France, Sociéte de Géographie, Gold Medal for Research Expeditions (Voyages d’Étude, Missions et Travaux de Reconnaissance), by Brenet, in gold, obv., Pallas seated holding wreaths, rev., nielloed engraved inscription à alfred russel-wallace Archipel Malais / 1854-1862 within laurel wreath, société de géographie / Fondée à paris en 1821 around, 84.38g, 50.9mm, edge with official stamp ‘OR’, virtually as struck Awarded to Wallace in 1870 to honour his expedition to the Malay Archipelago, April 1854 to February 1862 and following publication of his account The Malay Archipelago (1869). Together with the preceding and following two lots, the medal has been kept in a single purpose-made velvet-lined display case with hinged insert to allow both sides of the four pieces to be viewed. The case was commissioned by Wallace following the award of the Darwin Medal in 1890 (see lot 874 and footnote), with which it is offered.

Estimate: GBP 5000-10000