Orders of Württemberg, Cross with Lions and Medals, Plate LXXXVII, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing four further orders and medals of the Kingdom of Württemberg, numbered 5 to 8. At the top left (5) is a star of silver rays with a red enameled ring around a white center holding a small gold cross with a crown in its middle. At the top right (8) is a gold cross with notched arms and a W in its round center, on an orange watered ribbon. Below on the left (6) is a white-enameled cross edged in gold with gold lions between the arms, hung from a gold crown on a crimson ribbon edged in black; its center is a red ring around a crowned script monogram, and its reverse center, drawn beneath, shows a gold crown in the same red ring. On the right (7) is a gold medal with a head in profile to the right, on a crimson ribbon with black stripes.

The running head reads "WURTEMBERG." and the plate number "LXXXVII." The star (5) carries the royal motto in blackletter, "Furchtlos und Trew." (fearless and loyal). On the cross (6) and its reverse the motto is cut "FURCHTLOS UND WERT", with the last word reversed. The medal (7) has a blackletter legend around the head so imperfectly cut that only the word von reads as printed; the first word is a miscut form of the name Wilhelm. The cross (8) bears only the initial W.

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.

Hung beside the preceding Württemberg plate it continues the numbered pieces, from 5 to 8.

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