Prussian Medals, For Rescue from Danger and Service Bars, Plate LXIII, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing medals and service decorations of Prussia. At upper left a silver medal with an oak wreath hangs from an orange and white ribbon, and at upper right a gold medal with a crowned script monogram hangs from a black ribbon. In the center a gold cross with a crowned monogram on its central medallion hangs from a pale blue ribbon. Left of it is a large silver medal with a crowned monogram on another orange and white ribbon, and to the right a gold medal with a laurel wreath on a black and white ribbon. Along the foot are three pieces of blue ribbon, edged in yellow, black and white, each crossed by a metal bar in gold, gray or silver lettered in blackletter.

The running head reads "PRUSSE.", its P printed broken, and the plate number "LXIII." The items are numbered 19 to 26. Medal 19 is lettered "FÜR RETTUNG AUS GEFAHR" (German, for rescue from danger) and medal 21 "VERDIENST UM DEN STAAT" (German, merit for the state). Medal 20 bears the monogram FWR with "II" and the date "1793"; medal 22 the monogram FWR with "III"; the cross, item 23, a crowned FW with "III". The three bars, items 24, 26 and 25, read "F.W.III."

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen at 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 orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil. The illustrations are relief prints, wood engravings, colored by hand with watercolor.

The row of three ribbon bars along the foot gives the sheet a neat, orderly finish.

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