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Set of two signed documents from King Wilhelm I of Prussia, German Emperor, on his decoratively lettered and officially issued paper; decoratively embossed stamp of the royal seal to the left of Wilhelm's signature. 13½"x8½"; framed 15½"x10½".

A nice pair of signed documents from King Wilhelm I of Prussia and German Emperor (1797-1888). Both of these documents were written and issued for the "Capitalist" John Diederich Lankenau (1817-1901) of Philadelphia in Prussia’s third class crown order on April 25, 1877, and later (with the second document) upgraded to Prussia’s second class crown order on November 15, 1884. Lankenau helped expand Philadelphia’s German Hospital (later called Lankenau Hospital) and the School for Girls (renamed Lankenau School for Girls in 1910).