Russia, Imperial. An Order of Saint Stanislaus, I Class, by Eduard, c.1905

Instituted 7 May 1765 by Stanislaus II Augustus Pontiakowski. Re-instituted by Tsar Nicholas I in 1832. (1905-1908 issue). A I Class Cross and Star of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, the former constructed of Gold, featuring red enamels set in a Gold framed Maltese Cross with ball finials, with ribbed fans adorning the exterior of each arm and Romanov imperial eagles in each quadrant, a central white enameled applique bearing a black Romanov imperial eagle, in turn overlaid by a shield depicting Saint George slaying the dragon, surrounded by a ring of Gold with green enameled laurel leaves, reverse with an identical central applique, on loop for suspension from its period original sash with a functional spring clip, maker marked on the reverse six o’clock arm with “Эдуард” (“Eduard”) for the firm of Eduard Ferdinandovich Dietvald, on the twelve o’clock arm with Cyrillic initials “ИЛ” (possibly for metalsmith Itska Lozinsky), and on the loop with a Gold zolotnik mark of “56”, measuring 62.95 mm (w) x 66.10 mm (h), weighing 31.6 grams, minor loss of enamels to green laurels, with later replacement of centre disc with non-Christian version, very fine. Accompanied by the star of the order in silver gilt, consisting of an eight-pointed radiant star with ribbed borders, obverse with a central applique bearing a black Romanov imperial eagle on a white enameled background, surrounded by a ring of ribbed gilt, in turned ringed by white enamel bearing a raised gilt motto of “PRÆMIANDO INCITAT” (“REWARD INSPIRES”), inside a ring of green enamel bearing four gilt laurel leaf branches, itself bordered by dual gilt rings, reverse with a barrel hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked “Эдуард” (“Eduard”), with a silver purity kokoshnik mark of “84” and Cyrillic initials “ИЛ”, with an additional kokoshnik mark on the pinback, measuring 89.94 mm (w) x 89.72 mm (h), weighing 55.0 grams, with later replacement of centre disc with non-Christian version, otherwise in extremely fine condition.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.