NELSON (HORATIO)

Several strands of hair purportedly that of Admiral Lord Nelson, contained in a paper packet bearing the manuscript inscription "The Hair of Admiral Lord Nelson sent by Lady Hamilton after the death of the Hero to The Prince of Wales 17th February 1806"

Several strands of hair believed to be that of Admiral Lord Nelson, contained in a paper packet bearing the manuscript inscription "The Hair of Admiral Lord Nelson sent by Lady Hamilton after the death of the Hero to The Prince of Wales 17th February 1806", paper watermarked "W King/ 1840", folded packet 60 x 102mm.; with a priced catalogue for the Portesham House sale, 17 June 1938 (2)

Provenance:
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy (1769-1839)
Thence by descent

According to the inscription on the packet, presumably written by a member of the Hardy family, the enclosed strands of reddish-brown hair touched with grey were originally sent to the Prince of Wales by Emma Hamilton. Surgeon William Beatty records in his 'Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson' that Nelson requested that Lady Hamilton should have his hair, and it was Captain Thomas Hardy who was charged with this task after Trafalgar. The remnants of the pigtail are now held at the National Maritime Museum. The watermark on the paper dating it to 1840 would indicate that the strands were probably returned to Vice Admiral Hardy after the death of George IV in 1830, and subsequently packaged up and docketed during an inventory of Hardy's possessions after his death in 1839.

It was offered in the sale held by Dukes at the Hardy family home, Portesham House, Dorset, on 17 June 1938 as lot 146 and was one of the more expensive lots in the sale, selling at £11. However, according to a note in the catalogue (a copy of which is included in the lot) the sale was cancelled and it was returned to the family ("Refudiated by bidder as wrapping paper is watermarked date 1840. He was under the impression that this was the lock of hair from Mr Bridge's sale at Puddletrenthide [sic] in 1911"). The sale he refers to is the sale of works of art and historical relics of John Bridges and John Gawler Bridge, The Manor House, Piddletrenthide, 20 September 1911.