handkerchief, snuff

Yellow linen square. Printed in red with Britannia mourning over a portrait of Nelson and a pyramid behind inscribed 'THE EVER TO BE LAMENTED / LORD VISCT NELSON / Born 20th Sept 1758 / Fell in the glorious cause of his country / in the memorable battle / off Trafalgar / 21st Oct 1805'. The British lion is behind the pyramid, with a naval action in the background and naval trophies in the foreground. Fame with a trumpet and wreaths. In the sky above and on a ribbon the legend 'TO THE MEMORY OF LORD VISCOUNT NELSON'. On either side are lists of the British and Combined Franco-Spanish fleets; below, two seamen hold banners inscribed 'COLLINGWOOD' and 'NORTH' (i.e. the Earl of Northesk, the third-in-command). The border has thistles, harps anchors and roses, oval depictions of ships, and the whole is interwoven with a ribbon inscribed 'The Tars of Great Britain Humble the Pride of France'.

Object Details

ID: TXT0269
Collection: Textiles
Type: handkerchief, snuff
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar, 1805
Date made: circa 1806
People: Nelson, Horatio
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 790 x 796 mm