A book has appeared on ebay under the heading 'A Poetry Book from Horatio Nelson to Lady Hamilton' This has a dedication on the fly leaf to 'Lady Hamilton ever faithfully yours Horatio Nelson'. It is a copy of "Johnsons Lives"
I posted details of a very similar offer in 2011 (see: A Present from Nelson to Emma? ). This was also a copy of "Johnsons Lives" with the same inscription and was on sale for £9,000. I don't think it ever sold.
I cannot be sure if this is the same book as I have a feeling the previous inscription was more spread out. This new auction this time includes with it some newspaper clippings from I think the Times, which relate to a Nelson exhibition, the RUSI Museum, Trafalgar Day and a black and white picture of Merton Place. This is on offer at £2,000. The seller advises he obtained this from another dealer but has no further provenance.
One of the conclusions from the original posts was why this hadn't been referred for verification to someone like Sotheby's or Christies. The seller says he is still researching the item and mentions the auction of Lady Hamilton's effects but appears to have no further firm proof of it's authenticity.
If this is not the same copy of the book offered 4 years ago, it begs the question are there multiple copies of this going around the market? I believe Johnsons Lives was in 3 vols in the late 1700's. If by any chance this is authentic in any way, would Nelson have written a dedication in all three volumes?
Phil
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