Casting a glow over Nelson’s last hours

A circa 1800 naval tin and horn lantern might command a low four-figure sum on a good day, but when its provenance confirms that it was on the gun decks as Nelson fought and died at Trafalgar, that considerably ups the ante.

Not only is the lantern accompanied by a letter confirming it was on board HMS Victory in the run-up to Trafalgar and was later presented to Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in 1929, this exact form of lantern is depicted in a celebrated early 19th century painting by Arthur William Devis, who was given access to the exact location where Nelson was treated. The result at auction was £47,880.