The Alexander Davison Collection of Nelson Relics »
In 2001 whilst on a routine valuation I discovered a remarkable trove of relics, papers and artefacts belonging to Admiral Lord Nelson. The collection had remained hidden and unseen in a trunk for almost two hundred years with the family of Nelson’s prize agent, confidant and closest friend Alexander Davison. The trunk contained almost a […]
. View Post » The Matcham Collection of Nelson Relics »
In 2005, I consulted on the sale at Sotheby’s,London of the Matcham Collection, a landmark auction of Nelson’s belongings from the family of his sister Catherine “Kitty” Matcham. The wide ranging group of treasures extended from glassware, porcelain and furniture to medals, letters and books. Together they offered vivid insight into Nelson’s domestic world. Particularly […]
. View Post » Nelson memorial ring »
After Nelson was killed at Trafalgar, his family arranged for a series of gold and enamel mourning rings to be distributed in his memory. The rings were decorated with Nelson’s initials, heraldic achievements and motto PALMAN QUI MERUIT FERAT and variously inscribed Lost to his Country 21 Oct 1805 Aged 47. An original manuscript listing […]
. View Post » Nelson’s Nile Silver »
In 2013, eight years after advising the family of Catherine Matcham in the sale of Nelson relics, I was instructed by descendants of Lord Nelson’s other sister Susannah to seek a buyer for a highly important and historic George III armorial silver entree dish and cover presented to the admiral by Lloyd’s Coffee House after […]
. View Post » Flag of C.S.S.Alabama »
In 2011, I was instructed to sell a battle ensign from the legendary Confederate warship C.S.S. Alabama. The ensign belonged to a family in the West Country of England descended from a British merchant called Hugh Rowland Beaver who had supported the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He had been presented with the ensign […]
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