Nelson & His World

Tony,

I think you've provided food for thought there, although I would have thought that the accompanying letter from William provides the star with some credence, even though it is not in itself marked or engraved.

I would agree with you that money raised for buying it shouldn't come out of the government purse, although I don't think I was necessarily suggesting that. I am sure that the majority of people would, quite rightly, argue against it for the reasons you have said. However, even in these cash-strapped times, there are people with money – not perhaps that many, but some.

Let us hope that whoever buys it: a) will enable it to be put on public display (perhaps at Greenwich, next to Nelson's coat.)‚ b) If from abroad, they allow it to remain in this country and ditto a). Am I wishing for too much here?

I agree though, that a well-reasoned article from an established Nelson scholar, arguing as to its history, provenance and importance to this country, should appear in the newspapers alongside notices of the sale - and before too long.

As per Tony's comment above I am still confused about the Order of the Bath jewel of which Nelson's was stolen from Greenwich.

I haven't yet seen any mention or pictures of the jewel in the book I have here. Maybe I just haven't come across it yet??!!

If all else fails perhaps one of us could contact the College of Arms who I believe administer the Order of the Bath.

Meantime the book does have a specific mention of the collar as follows:



Another intriguing spin on Nelson's Order of the Bath!

MB

I am sure this from the auctioneers, regarding the sale of Nelson's breast star, might be of interest. The star is apparently inscribed, it does not say by whom, although it seems likely to have been by William(!):

http://www.mortonandeden.com/nelsonimages/nelsonpr.pdf

The photo that I posted was too poor quality to make out properly, but in the same photo (c1889) in Rina Prentice, 'The Authentic Nelson', it is possible to read the Bath motto 'Tria Juncta in Uno' on the jewel - clockwise from 6 o'clock.

For reports on its acquisition for the nation and subsequent theft see:
http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/issue_ ... II/188.pdf
and
http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cg ... 1----0-all

There is an interesting refernce to the jewel in an article in the Mariner's Mirror in 1941 by Sir Geoffrey Callender about the effigy of Nelson in Westminster Abbey (made in 1806). Coommenting on mistakes on the effigy, and referring to the sashes of the order of the Bath and the Neapolitan Order of San Ferdinando, he says that 'in neither case is the jewel of the Order attached to the knot of the sash on the left hip; the jewels, unlike the stars, not of course being reproduced in embroidery'.

Oops - I had better eat my words.

I am starting to understand better the issue of the "jewel."

I have dug deeper into the Order of the Bath book and it seems that sometimes it is called a badge and sometimes jewel. Hence Tony's confusion.

The book has a list of Sir John Moore's insignia with the prices paid.

It says that his Collar Badge cost £13 5s 6d and his Sash Badge £5 15s 6d. So the Sash Badge (jewel) cost considerably less than the Collar Badge. The latter was solid gold and suggests to me that the former was partly gold and partly enamel.

I suppose the shiny enamel is the reason that it became called on occasions the "jewel." But I don't think there is any possibility that it contained jewels or precious stones.

This is just my interpretation of what is in the book - and shouldn't be taken as fact.

MB

Again regarding the Greenwich robbery rather than the Star - Tony, that seems to be a New Zealand newspaper that is offering the reward.

That makes sense as there was a strong suggestion that some of the Greenwich items ended up in the Antipodes. I have this crazy dream that some of them are still down there in a private collection or somesuch.

Time for that darkened room again!

MB

Thanks, Mark - I believe things are getting clearer now!

This thread in the British Medals forum includes the report of the theft in The Times (you may need to register?).

Here is an article about the theft by Anthony Cross in the Trafalgar Chronicle: http://www.1805club.org/uploads/Offence.pdf

Here is the Old Bailey case in which WILLIAM ALFRED CARTER was charged with stealing Nelson's watch, which details some of the Australian connections: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.j ... 040913.xml (a long way down the page).

As Anthony says in his last sentence - "The case remains open . . . . . . . !

So my dream remains a possibility . . . . . . . !

MB

I suppose again the answer might be in my book here.

But I am wondering when was the Gold Collar and badge intended to be worn? i.e. as opposed to the Sash and badge, and the Star.

It doesn't really add anything, but the book here has a photograph of Nelson's Collar and badge, displayed in a sort of case which I imagine was the case it was originally supplied in by the manufacturer. I assume that this case is at Lloyd's along with the Collar.

But I don't think that Nelson wears this Collar in any of his portraits.

