A fragment of the flag flown by the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar has been consigned to Nate D Sanders' latest online auction, holding a minimum bid of $5,000.
 Flag pieces from the HMS Victory are extremely popular with collectors |
The flag is a well-documented piece of Lord Horatio Nelson memorabilia, having been famously torn apart by his men at his funeral in London's St Paul's Cathedral. The lot actually consists of two fragments, one in red and one in navy blue, which both measure around one inch in diameter.
The sale closes for bids on December 17.
The fragments are housed in a locket with a portrait of Nelson in uniform, which is in fine condition. They were previously sold at Sotheby's in 2005, with additional provenance from Wallis & Wallis Auction Galleries in 1995.
Nelson's victory, and death, at the Battle of Trafalgar is one of the best-known British naval actions in history, and continues to fascinate scholars to this day. Nelson and his memorabilia are highly collectible, especially items relating to the 1805 battle.
In 2004, Bonhams sold a small strip of flag from the HMS Victory for £47,800 ($78,870), with the piece making a huge 218.6% increase on its £10,000-15,000 estimate. Another piece of the battle ensign sold for £8,000 (£13,107) at David Lay Auctions in 2005.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is offering the magnificent Trafalgar Collection for sale, which includes a fragment of HMS Victory's flag, a piece of HMS Victory wood, a section of Nelson's handkerchief and a strand of hair from the admiral himself, all at a fraction of the price.
