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Lot 171

A brass speaking trumpet, H.M.S. "Victory", English, early 19th century,
57x15cm(22.5x6in)

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£10,000 - £15,000

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A brass speaking trumpet, H.M.S. "Victory", English, early 19th century,

conical brazed trumpet with bell mouth and formed mouthpiece, leather and canvas hand grip. Engraved on the body "Victory 100 guns, launched at Chatham 1765, Flagship of Keppel at Ushant 1778, Flagship of Kempenfeld 1781, Flagship of Howe at Gibraltar 1782, Flagship of Hood at Toulon 1793, Flagship of Jervis at St Vincent 1797, Flagship of Nelson at Trafalgar 1805, Flagship of Saumerez in Baltic 1812, Paid off 1812"

Inscribed around the bell "This speaking Trumpet was on Nelson's Flagship Victory at Trafalgar 21st October 1805. It was obtained in 1838 from Capt. Wm. Shallard RN by John Hodgson Esq. from whose son it was inherited by Agatha Marchioness of Sligo". 57x15cm(22.5x6in)

Footnotes

William Shallard was actually a Commander in the Royal Navy. He served as Lieutenant on HMS Victory for a year from August 1833. From 1835 until he disappears from the Navy List in 1844, he was an Inspecting Commander with the Coast Guard.

Midshipman William Badcock, serving on HMS Neptune at Trafalgar, in his narrative record states: " ..at 10 o' clock we got close to the Victory and Captain Freemantle had intended to pass her and break the enemy's line, but poor Lord Nelson himself hailed us from the stern-walk of the Victory, and said 'Neptune - take in your studding sails and drop astern; I shall break the line myself'...." It is conceivable that this speaking trumpet might have been employed for this purpose.

Additional information