Nelson letter collection expected to fetch £6m at auction
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 15:58 · Archive
A collection of 415 letters and documents relating to Lord Nelson is expected to fetch up to £6 million at Sotheby's.
A collection of 415 letters, documents and manuscripts relating to Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson has gone on display at Sotheby's, expected to fetch between £4 and £6 million at auction. Described as "the greatest collection of its kind in private hands", the lot was assembled over 40 years by entrepreneur Clive Richard and went on display on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, the major naval victory led by Nelson.
The collection includes letters Nelson sent to his lover, Emma Hamilton, as well as his own accounts of battle victories. It also contains his personal accounts of learning to write with his left hand after losing his right arm in battle. The officer is renowned for his triumphs over French forces during the Napoleonic Wars.
Sotheby's book and manuscript specialist Gabriel Heaton told the Press Association that the collection covers "every aspect of Nelson's life and career, and of those closest to him, and those who served alongside him". The proceeds from the sale will go to the Clive Richards Foundation, which supports education, healthcare, heritage and arts.
How it is being reported
- Collection of letters detailing most intimate parts of Lord Nelson’s life could fetch £6m at auctionThe collection is made up of 415 letters, documents and manuscripts relating to the officerThe Independent · 21 Oct, 15:39
- ‘Greatest collection’ of letters from Lord Nelson could fetch £6m at auctionMore than 400 letters, documents and manuscripts make up the collection on show at Sotheby’s.Evening Standard · 21 Oct, 14:40
In this story: Lord Nelson · Emma Hamilton · Clive Richard · Sotheby's · Clive Richards Foundation
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem
Comments (0)