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Lot 24

Signal Book - the Nile

18 October 2005, 14:00 BST
Oxford

Sold for £3,600 inc. premium

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Signal Book - the Nile

Manuscript signal book, including night signals, said to have been in the possession of Sir Edward Berry, Nelson's flag captain at the Battle of the Nile, the flyleaf bearing an early nineteenth-century watercolour vignette inscribed "Berry", illustrated with flags and pennants in watercolour; together with a display ticket ("A Nelson Relic/ Original Manuscript book of Sir Edward Berry, Nelson's flag Captain, used at the Battle of the Nile/ 1798"), c.120 pages, the central section tabbed, minor damp-staining and wear through use, original calf, rebacked, 8vo, c.1790

Footnotes

This signal book is of the pattern issued by Lord Howe in 1790, adopting a numerary system for the Admiral's signals to his fleet. This was to be standardized by a more comprehensive system in 1799 and replaced altogether in January 1804, after a copy fell into the hands of the French. Our signal book is similar in content to a "Signal book issued to Capt Keith Stewart, Formidable, by Adm Richard, Lord Howe in the Queen Charlotte at Spithead 25 July 1790" at the National Maritime Museum (MKH/31).

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