Orders of Tuscany, Saint Stephen and Saint Joseph, Plate LXXXIII, 1844

This original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, shows six insignia of Tuscany. At the top left (1) is a gold rayed star bearing a red Maltese cross with gold foliage between the arms. At the top right (3) is a silver star of eight ball-tipped points, its oval center showing a standing robed figure with a staff. Below on the left (2) is a red Maltese cross with gold fleurs-de-lis between the arms, under a gold crown on a red ribbon: the cross of the Tuscan Order of Saint Stephen. On the right (4) is a white-enameled cross with red rays between the arms and a gold oval center showing the same figure, under a crown on a red and white ribbon, with its reverse center drawn beneath. At the foot two medals hang from one red and white ribbon: a gold medal (6) with a crown over crossed swords and a shield in a laurel wreath, and a silver medal (5) with a head in profile.

The running head reads "TOSCANE." (Tuscany) and the plate number "LXXXIII." The band of the star (3) and of the cross (4) is lettered "UEIQUE SIMILIS", the Latin motto Ubique similis (everywhere the same) with the B cut as an E, and the reverse center of the cross reads "S.J. F 1807"; these identify the Order of Saint Joseph. Medal 6 shows an F and 1816. The silver medal (5) is lettered "FERDINANDO·III·A·D·A·GRAND·DI·TOSCANA", that is, Ferdinand III, Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur (Orders of Chivalry and Marks of Honor), published by Auguste Wahlen and issued in Brussels in 1844 by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12. Its 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 strong reds frame well with a cream mount.

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