Cambodia, French Protectorate. A Royal Order of Cambodia Grand Cross Case

គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា. Instituted in 1864. Hardshelled case, wooden frame, reddish-brown pebbled exterior, Cambodian crown above the Royal cypher on the lid, maker marked "A. Chobillon PARIS" on the inside lid, the lining exhibiting the impression of the once present Breast Star of the Order, raised platform with a recessed and slotted medal bed for the Breast Star, dual hinged, dual latch closure, label affixed to the bottom inscribed "CAMBODIA / ROYAL ORDER OF CAMBODIA / GRAND CROSS SET", peeling and wear evident in the reddish-brown pebbled fabric on the exterior, wear in the fabric overlying the hinged area, soiling present on the inside lid and on the medal bed, measuring 175 mm in width x 315 mm in length x 56 mm in height. Fair.

Footnote: The Royal Order of Cambodia was a French colonial chivalric order in French Cambodia, and is still in use in the present-day Cambodia. It was instituted on February 8, 1864 and awarded for eminent services to the Kingdom of Cambodia and issued in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. For French appointments, the recipient had to be at least twenty-nine years old and enter the Order first as a Knight, to be promoted to a higher grade after a certain period. Only Officers of the Légion d'honneur could become a Commander in the Order and only commanders of the Légion d'honneur could be Commanders or Officers of the Order. Apart from decorations for bravery or merit during foreign campaigns, the French colonial orders also required that a certain number of years had to have been spent in the tropics or overseas to be eligible: in this case, three years in Indochina, preferably in Cambodia. Beginning in 1933, the Order was also granted for the organization of exhibitions dedicated to Cambodia and sacred events important to the French colonies. None of these rules applied for grants by the King of Cambodia himself. The colonial and overseas orders were immediately contingent on the French orders and awarded on ministerial orders. Those awarded it not only had to pay for their own registration and qualifications, but also had to buy their own insignia. In 1948, France ceased granting the order. Formally it remained a French colonial policy, but it was now only granted by the King of Cambodia. The Order has since then been one of the historical orders of France. On September 1, 1950 the (Colonial) French order-system was reformed. The Order of the Star of Anjouan and the Order of the Black Star were formalized as French Overseas Orders. The other three were the "Order of States Associated to the French Union". In 1955, Cambodia became independent. The order was approved by King Norodom Sihanouk during his government and also granted during his exile in Beijing. Even after the restoration of the Khmer dynasty it remained the highest Cambodian distinction.