Germany, Wehrmacht. A Black Grade Wound Badge, by Rudolf Souval

(Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz). Constructed of blackened bronze, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a crimped barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 36.64 mm (w) x 44.17 mm (h), weighing 7.4 grams, accompanied by its period original package of issue, constructed of brown paper stock, the exterior bearing an inscription of “VERWUNDETENABZEICHEN SCHWARZ 1939” and a maker’s mark of “RUDOLF SOUVAL, WIEN”, measuring 56 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), retaining an original wax paper liner, with a faint hint of bronze underlay showing through on the obverse and a small paint chip on the pinback, in otherwise near mint condition.