Russian Medals, Alexander I Medal and Service Bars, Plate LXX, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing medals of Russia. At upper left a silver medal with an Orthodox cross rising from a crescent within a radiant star hangs from an orange and black striped ribbon. At upper right a silver medal with a crowned double headed eagle and a lettered border hangs from a blue ribbon with black stripes. In the center a gold medal with a young man's head in profile hangs from an orange and black ribbon. At the foot are two square ribbon bars, one striped orange and black, the other red and black, each carrying a gold laurel wreath around a roman numeral.

The running head reads "RUSSIE." and the plate number "LXX." The items are numbered 30 to 34. Medal 31 is dated "1828" and "1829". Medal 32 is lettered around its rim in Cyrillic, the words run together, with the words for benefit, honor and glory. The gold medal, item 30, is lettered in French "ALEX. 1R EMR DE RUSSIE.", the R raised (Alexander I, Emperor of Russia). The ribbon bars, items 33 and 34, carry the numerals "XV" and "XXV".

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 gold portrait medal at the center draws the eye in a simple, symmetrical layout.

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