Orders of Belgium, Order of Leopold Stars, Badges and Collar, Plate XIV, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Order of Leopold of Belgium. At the upper left is a breast star (2) in the form of a faceted silver Maltese cross over crossed gold swords; at the upper right a lozenge shaped silver star (1) with the same crossed swords. Both have a red ring around a black center with a crowned gold lion rampant. Across the middle hangs a gold collar (3) of interlaced monogram links, crowned lions and a central royal crown, from which a crowned badge is suspended: a white enameled cross edged in gold, set in a green wreath of oak and laurel, with the lion and red ring at its center. To the left a smaller crowned badge with crossed swords (4) hangs from a red ribbon, and to the right a silver version (5) on the same red ribbon. A small round disk (6) shows a gold monogram on a dark center within a red ring.

The running head reads "BELGIQUE." (Belgium) and the plate number "XIV.". The pieces are numbered 1 to 6. The red rings of the stars and badges carry the motto "L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" (unity makes strength), the national motto of Belgium, around the crowned lion.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen and issued in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844. Auguste Wahlen was the pen name of the Belgian writer Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer (1801 to 1875), whose title page lists his own knighthoods in orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

The silver stars and gold collar make a handsome plate for a collector of Belgian history.

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