Vatican. An Order Of St. Gregory The Great For Military Merit, Iii Class Knight's Case, C.1870

(Ordine di San Gregorio Magno). Instituted in 1831. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, the exterior with a deep red pebbled covering on five sides, the bottom with a black pebbled covering, the lid with the Papal coat-of-arms of Pope Pius IX (Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti, 1846-1878) in gold-colored ink, the arms consisting of the Papal crown and crossed keys above a shield, which bears a rampant lion, the arms of the Mastai family, in the first and fourth quarters, while the second and third quarters have argent, two bends gules of the Ferretti family, inside lid lined in white satin, padded, maker marked "ROTHE KOHLMARKT 7 WIEN" and exhibiting the impression of the once present badge, a white fabric-wrapped cardboard insert placed within the base and incorporating a recessed medal bed in black felt, dual-hinged, push release closure, measuring 72 mm (w) x 125 mm (h) x 25 mm (d), light wear and scuffing evident on the exterior, the interior very clean and without interruptions in the fabrics, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election to that seat by the College of Cardinals. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is one of the five Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See. The honour is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women (and sometimes in rare cases to non-Catholics) in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labours, their support of the Holy See, and their excellent examples set forth in their communities and their countries. The Order of St. Gregory the Great has four "classes" in civil and military divisions: Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the First Class, Knight/Dame Commander with Star, Knight/Dame Commander and Knight/Dame.