An unusual early Victorian silver rectangular snuff box, com...

Hammer

£3,600

An unusual early Victorian silver rectangular snuff box, commemorating Grace Darling, engraved with a panel depicting the heroine in a lifeboat rescuing sailors from a sinking ship, within deeply chased scrolling foliate borders, the base with engine turned decoration, maker, Nathaniel Mills, Birmingham, 1838, 67mm, 85 grams, sold with a copy of 'Grace Darling; or, The Heroine of The Fern Islands' by G.W.M. Reynolds, London 1839.
Grace Darling, who as a young lady of just 23 years old assisted her father in saving the lives of nine people during the wreck of the S.S. Forfarshire on Big Harcar Rock, close to the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland on 7 September 1838. Rowing out together in a simple coble boat, the pair fought through the roughest seas, assisting numerous stricken passengers, and returning them to safety at Longstone. Such was her fame at the time, Queen Victoria herself, still then a young lady, sent Grace Darling a personal gift of £50 in admiration of her heroic conduct at sea, and The Times newspaper of 19 September 1838, made the statement that her actions formed an instance of heroism on the part of a female unequalled perhaps, and certainly not surpassed, by any on record.

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Snuff box- Tarnishing and some brown residue? to the interior, otherwise the snuff is in good condition, commensurate with age and little use. Hallmarks clear.