A rare and possibly unique Queen's Messenger's belt buckle made in the American manner, Victoria or

A rare and possibly unique Queen's Messenger's belt buckle made in the American manner, Victoria or Elizabeth II, brass and enamel, a slightly convex rectangular plate with stepped and radiused corners, the Royal Arms in fine relief to a red enamel ground within an arched panel, 'THE QUEEN'S MESSENGER' to a brass plate below, all against a general ground of cream enamel and within a roped border, impressed mark of the Bay State Jewelry and Silversmiths Co to the reverse incorporating 'Patent no 104,012', and 'Serial No 82010', brass loop fitting with embossed eagle and 'WARRANTED FINEST MINTED BRASS' to one end of the reverse and a small hook to the other, width 95 mm, minor blemishes to the enamel, good very fine.

The Bamber Collection

This highly unusual form of insignia is presumed to have been made, possibly to special order, for a Queen's Messenger stationed in the United States of America, perhaps for identification when hot weather and 'shirt sleeve order' made wearing a conventional badge impractical.