RARE! Bulgaria Order CIVIL MERIT Grand Cross medal award Knyaz Bulgarian pre1908

Description

Offered for sale is extremely rare and old complete set of order of
CIVIL MERIT Grand Cross class
from Principality of Bulgaria. Very RARE!!!!
Offered for sale is extremely rare and scarce Bulgarian Order. This particular emission is before 1908, with Knyaz/Count crown. Furthermore, this is Type 1 - with hand-finished leaves on the reverse.
Civil Merit Order was second highest award in Bulgaria at the time and Grand Cross class was awarded only to top officials, generals and heads of foreign states. According to Bulgarian historians only about 100 of such Type 1 awards were given, mostly to foreigners (about 10-15 to Bulgarians). Very few awards were given!
Full set of insignia consists of breast star and cross (worn on the shoulder sash).
Dimensions:
1) Cross - 74 mm wide. Cross is massive!!!. White/red enamel. Enamel is real hard enamel, tested with the needle. Cross is made from bronze with gold plating.
2) Breast Star - 95 mm diameter.  Large silver star composed of eight multi-rayed arms, with separately affixed clusters of bronze gilt rays in each quadrant, obverse centre Pisan cross in white enamels, with oak leaves and acorns in each quadrant, presenting the white enameled monogram of the founder Knyaz Ferdinand on red enameled background, white enameled surround with insription ЗА граждански ЗАСЛУГА (For Civil Merit), reverse with pin assembly.
This particular example is from Knyaz Ferdinand emission from 1891-1900. Made by Austrian manufacturer Schwerdtner.
One of the most rarest Bulgarian orders, rarely for sale and sells for high prices. On the recent auction star and cross of were sold for over ,000.
Award is in great condition.
There's small rough surface area on top hand of the cross (only visible from certain angle).
Guaranteed authentic!!!
Sash ribbon is old quality make, but is not Bulgarian. It appears that the owner was a foreigner and wore the award on his country's sash ribbon.
Attractive price for this rare version of the order !
SCROLL DOWN the listing for detailed pictures.
I normally ship on Saturdays due to my work schedule. Item will be shipped carefully packaged and fully insured.
I am on eBay for over 20 yrs with over 2,300 positive feedbacks and sold multiple luxury awards to happy customers.
Comparison in size to more common Commander neck cross:
Hand finished leaves of Type 1 emission:
This same award in Bulgarian Awards book by Professor Pavlov: