Italy, Kingdom. A Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order Of Saint John Of Jerusalem, Knight's Badge Case

(Italian: Sovrano militare ordine di Malta; Latin: Supremus Ordo Militaris Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodius et Melitensis). Instituted in 1099. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, red dimpled paper exterior on five sides, with the bottom in a lacquered red paper, the lid with a Maltese Cross in white affixed in the centre, framed by two rules in gold-coloured ink, a thin rule framing the cross and an ornate rule on the perimeter, inside lid in white satin, padded and maker marked "S. Johnson ROMA / GALLERIA P. COLONNA. 12", a white cardboard insert placed within the base and housing a white felt medal bed with recessed medal beds for the Badge and Miniature, along with a slotted area for the Rosette, dual-hinged, single clasp closure, measuring 125 mm (w) x 140 mm (h) x 26 mm (d), moderate scuffing and wear evident on the exterior, the white Maltese Cross missing two tips, very light soiling on the inside lid and on the medal bed, very fine.

Footnote: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) or the Order of Malta, is a Catholic lay religious order traditionally of military, chivalrous and noble nature. The Order, often popularly referred to as the "Knights of Malta", was in existence certainly as long ago as the early years of the Twelfth Century and is still extant today. Originally based in Jerusalem, the Order moved to Tripoli following the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187 and to Rhodes by way of Cyprus after the fall of Acre in 1291. In 1522 Suleiman the Magnificent took Rhodes and the Order scattered. Charles V granted the Order the island of Malta and the Order settled here from 1530 to 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte captured the island en route for Egypt. In 1834, the order established a new headquarters in Rome and took on its current humanitarian and ceremonial role with Grand Masters being appointed by the Pope.