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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 675

Germany, Prussia, Pour Le Merite, A Fine Quality neck Badge, possibly of Post Great War manufacture, by Johann Wagner and Sohne, Berlin, 56mm, silver-gilt (.800 fineness) and light-blue enamel, maker´s mark and silver marks stamped on arms of cross, very minor enamel flaking, otherwise good very fine, with neck riband Estimate £ 800-1,000 The Pour Le Merit, the Legendary ´´Blue Max´´, was originally instituted in 1667, and revised in 1740 and 1810, from which date it was awarded only for outstanding bravery on the battlefield or in the air. Awards ceased following Germany´´s defeat in the Great War. Until 1916 all Pour Le Merite Badges were made of gold; from November of that year they were made of silver which was then gilded. At first they were made with a silver content of at least .900, but as the War progressed the silver content was reduced to .800. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s a small number of licensed later jeweller´´s replacements were manufactured- these, however, were usually of .938 silver content, and it is therefore likely that this badge is an issue piece.

Sold for
£2,400