Moore Allen & Innocent
Lot 369
A collection of medals awarded to Lady Northcliffe formerly Miss Mary Elizabeth Milner, later Lady Mary Hudson wife of newspaper tycoon Alfred Harmsworth, Lord Northcliffe, including the Grand Cross of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire (awarded for her Red Cross work during the First World War) including neck decoration and breast badge, British 1914-1918 War medal inscribed to the edge "Lady M E Northcliffe", H.M. Queen Alexandra's Committee silver and enamel decorated medal inscribed verso "Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses 1887", two Order of St. John enamel decorated medals, a silver Order of St. John medal/badge, British Red Cross Society medallion stamped verso "JR Gaunt, London - 1625 - Lady Northcliffe" together with miniatures for the GBE, War medal, Order of St. John and George V Royal Red Cross medal together with certificate awarded to Mary Elizabeth the Viscountess Northcliffe CBE as Lady of Grace of the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England .... framed and glazed together with GBE silk ceremonial robe/mantle by W. Northam, Robe Maker, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London bearing silver mounted medallion depicting the portrait busts of George and Mary and inscribed "For God and the Empire" 168 cm neck to base CONDITION REPORTS Please note - the GBE medal is the later 1937 version not 1918 model. Unknown if a replacement for the original 1918 or not. Centre of the medal with small scratches to the surface and minor wear to the extremities conducive with age and use. The metal ware with oxidisation in various areas - see images for detail. Leather case has some scratching, particularly to the top right section. Order of St. John appears to need a clean and has light surface scratching conducive with age and use. Metalwork with oxidisation. Miniature in similar but better condition i.e. cleaner overall. The British 1914-1918 War medal - basically sound though with oxidisation. Ribbon with some marks. Box not original.The Queen Alexandra's Committee silver and enamel medal - basically sound. Enamel looks good. Metalware with oxidisation. Ribbon with some fraying and marking. Silver St. John's badge - basically in good condition though arguably in need of a clean.Miniatures appear in good condition though ribbons with marks throughout. Original large version of the Royal Red Cross medal - not here.British Red Cross Society medal - basically sound - cord also basically sound.Certificate basically sound though with some rippling to the lower border. The metal casing bearing Cross of St. John - with some chipping to the paintwork and tassels with some sign of old moth damage. Cape / mantel - with several areas of damage to the silkwork, rips, scratches, creases, etc. See images for detail. Ribbons to shoulders with damage - again see images. The sash basically sound but with marks, possibly cleanable. Tassel basically appears sound though arguably could do with a clean along the cord as some slight browning.
