Plate LXIV Orders of Russia, Saint Andrew and Saint Catherine Insignia, 1844

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This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of russia. At upper left is a silver … Read more This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of russia. At upper left is a silver star with a black double headed eagle on a gold center and a blue ring, and at upper right an eight pointed star worked in silver brilliants with a pink ring and center showing a cross above a crown. Below, two badges hang from crimson bows, the left bow edged in silver, the right one plain: the left badge set with brilliants, the right one in gold and brilliants, each showing a female saint with a cross. In the center a broad blue sash carries a crowned black double headed eagle with a blue saltire bearing a small gold figure. At the foot is a section of gold collar: a crowned blue shield with a monogram among flags and trophies, a red rosette with a blue saltire, and a black double headed eagle with a red shield. The running head reads "russie." and the plate number "lxiv." the items are numbered 1 to 6. The blue ring of star 1 is cut "за вѣру.n.вѣрноотz.", a garbled form of the motto of the order of saint andrew (for faith and loyalty). The crimson bows of items 4 and 5 carry fragments of the cyrillic motto of the order of saint catherine (for love and the fatherland) across their folds, and the pink ring of star 3 the same words jumbled. The saltire on badge 2 and on the collar rosette is lettered with the initials s, a, p and r. The plate comes from ordres de chevalerie et marques d'honneur, published by auguste wahlen at brussels by the librairie historique-artistique, rue de schaerbeek, 12, in 1844; the half title reads histoire, costumes, décorations de tous les ordres de chevalerie, et marques d'honneur. Auguste wahlen was the pen name of the belgian writer jean-françois-nicolas loumyer (1801 to 1875), and the title page lists his own knighthoods in orders of prussia, sweden, spain, portugal, turkey, hanover, greece, the roman states, saxe-coburg and brazil. The illustrations are relief prints, wood engravings, colored by hand with watercolor. Condition: light wear to the bottom right corner. Age toning, darker at the edges; handling soiling along the edges and scattered foxing in the margins. Printed image clean. This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed. See less