GREAT BRITAIN, ROYAL GUELPHIC ORDER, MILITARY DIVISION |

Military Division, breast star by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, circa 1815, Cambridge No. 4, in pierced jewel-cut silver with gold crossed swords and centre in gold and enamels, the White Horse of Hanover over a straight-flinked base to central medallion, reverse with gold brooch-pin and backplate engraved RUNDELL, BRIDGE & RUNDELL. JEWELLERS TO THEIR MAJESTIES, His Royal Highnefs the PRINCE REGENT, AND THE ROYAL FAMILY, No. 4, extremely fine

Apparently one of the first breast stars of the Order, founded by the Prince Regent in 1815. The 1904 sale of Decorations of the Dukes of Cambridge included eleven Guelph stars stated to have belonged to Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge (lots 755-765, having ‘Cambridge Numbers’ 3, 5, 6, 8-14 inclusive and 16). The four further pieces in the present sale are this star numbered 4 (the earliest and largest of the group), 7, 17 (of smaller module) and 2 (the latest, dating from circa 1835).