Piece of Flag Flown on Horatio Nelson's HMS Victory at Battle of Trafalgar

Description

HORATIO NELSON - H.M.S. VICTORY - BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
.  Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) was a highly esteemed British admiral best known for his participation in the Napoleonic Wars, during which, in the Battle of Trafalgar, he lost his life.
PIECE OF THE BRITISH ENSIGN FLAG FLOWN ON HORATIO NELSON’S FLAGSHIP, THE H.M.S. VICTORY, AT THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
Piece of the British ensign flag flown on Lord Nelson’s flagship, the H.M.S. Victory, at the Battle of Trafalgar.  Accompanied with a
copy
of an early 19th century handwritten note of provenance signed by Edward Taggart Stainbank (1797-1833), master of the merchant ship Mansfield, son of Christopher Stainbank (1773-1860) of Peckham: “Part of the Victory ensign torn to pieces over Nelson’s Grave & presented to my uncle W.H. Lunn by one of the crew of that ship.  E.T. Stainbank.”
THE FLAG WAS INTENDED TO BE PLACED ON NELSON’S COFFIN, BUT WAS TORE INTO NUMEROUS FRAGMENTS AND KEPT AS MEMENTOES BY THE SAILORS AND MARINES WHO FORMED PART OF THE FUNERAL PROCESSION
The St. George’s Ensign and Union Jacks that had flown from the H.M.S. Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar were intended to be folded and placed on Nelson’s coffin at the culmination of his state funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral on January 9, 1806.  However, the 48 sailors and marines who formed part of the funeral procession tore numerous fragments off the flags and kept them as mementoes.  The flag strand in this auction measures 2.0 inches and is in overall good condition.