Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, K.C.M.G., neck badge in gold and enamels surmounted by gold crown, the suspension loop hallmarked London 1817-18, with maker’s mark IN for John Northam, 87 x 67mm excluding suspension ring, some very minor enamel chips, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare £6000-7000

Provenance: David Spink Collection 1985.

Exhibited: Gold: Power and Allure, The Goldsmiths’ Company, June-July 2012.


This order was founded in 1818 to commemorate the British assumption of government over Malta and the Ionian Islands, particularly Corfu, in 1814. It was created to reward both local citizens and British officials responsible for administering the new territories. The order remained a localised one until 1864 and the cessation of the Ionian Islands to Greece. In 1868 its statutes were remodelled to allow wider bestowal, notably to reward colonial servants.

From the outset in 1818 the order was formed of three classes of members, all of them knights, and restricted to the following maxima:

8 Knights Grand Cross including the Grand Master (later G.C.M.G.)
12 Knights Commanders (later K.C.M.G.)
24 Knights (later Cavalieri/Companions - C.M.G.)

All insignia was returnable upon death or promotion and this strictly limited membership means that early insignia of this order is of the highest rarity. The membership was initially increased in 1837 and continued to expand thereafter to fulfil the demand from the Colonial Service and the Government in general.