United Kingdom. An Order Of St. John Lapel Badge & Cufflinks Pair, By Spink

United Kingdom: Order of St. John Lapel Badge (in silver gilt with white enamels, unmarked, measuring 18.2 mm (w) x 18.5 mm (h), push pin); and International: Pair of Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta Cufflinks (in silver gilt with red and white enamels, marked "750" (silver) on their reverses, measuring 13.5 mm (w) x 13.5 mm (h) each, both with a post and toggle attachment). Both are housed in a hardshelled case, maker marked "SPINK" on the inside lid, intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of St. John was instituted on May 14, 1888, by Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria, establishing the Order as an Order of the British Crown. It is awarded in five grades: Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame of Justice or of Grace, Commander Brother or Sister, Officer Brother or Sister, Serving Brother or Sister, Donat. The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) or the Order of Malta, is a Catholic lay religious order traditionally of military, chivalrous and noble nature. The Order, often popularly referred to as the "Knights of Malta", was in existence certainly as long ago as the early years of the Twelfth Century and is still extant today. Originally based in Jerusalem, the Order moved to Tripoli following the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187 and to Rhodes by way of Cyprus after the fall of Acre in 1291. In 1522 Suleiman the Magnificent took Rhodes and the Order scattered. Charles V granted the Order the island of Malta and the Order settled here from 1530 to 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte captured the island en route for Egypt. In 1834, the order established a new headquarters in Rome and took on its current humanitarian and ceremonial role with Grand Masters being appointed by the Pope.