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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 381

Libya, United Kingdom & Kingdom of Libya (1951-69), Order of King Idris the First, Grand Cross Collar Badge, by Bichay, Cairo, 45mm, gold (18 carat - 39.5g) and enamel, local marks to reverses, nearly extremely fine and a true rarity

A Libyan legal website hosts the Government Gazettes of the period, however the only reference seen is Article 71 of the October 1951 Constitution which notes, “The King creates and confers titles, ranks, decorations and other badges of honour”. Thus, the main sources of information to date are documentation at the National Archives (NA), the internet (both Arabic and English), the study of the awards and correspondence with collectors, especially concerning conversations with the late Fahmy Tewfiq Bichai.

Correspondence held at the NA dating from April - July 1952 concerns a collar for King Idris to wear at the opening of Parliament and a Grand Order of the Senussi Crown - neither were made. The first recorded award was that of the insignia of the Order of King Idris I to Queen Elizabeth II during a State Visit to the Kingdom - 1 May 1954. Some sources note the Order was founded in 1947 by Idris as Emir of Cyrenaica - there is no evidence to support this claim. According to the maker, Fahmy Tewfik Bichai, he received guidance in early 1954, from the King’s representatives, staying at the Mena House Hotel in Cairo - the Order was urgently required. Bichay stated the Order was manufactured in 30 days and he regarded it as the most beautiful of his designs. He recalled some 15 sets were initially manufactured. Study of the awards note the Egyptian date mark for the period 1953-59.

Other recipients besides Queen Elizabeth II included the Shah of Iran, King Paul of Greece, King Hussein of Jordan and the King of Morocco.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2700