Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The G.C.V.O. set of insignia awarded to Lord Rennell, H.M. Envoy to Sweden, on the occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. Princess Margaret of Connaught to H.R.H. Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1905

The Royal Victorian Order, G.C.V.O., Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘146’; Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘146’, with gold retaining pin, with full sash riband, in Collingwood, London case of issue, the case officially numbered ‘G146’, extremely fine (2) £1,800-£2,200

Provenance: Spink, July 2000 (when sold alongside the recipient’s campaign medals); Dix Noonan Webb, December 2009.

James Rennell Rodd, 1st Baron Rennell, was born on 9 November 1958 and was educated at Haileybury and Balliol College, Oxford. Entering the Diplomatic Service, he was in charge of the British Agency at Zanzibar throughout 1893 and was present at the actions of Pumwani and Jongeni, 1893. The following year he was transferred to Cairo and in 1897 was Special Envoy to King Menelik II. Rodd was the Secretary of the Legation, Cairo, 1894-1901; Councillor of the Embassy at Rome, 1901-04; H.M. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Sweden, 1904-08; and Ambassador to Italy, 1908-19. Post-war he was a British delegate at the League of Nations, 1921-23 and a Member of Parliament, 1928-32. He was awarded the G.C.V.O. in 1905 for services as H.M. Envoy to Sweden and on the occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. Princess Margaret of Connaught to H.R.H. Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, and was additionally appointed G.C.M.G. in 1915 and G.C.B. in 1920. He was raised to the peerage as the 1st Baron Rennell in 1933, and died on 26 July 1941.