Italy, Kingdom. A Fine Cased Grouping of Campaign & First War Decorations

Includes:

1. Order of the Crown of Italy, II Class Grand Officer Badge (Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868: multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, green, blue and black enamels, unmarked, measuring 52.5 mm (w) x 55.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, intact enamels, on its original full-length neck ribbon.

2. Order of the Crown of Italy, II Class Grand Officer Breast Star (Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868: insignia in silver gilt with red, white, green and blue enamels, affixed to an eight-pointed star base, the star with radiating facets and incorporating ball finials on the points, unmarked, vertical pinback, measuring 70.3 mm (w) x 70.5 mm (h), intact enamels.

3. Order of the Crown of Italy, V Class Knight (Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868: multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, green, blue and black enamels, unmarked, measuring 36 mm (w) x 39 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon.

4. Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight (Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1434: in silver gilt with green and white enamels, unmarked, measuring 39.3 mm (w) x 39.7 mm (h), intact enamels, replacement ribbon.

5. Medal for Italian Unification, Type II with 1848-1918 (Medaglia a ricordo dell'Unita d'Italia). Instituted in 1865: in bronze, maker marked "MARIO NELLI INC." and engraver marked "C. RIVALTA MOD." on the obverse, marked "CBC" on the reverse, measuring 31.7 mm (w) x 37 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, original ribbon.

6. Libya Campaign Medal (Medaglia commemorativa della campagne di Libia). Instituted in 1913: in silver, engraver marked "S.J. (Stefano Johnson of Milan) on the obverse, measuring 32 mm (w) x 37 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, replacement ribbon.

7. War Merit Cross (Croce al merito di guerra). Instituted in 1918: in bronze, engraver marked "M" on the reverse, measuring 37.7 mm (w) x 44.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, "FERT" gladius affixed to its original ribbon.

8. War Merit Cross (Croce al merito di guerra). Instituted in 1918: in bronze gilt, measuring 37.5 mm (w) x 43.8 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, "FERT" gladius affixed to its original ribbon.

9. War Merit Cross (Croce al merito di guerra). Instituted in 1918: in bronze gilt, measuring 37.7 mm (w) x 44.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, original ribbon, spotting.

10. Italian-Austrian War Medal 1915-1918 with Four Clasps - 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 (Medaglia commemorativa della guerra Italo-Austriaca). Instituted in 1919: in bronze, engraver marked "S. CANEVARI" on the obverse, measuring 32.5 mm (w) x 37.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, four clasps affixed to its original ribbon.

11. First War Victory Medal (Medaglia commemorativa della vittoria). Instituted in 1920: in bronze, engraver marked "G. Orsolini MOD." and maker marked "SACCHINI. MILANO" on the obverse, engraver marked "G. Villa. Inc." on the reverse, measuring 36 mm (w) x 42 mm (h), original ribbon.

12. Republic: Order of Vittorio Veneto (Ordine di Vittorio Veneto). Instituted in 1968: in blackened bronze, measuring 41.8 mm (w) x 46.8 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, original ribbon. Accompanied by three suspension bars that formerly housed the medals.

13. Group of Six Miniatures:

(i) Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight (Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1434: in Gold with green and white enamels, measuring 13.5 mm (w) x 13.5 mm (h).

(ii) Libya Campaign Medal (Medaglia commemorativa della campagne di Libia). Instituted in 1913: in silver, measuring 12.5 mm (w) x 15.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension.

(iii) War Merit Cross (Croce al merito di guerra). Instituted in 1918: in bronze, measuring 11.5 mm (w) x 14 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension.

(iv) Italian-Austrian War Medal 1915-1918 (Medaglia commemorativa della guerra Italo-Austriaca). Instituted in 1919: in bronze, measuring 11.4 mm (w) x 14.3 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension.

(v) Medal for Italian Unification, Type II with 1848-1918 (Medaglia a ricordo dell'Unita d'Italia). Instituted in 1865: in bronze, measuring 12 mm (w) x 14.8 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension.

(vi) First War Victory Medal (Medaglia commemorativa della vittoria). Instituted in 1920: in bronze, measuring 11.5 mm (w) x 14.3 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension. The six awards suspended from a three-strand fine link Gold chain, with 28 mm long Gold pins at either end, weighing 9 grams inclusive of the six awards, the chain and the pins. Near extremely fine.

In their wooden presentation case, the exterior with a lacquered finish, the convex lid emblazoned in gold-coloured ink with the monogram of King Victor Emmanuel III (reign: July 29, 1900 - May 9, 1946) in the centre, framed within a horizontal box with trim consisting of three rules, the central rule in red, green and black and mimicking a cross-stitch embroidery, flanked on either side by a single rule in beige. The bottom of the case incorporating the same three-rule trim as that used on the lid. Inside with a central panel inserted between the front and back lids, inside lid and front of the central panel lined in Aegean blue felt and designed with multiple folds to give it a drapery-look, the back of the central panel in Aegean blue felt with twenty-four brass pins placed within to give it a pillow-look and incorporating a circular recessed area. The base in Aegean felt and incorporating eight recessed areas for various awards and a slotted one for the breast star. Dual-hinged, dual-clasp closure, measuring 310 mm (w) x 227 mm (h) x 66.5 mm (d), light soiling and crazing in the wood evident on the exterior, the interior clean and intact, case near extremely fine.