Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 2nd type (1912-39), 1st Class, Reward of Valor, by J. W. Benson Ltd., Ludgate Hill, London, 18 carat gold and enamel, hallmarked London 1915, concave reverse inscribed in four lines, ‘1st Class/Order/of/Merit’, with manufacturer’s name and address below, complete with gold ribbon buckle, chip to enamel at 6 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare £3000-4000

Provenance: John D. O’Malley Collection. Possibly the only known example of the 1st Class badge by Benson.

Although supplied by JWB post 1912, it accords with the specifications of the pre-1912 pattern 1st type badge, i.e. 1st type (1837-1912), 1st class. Weight of badge without ribbon 38.80g and buckle 7.57g