image

Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 493

The Important and Well-Documented Group of Orders and Medals Bestowed Upon Monsieur L. Hymans, Belgian Politician, Historian, and Journalist, and the Father of the First President of the League of Nations a) Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Stanislaus, An Early Second Class breast Badge, by Johann Wilhelm Keibel, St. Petersburg, 45mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, court stamp to obverse upper arm, maker´s mark ´WK´ on reverse, gold marks and ´1857´ year stamp to suspension ring, enamel damage to one arm of cross, with rosette on riband b) Germany, Saxony, Order of Albert, Commander´s neck Badge, 88mm including crown suspension x 53mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband c) Brazil, Empire, Order of the Rose, Officer´s set of Insignia, breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 33mm, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel repair work, with rosette on riband; Star, no crown, 58mm, gilt and enamel, one rose missing from Star, with enamel damage to one other rose d) Thailand, Kingdom, Medals from the Reign of Rama V (2), 31mm, silver e) Miniature Awards: Belgium, Order of Leopold; Germany, Saxony, Order of Albert; Spain, Order of Isabella the Catholic; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus; Brazil, Order of the Rose, gold, silver-gilt, and enamel, mounted as worn continental style on a quadruple braided gold chain, with fixing pins at either end, generally very fine, with the following original documents and letters &c.: - Letter to the recipient from the Ministry of the Interior accompanying the Commemorative Medal for the 25th Anniversary of the Inauguration of the King, dated 28.2.1857 - Letter to the recipient from Imperial Russian Legation, Brussels, accompanying the insignia of the 2nd Class of the Order of St. Stanislaus, signed by Prince Orloff and dated 3.9.1863, together with a hand written note announcing the award, signed N. Orloff and dated 28.7.1863 - Royal Decree from Leopold, King of the Belgians, granting Monsieur Louis Hymans, Member of the Chamber of Representatives, permission to wear the insignia of the 2nd Class of the Order of St. Stanislaus, dated 4.4.1864, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering letter, dated 9.4.1864 - Bestowal Document for the Order of Albert, dated Dresden, 24.4.1867 - Royal Decree from Leopold II, King of the Belgians, granting Monsieur Hymans, Member of the Chamber of Representatives, permission to wear the insignia of the Commander 2nd Class of the Order of Albert, dated 8.6.1868, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering letter, dated 23.6.1868 - Royal Decree from Leopold II, King of the Belgians, granting Monsieur Hymans, Lawyer, permission to wear the insignia of the Officer of the Order of the Rose, dated 1.10.1870, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering letter, dated 1.10.1870 - Royal Decree from Leopold II, King of the Belgians, granting Monsieur Louis Hymans, Man of Letters, permission to wear the insignia of the Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, dated 18.3.1872 (lot) Estimate £ 5,000-6,000 Louis Hymans was one of the great leaders and moderators of public opinion in 19th Century Belgium, as a journalist with the Independance Belge; a Member of the House of Representatives; a noted Lawyer; and Professor of History for the Museum of Industry. He was born in 1829, on the eve of Belgium becoming a nation state, and throughout his lifetime devoted himself to the new kingdom. ´´He knew Belgium most thoroughly. Its history, archaeology, its natural resources, art, and industries were familiar to him in their minutest details; he could talk in all the dialects of the country, from the pure Flemish of Ypres to the Walloon jargon of Charleroi; and he was a friend of everybody, beginning with the King, who delighted in the vivacity of his conversation. His presence at a popular gathering always provoked a cheer, and he never attended a banquet without being called upon to make a speech.´´ (The New York Times, 15.6.1884 refers). He died in 1884, and is buried in Ixelles Cemetery, Belgium. His son, Paul Louis Hymans, was a Liberal Politician who was the First President of the League of Nations, 1920-21, and later 1932-33.

Sold for
£5,200