Orders of Spain, Al Mérito Militar Crosses and Collar, Plate XXVI, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing Spanish insignia. At upper left is a silver star in the form of a cross with ball-tipped points and a lattice pattern, and at upper right a similar star set within a green laurel wreath. Both have a gold center with a crowned standing figure in a red cloak lined with ermine, holding a raised object in one hand and an orb with a cross in the other, within a blue lettered band. At middle right the same design appears on a white-enameled cross with a green wreath between the arms, hung from a laurel wreath on a red ribbon with yellow edges, and at the foot of the center on a white cross with gold edges and a green acanthus suspension. At middle left a larger cross with blue edged arms carries a crowned figure with a sword and a red cloak in a white oval; gold castles and chained lions lie between the arms, and it hangs from a gold laurel wreath on a blue and white striped ribbon. At the foot is a section of collar: castles, lions and a green wreath around the numeral III, with red and gold trophies at the ends.

The running head reads "ESPAGNE." (Spain) and the plate number "XXVI." The items are numbered 14 to 19. The bands of the stars and crosses numbered 15, 16, 17 and 18 are lettered "AL MERITO MILITAR" (to military merit). The cross numbered 14 and the collar numbered 19 carry no inscription beyond the numeral III on the collar.

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.

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