Portugal, Republic. A Lisbon Geographic Society Member's Collar, By A. Alberti

Two-piece construction, Portuguese coat-of-arms in bronze gilt with red and white enamels mounted to a circular bronze gilt base, obverse illustrating the coat-of-arms fronting a globe, surrounded by the inscription "POR MARES NUNCA DANTES NAVEGADOS" (By Uncharted Waters) and engraver marked "JOAO ANJOS H. F. GRV.", reverse inscribed "SOCIEDADE DE GEOGRAPHIA DE LISBOA" (Lisbon Geographic Society), inside a beaded frame, surrounded by a design of repeating six-sided stars and leafing, 50.5 mm, large ring fed through a ball suspension, on an 805 mm long neck chain in bronze gilt, hooked to the ring via hooks on either end of the chain, the chain incorporating eight globes and eight anchors in alternating positions, the globes with green and black enamels, the anchors with black enamels, four globes illustrating the Americas, the other four globes illustrating Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, a seventeenth insignia placed at the mid-point and engraver marked "JOAO ANJOS CONDECORACOES" on the obverse, with a hook on the reverse, each of the insignias linked together via a large single-chain link, light contact, near extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, maker marked "A. ALBERTI e C. Milano" on the inside lid, lightly soiled raised platform with recessed medal bed for both the award itself and miniature of same, the latter having been lost to time, light wear on the exterior, case very fine.

Footnote: The Lisbon Geographic Society is a Portuguese scientific society created in Lisbon in the year of 1875, aiming to "promote and assist the study and progress of geography and related sciences in Portugal." The Society was created in the context of the European movement of exploration and colonization, having its activity particular emphasis in the exploration of the African Continent. On November 10, 1875, a group of 74 subscribers petitioned King Luís I of Portugal for the creation of a society, to be called "Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa", with the objective to "promote and assist the study and progress of geography and related sciences in the country." Two of the subscribers were Luciano Cordeiro and Teófilo Braga, among many other intellectuals, journalists, and politicians of that time. The Society's goals were to organize conferences and scientific congresses, and grant funds destined to exploration trips and scientific investigation. In December 1876, the Society initiated the publication of the Boletim da Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa (Lisbon's Geographic Society Bulletin), which is still in force today.