Mexico, II Empire. An Order of Guadalupe, Grand Cross for Civil Merit, c.1865

(Orden de Guadalupe). Instituted in 1822, Restored in 1863. Type III, Crowned Eagle. 1863-1867 Issue. Of French manufacture, in silver gilt consisting of a green, white and red enameled Patée Cross with ball finials, hand chiseled rays in each quadrant, obverse centre featuring a fine handmade figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by the inscription RELIGION INDEPENDENCIA UNION (Religion, Independency, Fraternity), reverse centre depicting the inscription AL MERITO Y VIRTUDES (to Merit and Virtue), with surrounded olive and palm wreaths applied to reverse, suspended from a later manufactured cast national eagle with imperial crown, hallmarked with a boar's head on the right tip of the leafing just below the arm at 6 o'clock on the obverse, measuring 51 mm (w) x 82.5 mm (h) inclusive of its crowned National eagle suspension, chipping evident in the green enamels on the arm at 9 o'clock on the obverse, along with the arm at 12 o'clock and the centrepiece ring on the reverse, scattered gilt wear, on a full-length original sash incorporating a decorative moiré pattern, near extremely fine. Footnote: The Order of Guadalupe was originally established in Mexico as the Imperial Order of Guadalupe by Agustín de Iturbide at the end of the year 1821, and it was annulled on 1823 after Iturbide was overthrown. The Order was rescinded, and recreated, twice during the nineteenth century. The Order was finally dissolved on June 19, 1867. In Type III, the Order was founded on July 1, 1863, and it was confirmed by Maximilian I on April 10, 1865. It was awarded in recognition of the extraordinary services rendered to the Empire, civil virtues, and distinguished merit.