British Indian Empire Imperatricis Auspicis Medal

Item:British Indian Empire Medal Imperatricis Auspicis

Price:$2,400.

Date:Dec. 04 2011

Bids:Sold as Buy It Now

Auction:Ebay

Seller:EliteMilitaria

Feedback:12,706 (100%)

Images and description by Elite Militaria:

Extremely scarce original British Order from the 1940’s in fantastic condition. One of the rarest of British Orders of Chivalry in the British award system with a history dating back to the 1800’s Queen Victoria.

British Empire Medal Imperatricis Auspicis

C.I.E. Neck Order, made from Gold with stunning exquisite enamel work, in original Presentation Case of issue , marked under the lid Garrad & Co. With scarce original Bestowal Award Document signed by the King of England to Basil John Knight Hallowes, Esq who was a British Commissioner assigned to the Indian province of Ajmer-Merwara.

Additionally included a forwarding letter from the Governor, United Provinces, an original Photo of the recipient with his just shot Tiger. Also an extremely scarce exceptionally finely worked hand made silk and bullion private letter tribude dated 1931 from the Indian Taluqdar of Manjhgawan and Basti Hajijot to then British Service Commissioner B.J.K. Hallowes.

HISTORY: The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of Chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:

Knight Grand Commander (GCIE)

Knight Commander (KCIE)

Companion (CIE)

No appointments have been made since 1947, the year of the Partition of India. With the death of the last surviving knight, The Maharaja of Dhrangadhra, the order became dormant in 2010.

The motto of the Order is Imperatricis auspiciis, (Latin for “Under the auspices of the Empress”), a reference to Queen Victoria, the first Empress of India. The Order is the junior British order of chivalry associated with the Empire of India; the senior one is The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.

The British founded the Order in 1878 to reward British and “native” officials who served in India. The Order originally had only one class (Companion), but expanded to comprise two classes in 1887. The British authorities intended the Order of the Indian Empire as a less exclusive version of the Order of the Star of India (founded in 1861); consequently, many more appointments were made to the former than to the latter.

On 15 February 1887, the Order of the Indian Empire formally became “The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire” and was divided into two classes: Knights Commander and Companions, with the following first Knights Commander:

These very scarce C.I.E. ORDERS don’t come up for sale too often, especially in this fantastic condition, so don’t hesitate as you will never get another opportunity to own one Britain’s highest Order of Chivalry.