Hanover, Royal Guelphic Order Insignia, Plate XXXVIII, Wood Engraving, 1844

This original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, shows insignia of the Royal Guelphic Order of Hanover. At upper left (1) is a breast star of pale blue and silver rays with crossed gold swords; its center shows the white horse of Hanover leaping on red above green ground, within a blue lettered ring and a green laurel wreath. At upper right (2) is a white Maltese cross star with ball tips and crossed swords, with the same center. In the middle row are two gold badges: one (3) a white-enameled cross with lions in the angles and crossed swords, hung from a crown on a pale blue ribbon; the other (4) a similar cross without swords, its red center showing a crowned cipher within a gold ring and wreath, on a flat pale blue ribbon with a gold bar. At the foot (5) is a section of gold collar with a crown between two lions, chain links and interlaced ciphers.

The running head at upper left reads "HANOVRE." (Hanover) and the plate number at upper right "XXXVIII."; the items are numbered 1 to 5. The blue rings of the stars read "NEC ASPERA TERRENT", Latin for "difficulties do not daunt", the motto of the Guelphic Order; on badge 3 the block cuts it as "NEC ASPERA TEBBENT". The ring of badge 4 carries the year in roman numerals, cut as "MDCCGXV".

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 illustrations are relief prints, wood engravings colored by hand with watercolor.

The leaping white horse and gold collar make this a lively plate for a collection of German or British royal material.

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