Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/589

270 the left side of the breast a square silver star, similar to that of the Grand Cross.

4. The small cross is of silver, with the white enamelled middle of the cross of the Knights.

THE ORDER OF ALBERT.

It is represented in Plate 78. No. 2, and was founded on the 3lst December, 1850, by King Frederick Augustus, in memory of the founder of the Albert line, of the House of Saxony, Duke Albert the Bold.

The claim to this Order is founded on merit in general, civil, military, literary or scientific.

It consists of five classes: Grand Cross Knights, Commanders, first and second classes, Knights, first and second classes.

The decoration for the first four classes consists of an oblong gold cross, enamelled white, with the lower arm much larger than the others. It has small mountings of gold, and a white enamelled middle, the obverse of which exhibits, within a blue enamelled centre, the effigy of Duke Albert in gold relief, while the circle round it contains the legend: 'Albertus animosus.' The reverse shows the Saxon arms, and within a blue ring, the year '1850.' The cross is, moreover, placed on a green enamelled oaken wreath worked in relief.

The decoration of the first three classes is of the same size, and surmounted by a gold crown, which is omitted in the somewhat smaller crosses of the two other classes. The small cross is of silver. Its obverse shows the effigy of Duke Albert, and the engraved words: ' Albertus animosus,' while the reverse exhibits the Saxon arms and the year of the foundation of the Order.