Austria, Republic. A State Of Vienna Merit Cross, Fullsize & Miniature

Fullsize: three-piece construction, in silver gilt with red and white enamels, measuring 44.5 mm (w) x 50.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, on its original triangular ribbon with hook and eye; and Miniature: three-piece construction, in silver gilt with red and white enamels, measuring 16.5 mm (w) x 16.5 mm (h), on a 48.5 mm long stickpin. Intact enamels, extremely fine. In their hardshelled case of issue, maroon dimpled exterior, white satin lined inside lid, black felt recessed medal bed, scuffing evident on the bottom, pinholes present on the inside lid, case near extremely fine. Accompanied by four Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs = SPÖ) Membership Badges: 25 Year Membership Badge (in silvered bronze with red and black enamels, measuring 17 mm (w) x 17.2 mm (h), horizontal pinback); 40 Year Membership Badge (in bronze gilt with red, green and black enamels, maker marked "SOUVAL WIEN 7" on the reverse, measuring 17.5 mm (w) x 17.8 mm (h), horizontal pinback); 50 Year Membership Badge (in bronze gilt with red, green and black enamels, lacquered finish, measuring 19.8 mm (w) x 20.3 mm (h), horizontal pinback); and 60 Year Membership Badge (in bronze gilt with red and black enamels, lacquered finish, measuring 22 mm (w) x 25.5 mm (h), horizontal pinback). Badges are extremely fine.

Footnote:

1. Vienna is the national capital, largest city, and one of nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's most-populous city, with about 1.9 million inhabitants (2.6 million within the metropolitan area, nearly one third of the country's population), and its cultural, economic, and political center. It is the sixth-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union.

2. The Social Democratic Party of Austria, founded and known as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria until 1945 and later the Socialist Party of Austria until 1991, is a social-democratic and pro-European political party in Austria. Founded in 1889, it is the oldest extant political party in Austria. Along with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), it is one of the country's two traditional major parties. The SPADÖ was the second largest party in the Imperial Council of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the 1890s through 1910s. After the First World War, it briefly governed the First Austrian Republic, but thereafter returned to opposition. The party was banned in 1934 following the Austrian Civil War, and was suppressed throughout Austrofascism and the Nazi period. The party was refounded as the Socialist Party of Austria in 1945 and governed as a junior partner of the ÖVP until 1966. In 1970, the SPÖ became the largest party for the first time in post-war history, and Bruno Kreisky became Chancellor, winning three consecutive majorities (1971, 1975 and 1979). From 1987 to 2000 the SPÖ led a grand coalition with the ÖVP before returning to opposition for the first time in thirty years. The party governed again from 2007 to 2017. Since 2017, the SPÖ have been the primary opposition to the ÖVP governments.