HORATIO, VISCOUNT NELSON (1758-1805) EXTREMELY RARE AND HIST...

Estimate

£3,000 - £5,000

HORATIO, VISCOUNT NELSON (1758-1805) EXTREMELY RARE AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPH DRAUGHT ORDERS FOR HIS SECOND-IN-COMMAND REAR-
ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART (1759-1832) FLAG OFFICER ON THE 100 GUN
FIRST RATE SHIP OF THE LINE 'ROYAL SOVEREIGN', WRITTEN ON HMS VICTORY IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN ON A SINGLE PAGE FROM HIS DISPATCH BOOK, ALTHOUGH
NOT BEARING NELSON'S SIGNATURE IT WAS HOWEVER SIGNED BY THE INTENDED RECIPIENT AND DATED 31st MAY 1804

THIS FASCINATING DISPATCH IS RICH IN EVOCATIVE MARITIME DETAIL SPEAKING

OF VICTUALLERS 'HOURLY EXPECTED FROM MALTA' AND THE DANGER POSED BY THE FRENCH FLEET AND 'TO APPROACH TOULON (on the French coast South East of
Marseilles) OR SHIPS OF THAT PLACE WITH GREAT CAUTION'    

TOGETHER WITH THIS DISPATCH WE OFFER ITEMS OF PROVENANCE CHRONICLING
OUR VENDOR'S ANTECEDENTS OWNERSHIP SINCE 1855, THE YEAR IN WHICH IT WAS
PROCURED VIA FRANCIS (FRANK) GURNEY GIRDLESTONE (1833-1884) A COUSIN OF
HORATIO 3rd EARL NELSON (1823-1913), WHO LATER WAS TO BECOME RECTOR OF
ST ANDREWS, LANDLORD, WILTSHIRE, SUCCEEDING HIS FATHER REVEREND HENRY GIRDLESTONE (1785-1871) IN THAT POSITION IN WHO'S POSSESSION THE DOCUMENT
WAS RECORDED IN 'THE DISPATCHES AND LETTERS OF VICE ADMIRAL LORD NELSON'  

PUBLISHED BY H. COLBURN 1844, UPON THE REQUEST OF A FRIEND AT CAMBRIDGE
CHARLES JAMES SATTERTHWAITE WHO IN TURN GAVE THE DOCUMENT TO
VICTORIA SUSAN HORNBY (1837-1906) BEFORE HER BETROTHAL TO HIM, AND THENCE BY DESCENT TO OUR VENDOR
(Nelson's Dispatch and Items of Provenance are held between sheets of clear plastic whilst in our care)
Also a gilded copper HMS VICTORY BROOCH, inscribed verso 'CENTENARY MEMENTO of the
DEATH OF NELSON 1805 Oct 21st 1905, containing COPPER from H M S VICTORY, the gift of the LORDS of the ADMIRALTY to BRITISH & FOREIGN SAILORS SOCIETY E R VII,' and a 'Souvenir of Nelson's Centenary' circular printed PENDANT MEDALLION in a metal mount on a heart-shape card as originally sold