Bulletin No. 57, Naval Matters

Welcome to the first update of 2023. For our headliners thIs time we are focussing on items from the Royal Navy’s golden age of sail. The first three are not only excellent examples of their type but also benefit from provenance that forms direct links with the events and personalities they represent. The first are two Naval Reward anchor badges commissioned and owned by Admiral Richard ‘Black Dick’ 1st Earl Howe - so named for swarthy looks - to commemorate his victory of The Glorious First of June 1794 over the Atlantic fleet of revolutionary France. The second, a set of four rare blow-by-blow engravings of the celebrated 1813 single-ship action between HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake, are no less impressive in terms of provenance, having been given by the younger brother of Shannon’s captain to Lord Fitzroy Somerset, the one-armed Waterloo veteran destined to lead the Allied armies in the Crimea. Lastly we are excited to offer one of the few known Admiral Lord Nelson mourning rings made in November 1805 for wear at the state funeral of the national hero in St Paul’s Cathedral on 9 January 1806. In this instance documented family provenance confirms this ring was made for either Nelson’s favourite sister Catherine Matcham, her husband George, or son George the younger.

As ever, there is plenty more besides on our recently updated website. Just click below to find out.

All the best,

J, G & T

Glorious First of June Naval Reward Badges, 1794

HMS Shannon vs. USS Chesapeake, 1813

Viscount Nelson Duke of Bronte Mourning Ring, 1806

Royal Navy - A Post Captain’s Order of the Bath Stall Plate, 1815