Germany, Third Reich. A German Eagle Order Bar and Document Group to Ignacio Velayos Sanchez

(Ordensschnalle mit Verleihungsurkunden). A fantastic award and document grouping to Spanish recipient Ignacio Velayos Sanchez, an Officer who rendered meritorious service to the victory of Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, consisting of:

A medal bar featuring four awards, including:

1. A Spanish Order of Military Merit, I Class Cross, constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Geneva Cross, the obverse with red enameled arms, overlaid by a central enameled disc bearing a Castilian coat of arms, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a crown and loop connecting to a period original ribbon with a repeat bar, unmarked, measuring 33.86 mm (w) x 45.88 mm (h), demonstrating minor scratching and flecking to enamels, in near extremely fine condition.

2. A Commemorative Medal for the Campaign of 1936-1939, constructed of gilded and blackened bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 37.00 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

3. An Order of the German Eagle, V Class Cross with Swords, constructed of gilded bronze with enamels, consisting of a Maltese Cross with white enameled arms, joined through the quadrants by NSDAP-style German national eagles clutching wreathed mobile swastika on white enameled discs, overlaid across the three and nine o’clock arms with crossed swords, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a ribbed fan with an eyelet and suspension loop retaining a period original ribbon, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim, measuring 44.59 mm (w) x 50.45 mm (h), demonstrating flecking throughout the enamels, with a chip to the reverse centrepiece and evidence of sporadic repair, in very fine condition.

 4. Royal and Military Order of St. Hermenegildo, Gold Cross, constructed of a gilded alloy with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with white enameled arms, the obverse bearing a central blue enameled medallion overlaid by a raised and gilded depiction of St. Hermenegild, situated within a blue enameled ring bearing a gilt inscription of “PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR” (“AWARD FOR MILITARY CONSTANCY”), the reverse overlaid by a central medallion bearing a raised monogram of King Ferdinand VII, surrounded by gilded and blue enameled rings, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a crown suspension with a loop connecting to a period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 37.50 mm (w) x 47.47 mm (h), demonstrating some flecking to the enamels, in extremely fine condition.

All suspended from a classic Spanish-style bronze clasp with a horizontal pinback, measuring 125 mm in length.

Accompanied by a matching ribbon bar, executed in a typical Spanish style with a bronze frame and transparent celluloid face, featuring six decorations, including Military Merit Medal, two Orders of Military merit, a Commemorative Medal for the Campaign of 1936-1939, and a Royal and Military Order of St. Hermenegildo, the reverse with a horizontal pinback, unmarked, measuring 90 mm in length, in extremely fine condition.

Also accompanied by an original matching and cut-down award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to “LEUTNANT DON IGNACIO VELAYOS SANCHEZ”, awarding him the “VERDIENSTKREUZ DES ORDENS VOM DEUTSCHEN ADLER DRITTER STUFE MIT SCHWERTERN” (as the V Class was referred to in pre-1943 regulations), issued in Berlin and dated 5 June 1939, certified by the facsimile signatures of AH and Otto Meissner, measuring 21 cm (w) x 30 cm (h), also accompanied by a cut-out of the award document’s cover, constructed of off-white card stock and bearing a gilt NSDAP-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 11 cm (w) x 9.5 cm (h), along with a complete copy of the statues of the Order of the German Eagle, constructed of off-white paper stock with non-paginated interior pages featuring the provisions of the award in Fraktur script, measuring 21.5 cm (w) x 30 cm (h), in overall near extremely fine condition.