Orders of Spain, Golden Fleece and Charles III Insignia, Plate XXV, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing Spanish insignia. At top are two silver eight-pointed cross stars with fleurs-de-lis in the angles. The left one has an oval center with a standing figure of the Virgin in white on a gold ground, framed by a blue band and a laurel wreath enclosing the numeral III; the right one has a white oval with the monogram C and III in blue within a green wreath. At middle left a white and blue enameled cross with gold fleurs-de-lis, again with the Virgin at the center, hangs from a laurel wreath on a light blue and white ribbon, with its oval reverse below. At the center is the Golden Fleece: the gold ram hangs from a blue stone set between red flames, below an openwork gold clasp, on a red watered ribbon. At middle right a gold-bordered white diamond with a red cross hangs from a gold trophy on a red ribbon, and below it is a plain red cross. At the foot are links of a collar, gold plaques pierced with interlaced rings alternating with blue stones set in red flames.

The running head reads "ESPAGNE." (Spain) and the plate number "XXV." The items are numbered 7 to 13. The band on the star numbered 11 reads "VIRTUTI" and "MERITO", and the reverse of the cross numbered 13 reads "VIRTUTI ET MERITO" (to virtue and merit) around the III monogram, the motto of the Order of Charles III. The Golden Fleece is 9 and its collar 10.

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.