Two Sicilies, Order of Francis I Insignia, Plate XXIII, Wood Engraving, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand with watercolor, showing insignia of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. At upper left is a silver Maltese cross star with gold fleurs-de-lis in the angles and a blue ring around a laurel wreath and crowned monogram. Below it the matching white-enameled cross hangs from a gold crown on a red ribbon edged in light blue. At upper right a gold and a silver medal hang from the same red and blue ribbon: the gold one with a crowned profile head, the silver one with three fleurs-de-lis in a laurel wreath. At middle right a second pair, gold and silver, each shows a mounted knight spearing a dragon, on a light blue ribbon edged in orange. Across the foot runs a gold collar of a crown, a fleur-de-lis, a monogram F, a fleur-de-lis and a tower, the crown, monogram and tower each set before crossed flags.

The running head reads "DEUX-SICILES." (Two Sicilies) and the plate number "XXIII." The items are numbered 11 to 15. The rings of both crosses carry the Latin motto "DE REGE OPTIME MERITO" (to one who has deserved best of the king) around the crowned monogram "F.II" on both. The gold medal reads "FRANCISCVS.I.REG.VER.SIC.ET.HIER.REX." around a crowned head; the silver medal repeats "DE REGE OPTIME MERITO" with the date "MDCCCXXIX" (1829). Motto, name and date tie the group to the Royal Order of Francis I. The second pair of medals is lettered "VIRTUTI" (to virtue) on the gold and "MERITO" (to merit) on the silver.

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. 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 the orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

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