The object in question is a significant scholarly work from the Preussen-Sammlung Max Aurich (Max Aurich Prussia Collection), published in 1980 by the renowned Biblio Verlag in Osnabrück. This comprehensive reference work, titled “Das Eiserne Kreuz: 1813, 1870, 1914” (The Iron Cross: 1813, 1870, 1914), represents the third part (Part C) of a larger publication series and is dedicated to the systematic documentation and scholarly examination of one of Germany's most significant military decorations.

The Iron Cross was first instituted on March 10, 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia during the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon. The royal decree was issued in Breslau and marked a turning point in the history of military decorations. Unlike the conventional orders made from gold and precious stones, the Iron Cross was crafted from simple iron, reflecting the populist symbolism and the necessities of the time. The design was created by the architect and master builder Karl Friedrich Schinkel, whose neo-Gothic design became an iconic symbol of Prussian military history.

The present work documents the three major periods of the Iron Cross's institution: the original founding of 1813, its re-institution on the occasion of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 by King Wilhelm I, and the third founding at the beginning of World War I in 1914. Each of these periods produced specific variants and classes of the decoration, distinguished by details such as striking, material, and award criteria.

The publication comprises 174 pages of text and 80 photographic plates, indicating extraordinarily detailed documentation. The large format enables precise representation of details and features essential for collectors, historians, and scholars. The photographic plates presumably allow for exact identification of different variants, strikings, and manufacturer marks, which are indispensable for authenticating and dating original pieces.

Max Aurich was a prominent collector and expert on Prussian militaria. His collection was among the most comprehensive of its kind and formed the foundation for this multi-part scholarly publication series. Publication by Biblio Verlag, which specialized in historical and military-historical literature, underscores the work's scholarly credentials.

The Iron Cross had various classes: the 2nd Class, worn on a ribbon, the 1st Class, pinned to the breast, as well as higher grades such as the Grand Cross and, in rare cases, the Star of the Grand Cross. During the three periods of institution, millions of crosses were awarded, with each period having its own award numbers and statistics. During World War I alone, approximately five million Iron Crosses 2nd Class and around 218,000 Iron Crosses 1st Class were awarded.

The scholarly value of such reference works lies in their systematic treatment of manufacturer variants, striking differences, and award procedures. They serve not only historical research but also the authentication of collectibles, as the Iron Cross is among the most frequently forged military decorations.

The preservation of the present copy is noted as “Condition 2,” which in standard grading scales indicates a very good to good state of preservation. This is remarkable for a specialized book over 40 years old and suggests either careful storage or limited use.

Such standard works have themselves become collector's items, as many of these specialized publications appeared in small print runs and have long been out of print. They form the foundation for scholarly engagement with Prussian military history and are indispensable tools for museums, archives, and private collectors. The documentation of three periods of institution in one volume makes this work a particularly valuable reference for comparative analysis of this significant decoration's development over a century.