Honorary badge for the 25th birthday of Crown Prince Wilhelm (1884)

Rare honorary badge of the future Emperor Wilhelm II.

This extraordinary Hohenzollern honorary badge was created on the occasion of the 25th birthday of Crown Prince Wilhelm, the future Emperor Wilhelm II, and is dated to 1884. It is considered one of the particularly rare commemorative and honorary items from the circle of the Prussian court and reflects the close connection between monarchy, the military, and personal loyalty in the German Empire.

The obverse shows the finely crafted monogram "A & W" for Auguste Victoria and Wilhelm. This symbol not only represents the union of the future imperial couple but also refers to the special esteem in which selected members of the Prussian officer corps were held. Such honorary badges were awarded only within an exclusive circle and possessed a distinctly personal character.

Portraits of the future imperial couple

Inside the honorary badge are two carefully arranged portraits: Auguste Victoria in an elegant depiction and Wilhelm in military uniform. The images lend the object a rare personal touch and make it an impressive testament to military commemorative culture and the self-representation of the House of Hohenzollern.

Dimensions of the honorary badge: approx. 3.5 × 4.5 cm

Original case with Hamburg provenance

Particularly noteworthy is the preserved original case, whose lid is embossed with the large coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. This design very probably indicates a connection with the traditional Infantry Regiment "Hamburg" (2nd Hanseatic) No. 76, an important unit of the Prussian Army.

The regiment embodied the close connection between the Hanseatic cities and the imperial house and was considered an expression of Hanseatic loyalty and military tradition within the German Empire.

Dimensions of the case: approx. 13 × 11.5 cm

Historical photography of Auguste Victoria and Wilhelm

The lot also includes an early cabinet card photograph of the future imperial couple, taken by Theodor Prümm in Berlin. The high-quality double portrait ideally complements the honorary badge and underscores the representative character of the ensemble.

Dimensions of the photograph: approx. 10.5 × 16.5 cm

Presented in a high-quality presentation box

This remarkable ensemble is delivered in a specially made piano-lacquered presentation box, which allows for presentation and storage in a particularly stylish manner. The excellent state of preservation as well as the combination of the honorary badge, original case, and contemporary photography make this set an outstanding collector's item.

For collectors of Imperial era and Hohenzollern memorabilia

This rare ensemble combines Emperor Wilhelm II, Auguste Victoria, an original Hohenzollern honorary badge, historical photography, and military tradition in an extraordinary lot. It is ideal for collectors of Imperial era memorabilia, Prussian military history, Hohenzollern souvenirs, historical awards, and authentic objects from the era of the German Empire.