Diameter overall: 8.5cm (3in)
Provenance: Norman Bobins Library
A complete set of twelve hand-coloured printed aquatints being ‘Record of British Naval Valour’ contained within a bronze circular medal box, depicting naval episodes from the American and French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812, anti-slavery operations, by I. Porter & E. Orme. The obverse of the medal box with relief profile bust of Viscount Nelson bare headed signed ‘W’ under the shoulder for Thomas Webb, and inscribed ‘HOR. VICECOM. NELSON OB PATRIAM PVGNANDO MORT [Died fighting for his country]. OCT XXI. MDCCCV’, the whole encircled with the legend ‘ENGLAND'S ADMIRAL NELSON DUKE OF BRONTE’. The reverse inscribed ‘IPSE BELLI FVLMEN’ (Himself the thunderbolt of war) over the figure of the goddess of war, Bellona, with thunderbolts in hand aimed at approaching war galleys at sea.
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Edward Orme (1775-1848) was by turns an engraver, printseller and property developer. The son of a Manchester cloth manufacturer who came to London around 1794, his first engraving was published by his brother Daniel in that year. `in 1799 he was appointed print seller in ordinary to George III and in 1820 editor of prints in ordinary to George IV. In May 1800 he had a shop in Conduit Street, London (at the corner of George Street), and in 1801 exhibited a portrait at the Royal Academy. In the same year he established himself at 59 New Bond Street, London, at the corner of Brook Street. In a second career as a property developer, he was he helped build Orme Square in Bayswater, as well as other places in the area. The twelve discs are as follows: -
Lord Rodney's victory
Lord Howe's victory
Lord Nelson boarding the San Joseph
Lord Duncan's Victory
Battle of the Nile
Victory at Copenhagen
Sir R Strachan's Victory
Lord Nelson, Trafalgar
Boarding the Chesapeake
Storming of Algiers
Bonaparte on the Northumberland
Slaves delivered Algiers