Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Egypt, Basque Roads 1809 (Joseph Anderson, Carpenter.) nearly extremely fine £3,000-£4,000

Cheylesmore Collection, Glendining’s, July 1930; Glendining’s, February 1942; Sotheby’s, November 1986; Dix Noonan Webb, June 2000.

Jospeph Anderson is confirmed on the rolls as Carpenter aboard the Gibraltar for both clasps. Anderson is also confirmed as being present on board the Blanche at the time of her action on 19 December 1796, when, in company with the Minerve, Commodore Horatio Nelson, each frigate captured a Spanish frigate but were forced to relinquish their prizes on the appearance of a superior Spanish force. Anderson should, therefore, have been entitled to the additional clasp ‘Blanche 19 Decr 1796’ (only 4 issued) but as he was about 80 years old when he claimed his medal, perhaps he was unaware of his correct entitlement. Sold with an article on this medal from the O.M.R.S. Journal, Vol. 23, Summer 1984.