Orders of Prussia, Black Eagle and Red Eagle Insignia, Plate LX, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of Prussia. At upper left is a silver star with a black eagle on a gold center, and at upper right a silver star with a red eagle on a white center under a gold oak leaf. Below left a blue cross with black eagles between its arms and a gold script initial at the center hangs from a broad orange sash, the badge of the Order of the Black Eagle; to the right is a white cross star edged in gold with the red eagle at the center. Lower down are a bow of orange and white ribbon, a gold spray of oak leaves, a section of collar with two black eagles on thunderbolts flanking a blue medallion, and a white cross with the red eagle on an orange and white ribbon, with a small gold disc bearing a crowned monogram.

The running head reads "PRUSSE." and the plate number "LX." The items are numbered 1 to 8. The star of item 1 and the center of the collar medallion, item 3, are lettered "SUUM CUIQUE" (Latin, to each his own), the motto of the Order of the Black Eagle; the blue ring of that medallion repeats the initials "F.R." Items 4 and 5 are lettered "SINCERE ET CONSTANTER" (Latin, sincerely and steadfastly), the motto of the Order of the Red Eagle.

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.

The silver stars and the orange sash give the sheet a bright balance.

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