Bavaria, Kingdom. A Royal Merit Order of St. Michael in Gold, First Class Knight, c.1870

1837-1887 Issue. (Bayerisch-Königlicher Verdienstorden vom Heiligen Michael, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse). A gold cross pattée with blue enameled arms, and golden lightning bolts emanating from the center of the cross; the obverse with a round blue enameled medallion, inscribed “Quis Ut Deus” (Latin - Who [is] like God?), with each of the arms inscribed with a letter, forming “PFFP”; the reverse similarly with a round blue enameled medallion, inscribed “Virtuiti” (Latin - Virtue), with each of the arms inscribed with a letter, forming “PFFP”; suspended from a hollow swivel crown suspension, with a horizontally pierced ball and loop for suspension marked “A.H.”; accompanied by its period original (sun-faded) ribbon. With a miss-matched case of issue; constructed of heavy card-stock, with a blue faux leather (leatherette) exterior; the exterior of the lid embossed “St. M.O”, with a lined interior lid with a maker’s label attributing it to “Julius Elchinger of München”, and with a recessed medal bed; functional spring catch and stud release, without a fabric hinge cover, and with a fully functional exterior metal hinge; measuring 62 mm (w) x 122 mm (h); the cross with moderately chipped enamels on the reverse six o’clock arm of the cross; in overall near very fine condition.