£360
DAVISON'S MEDAL FOR THE BATTLE OF THE NILE IN BRONZE, 1798. Hope standing on a rocky promontory l. holding an oval medallion of Nelson 'Europe's Hope and Britain's Glory', with an open sea beyond 'Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson of the Nile'. Reverse with the British Fleet assembled in Aboukir Bay preparing to engage the French. The exurge 'Victory of the Nile August 1. 1798'. The rim 'From Alexr. Davison Esqr. St James's Square - A tribute of Regard'. By C.H. Kuchler, Soho mint. This medal was produced by Nelson's Prize Agent Alexander Davison for all those who served in HM ships at the Battle of the Nile. Being in bronze this example will have been awarded to a Rating. (Eimer 890).
In a velvet and ebonised mount with a verse to the reverse 'Tis of Davidson's medal'. The mount 10 cm wide.
Tis of Davison's medal in bronze that I speak A Whitehall concession to its donor unique. The Davison medal all gained at the Nile So cleverly Laura obtained, In sky-blue velvet setting shows its beauty and style. Quite unrestrained; Finished by Horatio and in ebon ring framed, Who needless to tell is appropriately named, Neatly and well, Where it shines 'neath Abbott's picture Of this famous battle's victor 'Our Nel'.
The interesting verse on the reverse of this raises some interesting possibilities. The Abbott refereed to will be Lemuel Francis Abbott (1760/61-1803) who produced a number of portraits of Nelson, indeed his are the most highly regarded and most frequently reproduced images on Nelson. Portraits by Abbott are included in many important international collections not least the National Portrait Gallery, National Maritime Museum and Buckingham Palace. One of the examples at Greenwich was originally given by Nelson to Alexander Davison, the verse suggests this medal was hung below a portrait and it is tempting to speculate which portrait this refers to and in whose collection it might have originally belonged.
Very nice condition, velvet mount faded.
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