Orders of Austria, Leopold and Iron Crown, Plate IV, Wood Engraving, 1844

An original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing eight insignia of Austria. At the upper left is a silver star (9) with a red and white cross, gold oak leaves between the arms and a gold monogram on red. At the upper right is a silver star (12) with a blue lettered ring around a crown on gold. In the middle row are a red and white cross (10) hung from a gold imperial crown on a red ribbon, with a disc (11) beneath; an eight pointed red and gold star (15) under a crown on a black ribbon, with a crowned monogram; and a gold badge (13) on a yellow and blue ribbon, a crowned double headed eagle with sword, orb and a blue shield lettered F, standing on a jeweled crown. At the foot is a gold collar (14) with a bird in a wreathed ring and a crown.

The plate is headed "AUTRICHE." (Austria) at the upper left and numbered "IV." at the upper right, with items 9 to 15. The star (9) and the cross (10) are lettered "INTEGRITATI ET MERITO" (To integrity and merit), the motto of the Order of Leopold, and the disc (11) reads "OPES REGUM CORDA SUBDITORUM" (The wealth of kings is the hearts of their subjects). The star (12) reads "AVITA ET AUCTA" (Inherited and increased), the motto of the Order of the Iron Crown, whose badge is item 13. The star (15) is lettered "MTHERESIA PARENTIS GRATIAM PERENNEM VOLVIT" (M. Theresa willed her parent's grace to endure); the collar ring (14) reads "STRINGIT AMORE" (It binds with love).

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published in Brussels in 1844 by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, with the title page reading "publié par Auguste Wahlen"; the half title is 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.

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