OTTOMAN EMPIRE, ORDER OF MEDJIDJIE |

4th Class breast badge, in silver, with applied gold and red enamel centre and star-and crescent suspension, plain reverse, with ribbon and rosette, enamel loss to crescent in suspension, otherwise good very fine

The 2nd Duke’s Grand Cross of the Order of Medjidjie was evidently a magnificent set of insignia in diamonds, sold in the 1904 Decorations of the Dukes of Cambridge auction as two lots (813 and 814, achieving a total of £528).  It is thought that this modest badge of standard type, which has formed part of the collection for as long as can be remembered, might have been worn by the Duke on less formal military occasions alongside his Crimea medals.  The 1904 sale also included ‘A Russian Crimean Silver Medal’ attributed to the 2nd Duke (lot 818, sold for £1/15/-).