JS11 Cased Pour le Mérite mit Krone

Cased Pour le Mérite mit Krone, originally sold by Mohawk Arms via their auction catalog #34 in March 1996 with the description stating that the award was removed from the Luftwaffe Air Ministry building in Munich at war's end by an American soldier, considered to be a production from the 1930s, award is enclosed on a brown colored hinged case having rounded corners and with a push button, the cover has the embossed gilt outline of the PlM award, internally a removable tray covered in red velvet with the award outline may be removed to access the compartment containing the folded neck ribbon with tie strings, the the ribbon is woven of black and patina aged silver metallic threads, it measures 36cm in length without the tie strings, the case's lid has a red colored faded internal cover, the case measures 12x9x3cm; the award is a blue-enameled Maltese Cross with eagles between the arms based on the symbol of the Johanniter Order, the Prussian royal cypher, and the French legend Pour le Mérite ('for Merit') arranged on the arms of the cross, reverse has plain blue enabling, top arm of cross has a full 'pie slice' area with a raised grommet like aperture which holds a gilt wire loop on which is cut out a detailed gold crown, the award itself weighs 28.95gms, there is minimal tarnish and no enamel damage, the copies of the Mohawk Arms' catalog description will be provided to the buyer, USD $15,000