Sweden, Red Crosses, Collar and Medals, Plate LXXXI, Wood Engraving, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing Swedish insignia and medals. At top left is a red cross with flared arms edged in gold. At top right is a collar section of gold chain linking two crowned blue shields, each with three crowns drawn on the blue, a gold sheaf at the center, and at each end a red and white oval within a radiating gold border. At left, on a red watered ribbon, hangs a crowned red cross with gold edges and a white center bearing an interlaced monogram with a numeral, with a gold ring below enclosing a triangle and the letter G. At right two oval gold medals hang from a fine chain, one showing a winged figure with wreaths over a landscape with masts and a flag, the other lettered within a laurel wreath. At the bottom, on a ribbon of yellow and blue, are a gold medal with a crowned star cross over crossed swords and a silver medal lettered within a wreath.

The running head reads "SUÈDE." (Sweden) and the plate number "LXXXI." The items are numbered 12 to 16. The lettered oval medal reads "53 PIENTELIGA FARTŸC EPOFRADE D 9DE JULY 1790.", miscut Swedish for 53 enemy vessels captured, 9 July 1790, and the silver medal reads "FÖR TAPPFRKET I FÄLT.", the Swedish for bravery in the field (printed for tapperhet).

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.