Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

King’s Messenger Badge, a particularly fine and early George III badge, cast and chased, 130 x 55mm, silver-gilt, London hallmarks for 1793 and maker’s mark ‘W.P I.P’ for William Pitts and Joseph Preedy, obverse central shield with the pre-1800 Royal Arms (still incorporating those of France), glazed, surrounded by Garter, the reverse plain with heavy suspension ring, with pendant Greyhound, 55mm, silver with Sterling marks, painting faded in parts, otherwise good very fine and rare £1400-1800

See Colour Plate X

Although two similar badges of this date and by this maker have been recorded, this would appear to be the first known example to retain the original pre-1800 Royal Arms. King George III dropped his claim to the French throne in 1800, at which time the French Arms were removed and the Hanoverian escutcheon placed at the centre of the quartered arms of England, Scotland and Ireland. It was common practise for King’s Messenger badges to be ‘brought up to date’ by changing the central Arms of the badge and even the monarch’s cypher, making the survival of a badge of this period quite exceptional.