Bulgaria, Kingdom. An Order of Civil Merit, II Class Set, c. 1935

(ОРДЕНЪ ЗА ГРАЖДАНСКА ЗАСЛУГА IV CIII). Instituted in 1891.Type II with Imperial Crown (1908-1944). A Second Class set of insignia likely manufactured by Godet, including a badge, consisting of a silver gilt and white enamelled pisan cross with green and red enamelled oak leave clusters between each arm, the obverse medallion presents a white enamelled cypher on a red enamelled field, surrounded by the Cyrillic inscription 3А ГРАЖДАНСКА 3АСЛУГА (For Civil Merit), the reverse medallion is flat and presents a rampant left facing crowned lion, surrounded by the inscription 2 АВГУСТЪ 1891 (2 August 1891), surmounted by an imperial crown with internal red enamelled cap with green, red, blue and white enamelled details, measures 54.30mm (w) x 86.29mm (h – inclusive of crown suspension), weighs 44.3 grams (including ribbon), worn on original neck ribbon, wear to gilt on pendilia, and enamel intacts; Breast Star in silver, presents a four point multi rayed star, the obverse is super imposed with white enamelled pisan cross with green and red enamelled oak leave clusters between each arm, the obverse medallion presents a white enamelled cypher on a red enamelled field, surrounded by the Cyrillic inscription 3А ГРАЖДАНСКА 3АСЛУГА (For Civil Merit), the reverse presents a single pin assembly, measures 83.05mm (w) x 83.23mm (h), weighs 50.5 grams, light wear, lovely enamel work, in extremely fine condition. A lovely II Class Set.

Accompanied by an award document to Professor Dr. Frantisek Valentin, Vice Rector of the Slovak University in Bratislava, dated June 28, 1943, allowing him to accept and bear the Bulgarian Council for Civil Merit II degree.

Footnote: Dr. Valentin was born in 1892 in Hlohovec. He graduated from CVUT in Prague in 1925 and became a professor of medical chemistry at the medical faculty of the Slovak university in Bratislava in 1941-1948. He also served in the Faculty of Science, Charles University and SVST in Bratislava, as a researcher from 1948 until his retirement. He died in in January 1966.