A complete set of Grand Cross of Justice the Order (also “Senator Grand Cross”): Sash Badge in Gold with narrow, red enameled pointed cross enriched by the golden Greek letters, forming the “Khi-Ro” monogram of Jesus Christ and the “Alpha” and “Omega” (the latter as a minuscule letter, determining the Parmese branch of the Order; the lower arm with beautiful appendant as a golden representation of St. George on horse and the dragon; the reverse, same as the cross’s obverse; on top, the Ducal crown with polished orb, round link-ring and grooved suspension ring, complete with its original, full-length sash ribbon; Breast Star of early, Austrian manufacture with typical, chiseled and pierced silver rays; the centre as the Order’s Cross in gold and translucent red enamel, in the original, black morocco, octagonal case with ivory velvet, fitted inner compart- ment; together, the original bestowal document signed by the Duchess of Parma Maria Ludovica (Marie Louise of Austria, widow of Napoleon I Emperor of the French), to Moritz Prince of Dietrich- stein, Baron of Hollenburg, Finkenstein and Thalberg, who was the personal pedagogue and insti- tutor of the Prince of Reichstadt, formerly the “Roi de Rome”, son of Napoleon and Marie Louise, then raised in Vienna, far from his own mother.
A beautiful set of the order, extremely rare for being of the earliest type awarded during the reign of Marie-Louise, completed with an almost unique star of Austrian manufacture in a time when the order gave embroidered stars only (the hereby offered star, is precisely illustrated in the known litho- graphic portrait of Moritz v. Dietrichstein, published by Hanfstaengl, 1832; excellent condition. Dim.: 91,0 x 51,0 mm.; the star, dia. 75,0 mm. I RR!