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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 141

(x) Vice Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood, signed order for the blockade of Cadiz and St. Lucar

Letter addressed to “The respective Captains and Commanders” ordering the blockade of the ports of Cadiz and St. Lucar, signed by Collingwood on board H.M.S. Dreadnought off Cadiz, dated 23 June 1805; together with a portrait print of Vice Admiral Lord Collingwood; and a 38-page pamphlet by D.F. Stephenson entitled ‘Admiral Collingwood and the Problems of the Naval Blockade After Trafalgar’, published Newcastle 1948, letter features several folds and a small hole to the reverse, otherwise in good condition for its age and text is all clear and legible (3)

This general order of superb historical significance was issued just months before the infamous Battle of Trafalgar and establishes the important naval blockade off the coast of Spain.

In the order, Collingwood details “”You are hereby required and directed, to maintain, and enforce the blockade of the said ports of Cadiz, and St. Lucar in the strictest manner, according to the usages of War… In the execution of which Service you are to stop all neutral vessels destined to those ports, and if they appear to be ignorant of the existence of the blockade… you are in such case only to turn them away, apprising them that said ports are in a state of the most complete blockade… But if any neutral vessels which shall appear to have been so warned or otherwise informed of the existence of the blockade…attempting to enter the said ports of Cadiz, or St. Lucar, you are to seize her and send her into Port for legal adjudication. And, in respect to vessels coming out of the Ports of Cadiz, or St. Lucar, having Goods onboard which appear to have been laden after the knowledge of the blockade, you are in like manner to seize, and send them in for legal adjudication…”


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320