Engraved nautilus shell depicting the SS 'Great Eastern' and with an inscription to Albert Norris. One side inscribed: 'The Great Eastern St Ship lying in the river Mersey'. The ship is shown with six masts, four funnels and small vessels in the foreground, and the dimensions are listed. 'The embellishments on this shell are executed with a common penknife by C. Wood who had the distinguished honour of presenting a similar shell engraved with the same rude graver to her Majesty the Queen.' The other side has the Royal Standard and American stars and stripes and the inscription: 'Presented to Mr Albert Norris by Mr George Tansley as a tribute of respect for his kind and gentlemany behaviour towards myself and all shipmates who had the pleasure of enjoying his company on board the Great Eastern Stm Ship during the two eventful voyages in laying the submarine telegraph cables across the Atlantic............
..........Signed Capt J Anderson Commander George Beckwith Engineer.'

The shell is mounted on a wooden plug on a red baize-covered circular wooden base, but the original dome for the display is missing (lost before acquisition).