France -Republic of: A fine and scarce Order of the Academic Palms pair of insignia of Commander and Officer, both as awarded to Dr John Laurence Carr, an Englishman, who was a notable historian and author, and published a number of books on French history. In 1966 wrote and published the ‘Life in France under Louis XIV’, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Academic Palms, and having written ‘Robespierre: The Force of Circumstance’, he was elevated to Commander on 1 August 1990. In addition he was honoured with the Honour Medal of the City of Paris.
Pair of Order of the Academic Palms (Ordre des Palmes académiques), both 1955-present issue, one being the large form Commander Grade neck badge in silver gilt and enamel, complete with length of neck ribbon with the ties, this in a presentation case (slightly damaged); the other being the Officer Grade breast badge in silver gilt and enamel, complete with rosette on ribbon, this in its presentation case, this last together with a miniature medal.
Condition: light wear to enamel work, overall Good Very Fine.
Together with the following:
The official award certificate of the Commander Grade of the Order of the Academic Palms, this dated 1 August 1990, bearing the name of the English recipient, ‘Monsieur Carr John Lawrence’. This slightly creased.
Honour Medal of the City of Paris (Médaille d’honneur de la Ville de Paris), large form in silvered-bronze, measuring 50 mm in diameter, the reverse officially engraved: ‘Paris a John Lawrence Carr’, this complete with its original Republique Francaise adorned tricolour ribbon, and housed in its card box of issue. The award is to individuals who performed remarkable acts of courage to save the French capital, or else distinguished themselves greatly in a field relating to the arts or similar concerning Paris.
Bronze Medal Plaque commemorating 2000 Years of Paris history, as designed by the sculptor Raymond Delamarre in 1951, a spectacular piece, the obverse features intricate scenes detailing French history, including references to St. Louis, the revolutions of 1789 and 1830, and Notre Dame, measuring approximately 90 mm x 60 mm, the reverse is plain, but officially engraved as a presentation piece to: ‘Dr John L. Carr’. This housed in its fitted presentation case by Arthus Bertrand, Paris.
Provenance: acquired by the London Medal Company directly from the family of Dr. John Laurence Carr.
Dr John Laurence Carr, an Englishman, was a notable historian and author, who published a number of books on French history, and in 1966 wrote and published the ‘Life in France under Louis XIV’, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Academic Palms.
He subsequently wrote and published ‘Robespierre: The Force of Circumstance’, and was ultimately appointed a Commander of the Order of the Academic Palms on 1 August 1990. In addition he was awarded the Honour Medal of the City of Paris, and the Bronze Medal Plaque commemorating 2000 Years of Paris history.
The present Ordre des Palmes académiques was instituted on 4 October 1955 by President Rene Coty. In 1963 the French system of orders was reformed under President Charles de Gaulle. A number of so-called "ministerial orders" were consolidated into the Order National du Merite. De Gaulle, however, was fond of the Ordre des Palmes académiques and decided to keep it as a separate order. Since 1955, the Ordre des Palmes académiques has had three grades, each with a fixed annual number of new recipients or promotions. The Commander (Commandeur) Grade is the highest level and is limited to 280 annual awards, the Officer Grade, the next highest is limited to 1523 annual awards, and the Knight Grade, the lowest form, is limited to 4597 awards annually.
The order is conferred for services to the universities, in teaching or in scientific work. It can be conferred on both French citizens, including those residing abroad, and foreigners. The minimum age of conferment is 35 years. Promotion to a higher grade usually requires five years in the lower rank. The order is administered by a council whose president is the Minister of National Education. Decisions on nominations and promotions are proposed by the minister and formally decided by the Prime Minister. Decisions are announced annually on 1 January, New Year’s Day and 14 July, Bastille Day. For those not connected to state-sponsored public education, or the Ministry of National Education, the announcements are made on New Year's Day and for all others on Bastille Day.
