Nelson-related Medals
To be sold in January 2020
Nelson related medals to be sold 30th January auction of Arms, Militaria, Firearms, Shotguns and Airguns.
Our 30th January 2020 sale is due to feature two significant medals of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Battle of Trafalgar interest. The first is the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 with one clasp of Trafalgar awarded to James Sharman 1785-1867. Sharman was pressed into service on the Weasel frigate. He later served aboard the Victory, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, where recent research has confirmed that he was one of the men who carried Lord Nelson down to the Orlop deck where Nelson died. This brought him to the notice of Captain Hardy who later was instrumental in procuring for Sharman the post of caretaker of the Yarmouth Column. It was in Yarmouth that Sharman met Charles Dickens, who was staying at the Royal Hotel at the time. Dickens was fascinated by Sharman, and is said to have based the character of Peggoty on him in his book David Copperfield. The medal is sold together with related research on James Sharman and is estimated at £20,000 – 30,000.
The second medal is the Silver Davison's Nile medal awarded to Thomas Atkinson (1768 - 1836) Master of the Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar. The officer class medal set in 9ct rose gold mount incorporating the contemporary engraved sections of the original mount, the engraving reading 'from Alexr Davison Esqr. St James's Square, A Tribute of Regard'. The silver Nile medal is accompanied by two other Atkinson family medals including a Baltic Medal, 1856 engraved 'W.G. ATKINSON, MASTER'S ASSISTANT HMS ARROGANT' and also a Greenwich Hospital Nautical School Medal for Science and Good Conduct engraved 'H.N. ATKINSON 1857'.
These medals were originally sold by Reeman Dansie Auctioneers Colchester in November 2004 on behalf of the Atkinson family. The medals are accompanied by two letters from the Admiralty to Mrs E. S. Atkinson and to W.J Atkinson as well as a letter from H.N Atkinson and an obituary for Horatio Nelson Atkinson. The lot is accompanied by extensive research into Thomas Atkinson and the Atkinson family including copies of family history listings, wills, marriage records, record of service for Thomas Atkinson as well as facsimiles of the musters for ships the Blonde and Rattler, together with pay books for the ships Hannibal and Rattler on which Thomas Atkinson served. The lot also contains a copy of the sale receipt from Reeman Dansie as well as a certificate for remounting the Nile medal in a new 9ct Gold mount by C.W. Sellors of Ashbourne stating that the engraved parts of the original mount have been attached to the new setting. The three medals are estimated to sell for £10,000 – 15,000.
Sale viewing Saturday 25th January 9.30-12, Wednesday 29th 9am-5pm and on the morning of sale 9am-10am. Alternative viewing by appointment.
