Russia, Imperial. An Order of Saint Anne, II Class with Swords in Gold, by Eduard

(Ордена Святой Анны 1-й степени. Крест). Instituted 1735 by Duke Charles Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Incorporated into Russian orders 1797 by Tsar Paul I. Constructed of Gold with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a Gold frame and red enameled arms, the quadrants joined by finely-detailed Gold lattice designs overlaid on the obverse with crossed swords, the obverse with a central medallion bearing a finely-detailed hand-painted image of Saint Anne, the reverse with an analogous white enameled medallion bearing stylized hand-painted Latin initials “A.I.P.F.” for “ANNA IMPERATORIS PETRI FILIA” (“ANNA, EMPEROR PETER’S DAUGHTER”), the twelve o’clock arm bearing an integral loop and suspension ring, the loop marked with a Gold zolotnik number of “56” for 14 karats, along with an illegible mark, the six o’clock arm bearing a Russian Cyrillic maker’s mark of “ЕДУАРД” for the St. Petersburg-based firm of Eduard, measuring 43.92 mm (w) x 48.63 mm (h), weighing 18.4 grams, with some colour deterioration evident to the enamels of the arms, in overall near extremely fine condition.