Orders of Russia, Saint Vladimir and Saint George Insignia, Plate LXVI, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of Russia. At upper left is a lozenge shaped gold star with a black ring and an orange center bearing a script monogram. At upper right is a star with pale blue and gold rays, a red ring and a black center with a small gold cross. In the center a white cross edged in gold, with Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon on a pink medallion, hangs from an orange and black striped ribbon. Below left a cross with red arms bordered in black and gold, its center showing a crowned ermine mantle with a monogram, hangs from a black ribbon with a red center stripe, and beneath it is a black reverse disc. At lower right a second white cross of Saint George hangs from another orange and black ribbon, with a small monogram disc beneath.

The running head reads "RUSSIE." and the plate number "LXVI." The items are numbered 12 to 16. The red ring of star 13 is lettered in roughly cut Cyrillic with the words for benefit, honor and glory, the motto of the Order of Saint Vladimir. The disc of item 16 reads "22 SCHTAЬPA 1782", a garbled rendering of the Russian for 22 September 1782.

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 orange and black ribbons of Saint George give the sheet a bold, graphic rhythm.

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