Sweden, Kingdom. An Order of Vasa, I Class Grand Cross Star, c.1955

(Kungl. Vasaorden). Instituted in 1772. Type VI (1951-1975) with flat cross arm fields. Type VI (1951-1975). Crowned sheaf insignia in silver, mounted to a silver Maltese cross base, the eight points on the cross finished with ball finials, with a silver nettle leaf emblem between all four arms, measuring 90.3 mm (w) x 90 mm (h), vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, very light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Royal Order of Vasa is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on May 29, 1772 by King Gustav III. It was unrestricted by birth or education and could therefore be awarded to anyone (as opposed to the Order of the Polar Star, which was intended as a reward for the learned professions). It was the most junior of all the Swedish orders. It was often awarded to Norwegian subjects of the dual monarchy until Oscar I founded the Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1847. Since 1974, the order is no longer conferred: officially it has been declared as "dormant", along with the Order of the Sword