Great Britain, Order of the Garter Insignia, Plate XXXII, Wood Engraving, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing the insignia of the Order of the Garter. Down the left side runs the garter itself, a long blue strap with a gold buckle and pendant end, worked near its tip with gold and green ornaments. At upper right is the silver rayed star with the red cross of Saint George on white, encircled by a blue garter. Below it, on a large knotted blue watered ribbon, hangs an oval gold badge enclosing Saint George on horseback spearing the dragon, within a garter. At the foot is a section of the collar: blue garters around red and green roses alternating with gold knots of cord, with the pendant figure of Saint George on a white horse slaying a green dragon below.

The running head reads "GRANDE BRETAGNE." (Great Britain) and the plate number "XXXII." The items are numbered 1 to 4. The garter 1, the ring of the star 2, the oval of the badge 3 and the garters of the collar 4 all carry the motto "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" (shame on him who thinks evil of it), the motto of the Garter.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen in 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 the orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

The tall blue garter balanced against the star, badge and collar gives the plate a strong, graphic layout.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.