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Ref: 1107
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United States of America/Wales, The National Eisteddfod of America, First
Medal awarded 1927, bronze
Obv: THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD OF AMERICA on banner
above, UTICA, N.Y engraved below, American eagle and shield with Welsh dragon
supporters each side of the sign of the Gorsedd, on
ribband below the traditional motto Y GWIR YN ERBYN
Y BYD (the Truth against the World), further traditional mottoes each side of
shield HEB DDUW HEB DDIM (Nothing without God) and DUW A DIGON (God and
Enough), symbols of music, the arts and learning below, at bottom the
traditional motto Y DDRAIG GOCH A DDYRY GYCHWYN (the Red Dragon leads the
way)
Rev: engraved “THE WILLOW” BY GORING THOMAS MAY 13-14-1927
With a blue ribbon and pin suspender with recipient’s name Thomas C. Roberts
Condition: Extremely fine
Diameter: 39mm x 53 approx
Notes: The medal has many of the traditional Welsh mottoes associated with
the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and was awarded at the Utica eisteddfod.
Utica (New York state) had been settled by the Welsh soon after its
foundation at the end of the 18th century, and remained one of the focal
points for Welsh American settlement (Scranton, Pennsylvania is another). The
recipient sang as a tenor solo a 19th century English ballad, perhaps
indicative of the decline in the United States of a separate Welsh identity
by the early 20th century. For further reading I recommend Wales in
America, Scranton and the Welsh 1860-1920 by William D Jones (1993). The
medal is rare.
Price £85
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