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Auction: 11007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 79

The Chinese First Class Gold Medal of Pao Hsing Bestowed Upon Mr. W. Cartwright, Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service China, Empire, Gold Medal Pao Hsing, First Class, 36mm, gold, centre set with a coral cabochon, extremely fine, extremely rare, complete with neck riband and pendant tassels Estimate £ 10,000-12,000 Mr. William Cartwright, born July 1847, the son of Dr. John Cartwright, of Colne, Wiltshire; joined the Royal Navy and sailed to China as a Midshipman in the ´Lay-Osborn´ Flotilla, 1863; upon the dis-banding of the Flotilla joined the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service, August 1863, and served in various capacities at Foochow, Amoy, Taiwan, Canton, Tamsui, and Hankow; served as Chinese Secretary on three occasions, 1875-76, 1887-89, and 1889-93; awarded the Chinese Gold Medal of Pao Hsing, First Class in 1868; appointed Commissioner of Customs, January 1873. Cartwright retired in May 1895, and died, March 1911. The Medal of Pao Hsing was instituted in 1862 following the establishment of the Foreign Ministry, and was China´s first official medal. It came in three classes, and was awarded for exceptional gallantry or distinguished service; awards of the medal ceased in 1881, when the new Imperial Order of the Double Dragon was instituted. Provenance: Spink, 28.3.1995

Sold for
£56,000