Special

I have a special interest in St. George Slaying the Dragon and have made an effort to collect as much as I can with his image. I have over 40 different items available for leasing to Movie and Television Production Companies.

According to legend, St.George was a Christian soldier of the Roman empire who was executed in Palestine circa A.D. 300 during the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian. Tradition has it that during his lifetime George reached high military rank and he even visited Britain on an Imperial Expedition.......in any event, St. George was especially revered by soldiers and was later adopted by the Crusaders as their guardian saint.

The MOST NOBLE ORDER of the GARTER

Originally designated the Order of St.George, the society was founded in 1348 by King Edward III as a noble fraternity consisting of the King and 25 knights.

The origin of the Order is attributed to an incident that occurred at a court ball. A noble lady is said to have lost one of her garters and, with the lady blushing and those around laughing, King Edward picked it up and tied it around his own leg. Remarking in French "Honi soit qui mal y pense - Shamed be he who thinks evil of it. I shall turn this into the most honorable garter ever worn."

It is the highest honor bestowed by the Queen with only 25 members at any time. You can become an associate to the Order in many degrees.

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Benedetto couldn't find work in Italy so he moved to France and tried to find work with the French Mint which had always produced fabulous medals. However, Napoleon lost the war in 1815, when Benedetto was 20 years old and had a family to support, so Benedetto crossed the Chunnel with a letter of introduction to Sir Joseph Banks, President of the British Royal Society. Sir Joseph was so impressed with Benedetto he introduced him to the Master of the Mint, Mr. Wellesley Pole.

Benedetto was consulted on the new designs of England's coins and he created a St. George in the Greek style: nude, wearing a white cape and holding a sword.

1916 Treasury Note, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Don't judge a book by its cover - 19th Century book cover flash.

This gold pin was first designed in silver in 19th Century Russia.

The 1887 enameled Crown was designed by Edwin Steele and Son (H. Steele) at 7 Regent Parade, Birmingham. Edwin particularly delighted in rendering St. George in vibrant colors with the wind swept Saint often given socks to contrast with the pink tones of his body!