Orders of Spain, Santiago, Calatrava and Alcántara, Plate XXIV, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing the crosses of three Spanish military orders. At the center is the red cross of Santiago, its upper and side arms ending in fleurs-de-lis and its lower arm drawn out into a sword blade, outlined in gold. At upper left and upper right are two large crosses fleury of identical form, the left one red and the right one green: the crosses of Calatrava and of Alcántara. Below them hang three badges, each from a gold trophy of a plumed helmet before flags and lances. At lower left a gold-bordered diamond of white enamel carries the red cross fleury, on a red watered ribbon; at lower right a matching diamond carries the green cross fleury, on a green watered ribbon. At the foot an oval white badge with a red border carries the red sword cross of Santiago, on a red ribbon.

The running head reads "ESPAGNE." (Spain) and the plate number "XXIV." The items are numbered 1 to 6: the Santiago sword cross is 1 and the Santiago badge 2, the red cross fleury at upper left is 3 and the green one at upper right 5, and the red and green diamond badges are 4 and 6. There are no inscriptions on the pieces themselves.

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.

The symmetry of red and green crosses frames well on its own or as a pair with another Spanish plate.

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