Battle of Bosworth flag makes $6,500 at Hansons auctioneers

A fragment of the flag carried into the Battle of Bosworth by Henry Tudor's standard bearer has sold through Hansons Auctioneers on September 28.

Battle of bosworth field flag standard fragment
The battle saw henry Tudor take the throne from Richard III, ending the War of the Roses that had raged for much of the 15th century



The flag, a rare relic from the 1485 battle, sold for £3,800 ($6,131), meeting its £3,000-5,000 estimate. It measures just 6.5 inches by 5.5 inches, and is mounted in a frame.

The piece of flag was one of three parts hung above the tomb of Sir Robert Harcourt, who served as the victorious Henry Tudor's standard bearer in the final battle against King Richard III.

The battle resulted in Tudor becoming Henry VII,  bringing to an end the War of the Roses that had raged for much of the 15th century.

The provenance of the item is superb, having been kept in the same family since 1847.

The sale came at an opportune time, with Richard III's body recently discovered near Leicester, having been missing since the battle.

At Christie's in 2012, the first Richard III signed document to appear at auction for more than 40 years sold with a 628% increase on estimate for $168,900.

Artefacts from Britain's most iconic monarchs are highly sought after by collectors. Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering a selection of historical manuscripts for sale, including examples from Henry VII, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I - the legendary Tudor monarchs that changed the face of England.

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