The Grand Cross sash badge. Silver gilt, enamel, 68.5 mm in length (incl. the cross on the pierced suspension ball), 33.3 mm in width. Excellent condition, no significant wear visible to the naked eye.

The Grand Cross Star. Silver gilt, enamels, measures 87 x 84.8 mm, weighs 70.1 g. Three-part construction. The reverse is silver with a 69.2 mm long pin assembly and two prongs. Very good to excellent condition, showing minor enamel loss on the crossbar of the anchor.

The sash appears to be original, in yellow moiré silk, 100 mm wide with separate red edges and middle stitched onto the yellow background. Except for a small dark stain about 18 cm above the bow, the sash is perfectly clean.

The box of issue appears to be of the period. In wood, measures 26x18x9 cm, covered in navy blue top grain leather with an embossed diagonal crisscross pattern. The lid is decorated with an embossed gold coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain. Very good condition, showing minor age and storage wear to the leather. The hinge is strong, the latch is in good working order.

The Order of Naval Merit was instituted on 3 August 1866 by Queen Isabella II as an award for gallantry or merit in war or peace. In 1869 the order was divided into White Distinction (white enamels) and Red Distinction (red enamels), the White Distinction awarded in recognition of distinguished services and actions rendered to Spain in peacetime.