A scarce 3rd Class badge of the Order of the Dooranee Empire, instituted in 1839 by Shah Soojah-ul-Moolk

Afghanistan, Order of the Dooranee Empire 1839, 3rd class badge, of ‘standard’ Afghan manufacture, 55 x 50 mm., gold and enamels, the central enamelled Persian inscription encircled by 15 small pearls, fitted with later gold ring and loop for suspension from the neck, chips to central inscription, otherwise very fine and rare £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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In addition to the medals for Ghuznee, the Shah instituted the Order of the Dooranee Empire which was to be conferred on a number of officers who took part. Awarded in three classes similar to the Bath, all insignia had in the centre, on a blue and green enamelled ground, Persian characters meaning Durr-i-Durrani, or “Pearl of Pearls”, which is unsurprisingly surrounded by a circle of pearls.

The investiture took place at Kabul on the 17th September 1839 at 5 p.m.; all officers in the city were invited to attend. Shah Soojah invested Sir John Keane, the Political Officer Sir William Macnaughten, and General Sir Willoughby Cotton with the First Class of the Order, and informed the other officers present on whom the Order was to be conferred that there weren’t enough badges ready to enable anyone else to be invested. However, the names of those who were going to get it were read out and every officer so honoured went up to the Shah and bowed in acknowledgement.

Insignia of Afghan manufacture is consequently very scarce. Many officers who had been rewarded with this order did not in fact receive their insignia from Shah Soojah-ul-Moolk, the local craftsmen apparently unable to supply the numbers required. Subsequently, many officers had insignia manufactured in Europe, often of a much higher quality and sometimes set with stones.