MB

Mark, this is modern practice, from Debrett's, but I think it answers the question:

Here is the reverse of Nelson's star, complete with engraving : http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/ ... otostream/

Certainly does.

What complex lives these folk lead.

I only have to worry which shirt to put on in the morning!

MB

Thanks Tony .

I still imagine William to be the 'culprit' responsible for the engraving – and it is interesting (and at the same time strange) to note the parts of the text that have been highlighted in capitals. Why, for example, engrave 'Vice Admiral' in capitals, and not the surely more important 'Lord Viscount Nelson', 'Glorious Victory' and not 'Cape Trafalgar'. 'Earl Nelson' would seem, however, spot on! However, I would have thought that 'Richard Goodwin Keats' would have been far better, seeing he was the intended recipient!

Do I have a suspicious mind? – I think I do! I don't think we have established either, have we, why William waited until 1814 to gift the star to Keats, and why him in particular?

Mark,

And there was me imagining you had all these decorations that you had to put on every morning! That's a weight of my mind - and obviously your shoulders!

Morton & Eden have released photos of Nelson’s Breast Star of the Order of the Bath in conjunction with their press release (link previously posted by Kester), so now is the time to publish them all here in their full glory, with a recap of the sale based on information provided by Morton & Eden:

Never before publicly displayed, the Star is to be offered for sale by specialist London auctioneers Morton & Eden on Friday October 22, the day after Trafalgar Day. It is estimated to fetch £300,000 to 500,000.

Depicted in numerous paintings and sculptures including the statue on Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, the Star is now being offered for sale anonymously by a direct descendant of Admiral Keats and has been consigned to auction from overseas.

After Nelson’s death his original awards and his title Nelson and Bronte were inherited by his brother, the Rev William Nelson. On March 24 1814, William Nelson sent the Bath Star to his late brother’s great friend and confidant, Vice Admiral Sir Richard Keats KB. An accompanying letter, which is to be sold with the Star, reads: “My Dear Sir, I hope you will do me the favour to accept the Star herewith sent, in testimony of your esteem for and the mutual friendship which subsisted between yourself and my lamented and beloved Brother.”

The KB was awarded in particular recognition of his outstanding contribution to the successful outcome of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on February 14 1797. He also received a large Naval Gold Medal for the action in which, Nelson left the battle line on his own initiative and engaged part of the Spanish fleet which was attempting to flee. He subsequently led a boarding party which eventually captured two enemy ships-of-the-line, while the remainder of the Spanish fleet limped back to the safety of Cadiz harbour.

Later in the same year Nelson took part in the assault on Santa Cruz, Tenerife, during which he lost his right arm. He returned home to recuperate and was invested as a Knight of the Order of the Bath by King George III in September 1797.

The portrait illustrated above is by Lemuel Francis Abbott. Dated 1797, it shows Viscount Nelson wearing the large Naval Gold Medal for the Battle of Cape St Vincent around his neck (now lost) and the Breast Star of the Order of the Bath. It is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery and is reproduced here by kind permission. It may be published only in connection with a preview or review of the Morton & Eden auction and should be credited © National Portrait Gallery, London.

The insignia of the Order of the Bath comprises the Breast Star, an accompanying gold collar and a badge. At the centre of the eight-pointed silver Breast Star is a gold and red enamel ring bearing the motto of the Order “Tria juncto in uno” (Three joined in one) with three crowns at its centre. The reverse of the Nelson Star has been engraved as follows: “The Star of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson Duke of Bronte KB &c &c Who fell in his last Glorious Victory off Cape Trafalgar the 21 October 1805 Presented to Vice Admiral Sir Richard Goodwin Keats by Earl Nelson 24th March 1814”.

Nelson's collar, which would have accompanied the Star, was formerly in the possession of General Alexander Nelson Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, 4th Duke of Bronte, who married the Rev William Nelson’s daughter. It subsequently passed into a British institutional collection, where it remains. His badge was lost in the Greenwich theft.

The sale will be held at 2 pm on Friday 22 October at Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, London, W1A 2AA. The Breast Star will be on exhibition at Sotheby's, October 18 (12 noon to 4.30 pm); October 19-21 (9 am to 4.30 pm); October 22 (9 am to 12 noon).

More information regarding this sale can be obtained from Morton & Eden: James Morton, Morton & Eden Ltd, 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE. Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 5344. Fax: +44 (0)20 7495 6325. Email: info@mortonandeden.com