Premier Firearms Auction
May 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2022
Our first premier auction of 2022! This event hosts collections from across the country and brings them under one roof for an amazing multi-day auction!
This is an incredible opportunity to add rare and desirable firearms & militaria to your collection.
A FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR PERIOD POUR LE MERITE WITH RIBBON ALSO KNOWN AS THE “BLUE MAX”.
The Pour le Merite has long been one of the most prized & collected military medals of the world.
This exceptional example was likely made by Wagner around 1870. It is gold w/ stunning blue enamel & measures 54.2mm in width & 54.1mm in height. It is off hollow construction w/ a single tiny vent hole in the center of the bottom of the medal. There are no markings on the medal but construction is very typical of awards made by Wagner during the Franco-Prussian War era. The medal itself features a crowned “F” & the words, “Pour le Merite” in gold on brilliant blue enamel field. Between the arms of the crosses are gold Prussian eagles. A lg. solid gold ring connects the medal to its black & silver bullion thread ribbon. The Pour le Merite was first awarded in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. French was the leading international language of the age & was spoken at King Frederick II’s court. This is the reason that one of the highest German awards has a French name. At the fall of the Prussian monarchy in 1918, the military class of the Pour le Merite ceased being awarded.
