Fifteen Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Order of St. John) Items, including: three Lapel Badges (in silver gilt with white enamels, maker marked "SPINK LONDON" on their reverses, measuring 19 mm (w) x 19 mm (h) each, all with a single push pin); Small Insignia (two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with white enamels, measuring 10.8 mm (w) x 18.8 mm (h), without attachment); and eleven Vestment Buttons (two-piece construction, insignia in bronze gilt with white enamels, mounted to bronze gilt circular base, measuring 17.7 mm (w) x 20.3 mm (h) each, all with intact loops); accompanied by fourteen Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great Vestment Buttons (in frosted silver, measuring 20.8 mm in diameter each, all with intact loops). Intact enamels, near extremely fine.
Footnote: The Order was instituted on May 14, 1888 and is an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown, the reigning monarch being Sovereign Head of the Order. The Order is a major international charity providing medical care, first aid and support in more than forty countries worldwide and focusing especially on those in poverty. The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election to that seat by the College of Cardinals. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is one of the five Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See. The honour is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women (and sometimes in rare cases to non-Catholics) in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labours, their support of the Holy See, and their excellent examples set forth in their communities and their countries. The Order of St. Gregory the Great has four "classes" in civil and military divisions: Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the First Class, Knight/Dame Commander with Star, Knight/Dame Commander and Knight/Dame.