Orders of the Two Sicilies, Saint Januarius and Saint Ferdinand, Plate XXI, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. At the upper left a silver star (3) with fleurs de lis between its rays has a gold center showing a crowned figure in armor and a red cloak, holding a sword and a wreath. At the upper right a silver Maltese cross star (1) shows a bishop in gold vestments with miter, crozier and book, his hand raised. Below on the left a crowned gold rayed badge (4) hangs from a blue ribbon edged in red, with the same figure in a blue ring, and a small gold disk gives its reverse. On the right a red Maltese cross edged in gold with gold fleurs de lis in the angles (2) shows the bishop rising from a cloud, on a red ribbon; its small disk shows an open book with two red phials in a green wreath. At the foot runs a gold collar (5): a disk with two phials over a crozier, fleurs de lis, a winged miter with a sword, and a letter G with a banner.

The running head reads "DEUX-SICILES." (Two Sicilies) and the plate number "XXI.". The pieces are numbered 1 to 5. Star 1 reads "IN SANGUINE FŒDUS" (a covenant in blood), with the bishop and phials of Saint Januarius. Badge 4 reads "FIDEI·ET·MERITO" (for loyalty and merit), cut on star 3 as "FIDEIET·MERITO", and the reverse of 4 reads "Ferd. IV Instituti 1800" (instituted by Ferdinand IV, 1800), the founding of the Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen and issued in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844. Auguste Wahlen was the pen name of the Belgian writer Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer (1801 to 1875), whose title page lists his own knighthoods in orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

The red and gold of the Januarius cross and collar give the plate a rich, ecclesiastical character.

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