Italy, Kingdom. An Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, V Class Knight Badge Case

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1434. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, the exterior with a deep forest green pebbled paper covering on all sides, the lid with the crowned cypher of King Victor Emmanuel III (Reign: 1900-1946) in gold-coloured ink, inside lid lined in a champagne-coloured satin and padded, with the maker's label having been lost to time as evidenced by the remaining glue residue, the lining exhibiting the impression of the once present Badge of the Order, a white cardboard insert placed within the base and housing a denim blue felt medal bed with two recessed beds, one for the Badge and one for the Miniature, along with a slot at the upper right for the Rosette, single clasp closure, measuring 112 mm (w) x 125 mm (h) x 28.5 mm (d), scuffing and wear evident on the exterior, very light soiling on the inside lid, the lining overlying the hinged area exhibiting rust from the underlying hinge, near fine.

Footnote: The Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus is a Roman Catholic dynastic order of knighthood bestowed by the House of Savoy, founded in 1572 by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, through amalgamation approved by Pope Gregory XIII of the Order of Saint Maurice, founded in 1434, with the medieval Order of Saint Lazarus, founded circa 1119, considered its sole legitimate successor. The Grand Master is Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, since 1983. The order was formerly awarded by the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) with the heads of the House of Savoy as the Kings of Italy. Originally a chivalric order of noble nature, it was restricted to subjects of noble families with proofs of at least eight noble great-grandparents. The order's military and noble nature was and is still combined with a Roman Catholic character. After the abolishment of the monarchy and the foundation of the Italian Republic in 1946, the legacy of the order is maintained by the pretenders of the House of Savoy and the Italian throne in exile.