International. A Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order Of Saint John Of Jerusalem, Of Rhodes And Of Malta, I Class Grand Cross 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 pebbled cloth exterior on all six sides, inside lid in a champagne-coloured satin and maker marked "1836 JOHNSON MILANO ROMA" in gold-coloured ink, the area overlying the hinged area and the base lined in champagne-coloured satin, raised platform in cream-coloured felt with recessed medal beds for the badge and miniature, along with slotted medal beds for the breast star and rosette, measuring 143 mm (w) x 318 mm (h) x 52.5 mm (d), light wear and scuffing evident on the exterior, clasp closure, near extremely 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.