France, Colonial Somaliland. An Ordre Du Nichan El Anouar, Knight, c.1930

In silver with red and blue enamels, gilt stars in each quadrant, swivel crown, measuring 54 mm (w) x 74.5 mm (h - inclusive of crown and horizontally pierced ball suspension with crescent moon), maker marked on sing AB&C co, on original silk ribbon with French prongs, extremely fine. In case of issue, leather wrapped, embossed R.F. on exterior lid and marked for Bertrand on silk interior, good/fine.

Footnote: The Order of Nichan El-Anouar (Arabic: Order of the Light) was established in 1887, as a colonial order of merit of the Tajurah sultanate in French Somaliland (modern day Djibouti). It was instituted in 1887 by the Sultan of Tadjourah, Hamed-ben-Mohamed, to “perpetuate the happy moment when he and his people placed themselves under the protection of glorious France”. The Order became a French Colonial Order by the decrees of May 10th and 23rd, 1896 and on December 5, 1899. The Order became defunct on December 3, 1963. Tadjourah is a district of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.