BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR INTEREST: A SCRAPBOOK INCLUDING ORIGINAL SKETCHES DEPICTING THE AFTERMATH
apparently belonging to Admiral Sir William Henry Pierson (1782-1858), the disbound contents are identified by an owner’s label and an inscription on a separate leaf “Lady Pierson”, the book includes three leaves measuring 27cm x 22cm, on which thirteen small pencil sketches on card are pasted, two of these identify the ships Naiad and Bellisle
Provenance: Purchased from a London Booksellers, 9th November 2018.
| Estimate: |
£2,000 - £4,000
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Hammer price:
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£1,800 |
Bidding ended. Lot has been sold.
Note: Admiral Pierson was at Trafalgar as Master’s Mate on board HMS Bellisle, under Captain William Hargood, second in Collingwood’s column. The ship sustained heavy losses following actions with several of the enemy, Pierson was wounded and was awarded prize money of £44. 4s. 6d. and received £30 from the Lloyds patriotic fund. As Master’s Mate, Pierson will have been well placed to view the approaching battle, his task being to assist the Master in the navigation and steering. Belisle was demasted, the only British ship to be so, after engaging with eight enemy ships and being rammed by Le Fougeux. The damaged Bellisle was towed into Gibraltar after the battle by the frigate HNS Naiad. After the battle a fierce storm battered the fleets for hours.
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