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Auction: 25066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 141

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, Recovery from Amputation
1797 (8 Dec.) autograph note reading "An officer desires to return thanks to almighty God for his perfect recovery from a severe wound, and also for the many mercies bestowed upon him. Decr. 8th 1797, for next Sunday". Framed within glazed wooden frame, the wood is said to have been taken from the main mast of H.M.S. 'Victory'.

The frame has an original papered backing with some damage but with seemingly contemporary inscription reading "A notice sent by Lord Nelson to the Curate of St. George's Hanover Square. Written with his left hand ... and framed in a piece of the Victory", a further note reads "The frame is made from thee main mast of the Victory and was given to my father by a medical officer on hand at the time of Lord Nelson's death. P.G. Greville", a further note still reads "I hand this to Sir W.A. Fraser of No. 88 St. James Street. P.G. Greville, Son of the Rev'd J. Greville [Joshua Greville, the incumbent of St. George's Church], Nov. 30th 1867", alongside a blue sticker of Sir William Fraser. The frame has then been rebacked and enclosed with new wood, on which is the bookplate of Sir William Augustus Fraser of Ledeclune and Morar Baronet with manuscript note reading "Lord Nelson's note, handed to the Incumbent of St. George's Hanover Sq.; bought of his son by Mr. W. A. Fraser".

Some paper has been added to the note along the right hand edge for framing purposes, one imagines, nevertheless well preserved and a dramatic note giving a sense not only of the severity of Nelson's wound, having lasted in December, but also of his deep faith.

provenance:

The John Goddard Collection, November 2015
Lyon and Turnbull, February 2005

Notes: It is documented that on the evening of the 8 December, Nelson wrote two short notes, one to Captain Berry, his future Flag Captain, and the other being this. Carola Oman in 'Nelson' describes "Since he was also the son of the Rector of Burnham Thorpe, he did not, in his moment of relief, forget another duty. He sent across a note to the clergyman of the nearest parish church, St. George's, Hanover Square [going on to quote this note].

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Estimate
£4,000 to £6,000

Starting price
£3200