that any and all reading this report, will take a moment and look thru their own libraries to see if something is available for donation to the O.M.S.A. Library. All donations greatfully appreciated. I would also appreciate any comments or suggestions as to the type of material you would like to see in the Library. Any suggestions toward setting up a "MUST" list of material for the library will be appreciated.

Aa!ith the kind help of a couple of the members and thru duplicates from my own set, the Library is near having at long last a complete Set of back issues of "THE MEDAL COLLECTOR". I hope to be able to acquire the last two issues needed to complete the set in the near future. Those issues needed are:

"The Medal Collector", No. 6 Nov.-Dec. 1953 "The Medal Collector Bulletin", No. 5 May 1954

Should any member have duplicates of these two issues, and would donate them, they will be greately welcomed.

I would like to take this time to again mentioned the back issues of "The Medal Collector" available for purchase thru the Librarian. Many months are getting very low in quanity and will soon preclude the sale of complete year sets. February 1967 has gone this route and several months of 1968 are low. However, good stocks of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 are still available° These sell for $13.50 a year set, or $1.25 individual issue, and include first class postage delivery. The library also has a large stock of the "Medal of Honor" monograph, but the Peterson monograph on ~apan has been out oi" stock for a long time. ~The "Medaiof Honor" monograph sells for $7.50. To order items from the Library, please use instructions in the 1972 Handbook. To order back issues, send check or money order made out to "Orders and Medals Society", or "O.M.SoA. Library Fund", please do not send c~sh, you do so at your own risk. Please do not send postage stamps except when reinbursing the Library for postage on borrowed items

Hope to meet many of you at the Convention in August.

Respectfully submitted,

Gene Springer, #1599 Librarian, O. M o S.Ao

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