Duke's
Lot 427
AN IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC SET OF FOUR VICTORIAN MEDALS awarded to Lieutenant .F. Abbott R.N. comprising; An Indian General Service Medal with Perak Bar, A South Africa Medal with 1879 Bar, An Egypt Medal with 1882 dated reverse, and a Khedive`s StarThe associated miniatures, and a larger quantity of related ephemera and family documentation to include letters to and from his parents, sketches, photographs, newspaper cuttings, hand written notes on various naval subjects, naval instructions and many other related items.Four Journals: A private journal covering the period from January 1st 1874-March 1875. A journal and Remark book covering the period 1874-1877, a similar journal from October 1877-1878 and another from January 1879-1882.These fascinating journals include the necessary information of navigation and climate that would be important to a Naval officer, as well as personal reflections and reports of the day to day activities. These journals explain more thoroughly than any other source the day to day operation of the late Victorian Navy, details of taking on board coal, deaths of seaman in accidents, exercises with newly developed torpedos, playing croquet, dining ashore and the many other varied activities are all recorded in great detail.Two photograph albums: Containing numerous large format photographs of such subjects as landscape views, group photographs of ships companies for HMS Active, HMS Minotaur, ruins at Alexandria, `Bob` the bear aboard ship, HMS Shah at anchor, the British residency at Bauda Bahru, the Ex-Sultan & Chiefs of Perak and many other similar subjects.All contained in a seaman`s chest.Provenance: The family of Thomas Francis Abbott and thence by descentSee illustration (3 photographs, medal, portrait group shot)
