Saxony, Rue Crown and Military Order of Saint Henry, Plate LXXIII, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Kingdom of Saxony. At top left is a silver star of open rays with a gold center lettered in Latin and ringed by green rue leaves, the star of the Order of the Rue Crown. Below it, at left, hangs the badge of the same order on a green watered ribbon: a white and green cross with gold rue ornaments, its center showing the crowned monogram FA, with the small reverse disc beneath. At top right is a gold rayed star with a blue ring around Saint Henry, crowned, in armor and an ermine-lined red cloak, holding a sword and an orb: the star of the Military Order of Saint Henry. The gold badge of that order, crowned, hangs at lower right on a blue ribbon edged in yellow, with its reverse showing the Saxon arms. In the center is a gold medal with the king's head in profile on a blue and yellow ribbon.

The running head reads "SAXE-ROYALE." (Royal Saxony) and the plate number "LXXIII." The items are numbered 1 to 5. Star 1 reads "PROVI DENCIÆ MEMOR" and its reverse disc 2 "PROVI DENTIÆ MEMOR" (mindful of providence). Star 3 reads "VIRTUTI IN BELLO." (for valor in war) around "St HENRI", which also appears on badge 4, ringed with "FRID.AUG.D.G.REX.SAX.INSTAURAVIT" (Frederick Augustus, by the grace of God King of Saxony, restored it). Medal 5 reads "FRIEDRIGH AUGUST KONIG.V. SACHS." (Frederick Augustus, King of Saxony).

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844; 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 the orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil. The plates are relief prints, wood engravings colored by hand with watercolor.

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