United Kingdom. A Liverpool Shipwreck And Humane Society Marine Medal, Type III Case

Instituted in 1839. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, the exterior with a black pebbled covering on all sides, the convex lid bearing the insignia of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, illustrating a liver bird (the symbol of the City of Liverpool) standing upon an oval garter inscribed "LIVERPOOL SHIPWRECK AND HUMANE SOCIETY" and "FOUNDED 1839", the insignia above a ribbon banner inscribed "INCORPORATED 1888", within a thin rule, all in a gold-coloured ink, the bottom with a matching thin rule to that of the lid, inside of the front lid lined in white satin, padded and maker marked "R.C. Oldfield / GOLDSMITH & SILVERSMITH / OLD POST OFFICE PLACE / CHURCH St. LIVERPOOL.", the inside of the back lid lined in white satin and exhibiting the impression of the once present medal, with a framed swing panel placed between the lids in violet velvet on both sides, the brackets for the frame attached to the medal's hinges, the panel with a voided area in the centre in order to house the medal, enabling the recipient to view both sides of the medal with ease, dual-hinged along the left spine, the push release closure on the right side, measuring 72 mm (w) x 126 mm (h) x 24 mm (d), the inside particularly clean and without interruptions in the fabrics, very fine.

Footnote: The Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society was formed in 1839, to administer funds raised to help and reward those who distinguished themselves in saving life as a result of a hurricane which swept the Irish Sea in January of that year. The first medals were struck in 1844 and presented for rescues dating back to November 1839.