A extremely fine Bulgarian Royal civil merit order , Grand cross badge1st type - Variation 1
Large type , 73mm x 110 mm (incl. crown and excluding suspension ring)
Total height with suspension = 143 mm
This is considered for the rarest issue of all the orders for Civil Merit,known as Knyaz Crown.
It is the very first Knyaz Ferdinand I issue ,which was produced between 1891 till 1908.
It is different from the later King Ferdinand I issues with the special round Knyaz Crown with pendelia pinted down.Also different with its suprime quality,made by hand of the master(made in St.Petersburg and in Wien),made of 23kt goldplated & enamelled solid silver (the later orders made after 1908 are silverplated,not solid silver!).
Another diference with the King's issue is that this Knyaz issue has a gild reverse without enamel,which is all hand engraved, smooth made-a real masterpiece.
The basic difference is that the first Knyaz issue is entirly hand made, till the later King's issue is machine made,without hand finis.
So the Knyaz issue orders for Civil merit are the most volonted between collectors,and respectivly highly priced.