GREAT BRITAIN, THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER |

Knight Commander’s breast star, in silver and enamels, with applied gold and enamelled crown, reverse with gold brooch-pin and officially numbered 72, extremely fine; together with an unnumbered (i.e. 1896-1901 issue) Commander’s neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, on neck riband, generally extremely fine                             

The KCVO breast star is attributed to either Rear Admiral Sir Adolphus Augustus Frederick Fitzgeorge (1846-1922) or to his brother Colonel Sir Augustus Charles Frederick Fitzgeorge CB (1847-1933), both of whom were created KCVO on the occasion of the funeral of their father, the Second Duke of Cambridge, on 23 March 1904.  Adolphus had previously been appointed CVO on 2 February 1901 as equerry to his father whilst it may be observed that another equerry (and Deputy Ranger of the Royal Parks, Richard Bateson) had previously been so honoured on 30 June 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. By 1904, and the issue of KCVO star no. 72, the associated neck badge would certainly also have been numbered.  The present lot is therefore not, strictly, a set and a possible explanation for the anomaly is that the insignia were at some point confused with very similar pieces (see also the following lot).