Lot 365

Description

Skilfully hand-painted on parchment, his coat of arms as Viscount of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe (as of 22 May 1801), held by an armed sailor with a palm leaf and the pennant of a commodore, and a standing lion with a broken flag in his maw. Surrounded by his awards, including the Sicilian Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit and the Order of the Bath, and surmounted by a crown with the "plume of triumph" (awarded by the Ottoman Sultan after the "Battle of the Nile") as well as the stern of the Spanish warship "San Josef", which he defeated. A banner with his motto "Palmam qui meruit ferat" at the lower edge. Below which, the calligraphic inscription in ink "The Armorial Ensigns of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson. Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, Duke of Bronte in Sicily, Knight of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Knight of the Great Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, and of the Imperial Order of the Crescent, Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet etc. etc. etc.". Below which is certified: "The above is a true Copy from the Genealogical Books of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath - Witness my hand this third day of March in the year of our Lord 1802 - George Nayler, York Herald - Genealogist of the Bath". Dimensions approx. 44 x 33 cm. The parchment on green silk with two fastening ribbons and on a scroll with two gilt finials. Length of the scroll 37 cm. In a metal lidded container, the interior tin-plated. Length of the container 37.5 cm, diameter 4 cm. Sir George Nayler (1764 - 1831), Officer of Arms at the London College of Arms, began his career as a miniature painter. Appointed Genealogist of the Order of the Bath in 1792, Bluemantle Pursuivant of the College of Arms in 1793 and York Herald in 1794. He was knighted in 1813, made Clarenceux King of Arms in 1820; he died roughly two months after attending the coronation of William IV. Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758 - 1805), was probably the best known Admiral of the Royal Navy. In March 1802, the Vice-Admiral of the Blue (sixth highest rank of the Royal Navy) was at home on account of the armistice negotiated between France and the United Kingdom in October 1801. However, in 1803, after the end of the Treaty of Amiens, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the White and took command of the British Mediterranean Fleet. Struck by a French musket ball, he died on 21 October 1805, but not without first learning of his overwhelming victory in the battle of Trafalgar, in which the French and Spanish fleets, both superior in number, were defeated. Beautiful document in outstanding condition.

Condition: II + Questions about the lot?