Early Badge of the 3rd Class. Gilt Silver, 87 x 56 mm, white enameled cross, red enameled centre, with applied, gilt-silver, cyrillic inscription, white enameled outer circlet with the Order's motto in gold lettering and laurel branches, white enameled reverse medallion (a small chip) with the date of creation of the Bulgarian Principality in golden, cyrillic lettering, typical, stylized "trefoil" upper loop, princely crown suspension (orb`s little cross, missing) with hanging, curved pendalia (one, struck with Imperial Russian Silver "84" and "И.О" marks, original ribbon ring with applied, fine pearls (partly, missing), original,
crimson-red neck ribbon with ties. An extremely rare piece of beautiful, old Russian manufacture. After what stated in U. Bretzendorfer - Th. Kuhn: "Bulgarien St. Alexander Orden von 1881 bis 1948 Bd. 2", Konstanz, Phal. Verlag v. Michael Autengruber, 2008, page 17, this class was awarded to 19 Bulgarian and to 123 foreign dignitaries only, fine to very fine condition. This Order was instituted by Prince Alexander on August 19th, 1878 in the honour of St. Alexander Nevsky. In its complex history, and evolution, it was destined to reward courage, gallantry and outstanding merits to the Bulgarian throne, both military and civil. II RR!