Russian Medals for Bravery, 1812 and 1826 to 1828, Plate LXIX, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing decorations of Russia. At upper left a gold cross with ball tipped arms and a lettered central medallion hangs from an orange and black striped ribbon. At upper right a bronze medal with a radiant eye in a triangle within a starburst hangs from a red and black ribbon. In the center a silver medal with the radiant eye above a date within a wreath hangs from a yellow and black ribbon. At lower left a silver medal with a laureate head in profile under the radiant eye hangs from a ribbon striped orange and black on one side and blue on the other. At lower right a silver medal lettered across its face hangs from a blue ribbon.

The running head reads "RUSSIE." and the plate number "LXIX." The items are numbered 25 to 29. The cross of item 25 is cut "ЗА ОТАNУНУЮ ХГАЬРОСІЬ", a garbled rendering of the Russian for distinguished bravery. Medal 26 is dated "1812" with a word in Cyrillic, medal 29 reads "1826 1827 1828.", and medal 27 reads "НЕ НАМЪ НЕ НАМЪ А ИМЕНИ ТВОЕМУ" (not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thy name).

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 varied ribbons and silver medals make an orderly, graphic arrangement.

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