Every day Sophie Dupre presents two items from her large stock of signed photographs, autograph letters, autographs for sale, royal memoralbilia and antiquarian manuscripts.
The photographs are presented with the catalogue descriptions.
On this day... see what happened on your special day
February 14
On this day in 1797 Nelson distinguished himself at The Battle of Cape St Vincent. Admiral Sir John Jervis commanded the British Fleet and led them to victory against the larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos
DOCUMENT BOLDLY SIGNED ‘NELSON & BRONTE’ ON THE VICTORY
NELSON (Horatio, Viscount, 1758-1805, Admiral)
Fine Document Signed ‘Nelson & Bronte’, certifying that “His Britannic Majesty’s Fleet under my Command is in perfect health and liberal pratique”, given under “my hand on board His Majesty’s Ship Victory at Sea”, 1 side 4to., 27th December 1804
‘Pratique’ is the licence or certificate of a clean bill of health, granted, if necessary, after a period of quarantine.
At this time Nelson was based at La Maddalena with its fine harbour at the northeast tip of Sardinia. It was, he said, the ideal place to watch the French fleet at Toulon, twenty-four hours away by sail, but not too close to provoke attack, and to patrol the neighbouring waters. Nelson had arrived on 1st November 1803. He left finally only on 19th January 1805 to pursue the French, first looking as far east as Alexandria, then chasing them to the West Indies. When he reached Gibraltar on 20th July 1805 he had not set foot on land for two years less ten days.
ST. VINCENT (John Jervis, 1735-1823, C-in-C West Indies and Mediterranean, Admiral of the Fleet, from 1797 1st Earl)
Signature ‘St. Vincent’ on a fragment of an address panel, bearing also his personal seal as Earl in red wax, and his second signature laid down in the left hand corner, 3½” x 3½” (max.), no place, no date, circa 1800
At George III’s insistence, the Earl took his title from his famous victory over the Spanish, 14th February 1797. With 15 sail of line he put 27 to flight, of which Nelson on his own initiative captured 4
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