VINTAGE POST WW2 CASED GERMAN BUNDESREPUBLIC ORDER OF MERIT CROSS 1ST CLASS S&L

Offered is an original cased Federal Republic of German Order of Merit Cross, 1st class.

55mm wide gilt-edged red enamel narrow-armed cross pattée; the face with a circular central gilt medallion imposed bearing a black eagle, wings outstretched; the reverse plain with hinged pin for wear; with buttonhole badge with a gilt and red and black enamel miniature of the Cross on ribbon and buttonhole ribbon bar pin; in original fitted embossed case of issue with maker’s mark ‘Steinhauer & Luck, Ludenscheid’ in gilt letters on the base, with a few slight scuffs to top lid.

The Order is the highest honour that the Federal Republic of Germany bestows and was instituted by President Theodor Heuss on 7 September 1951, second anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic, ‘with the desire to create a visible expression of recognition and thanks for meritorious men and women of the German people and from abroad for service in the fields of politics, socio-economics and intellectual work and for service in rebuilding the fatherland, and, as an award intended for all, for contributions to enhancing Germany’s reputation abroad’. (‘In dem Wunsche, verdienten Männern und Frauen des deutschen Volkes und des Auslandes Anerkennung und Dank sichtbar zum Ausdruck zu bringen, stifte ich am 2. Jahrestag der Bundesrepublik Deutschland den ,Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Er wird verliehen für Leistungen, die im Bereich der politischen, der wirtschaftlich-sozialen und der geistigen Arbeit dem Wiederaufbau des Vaterlandes dienten, und soll eine Auszeichnung all derer bedeuten, deren Wirken zum friedlichen Aufstieg der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beiträgt’). . The cross for men may be distinguished from that for ladies in that it is slightly larger. This example with hinged suspension pin dates from the late 1950s to early 1960s. A very good example.