Napoleonic Newsdesk

Nelson Decade Stamp Covers


If you collect stamps and covers with a Napoleonic theme, then you will be interested to learn of the commemorative stamp cover marking the Nelson Decade (1995-2005) that was recently launched on board HMS Victory. The special cover marks the first 38 years of Nelson's life from 1758 to 1796 when he served as commodore on his 17th ship, the ex-French vessel HMS Minerva. It has been produced by the Royal Naval Philatelic Society in conjunction with the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau.

The limited edition covers were signed by Earl Nelson (President of the Nelson Society); Mrs Anna Tribe (great-great-great grand-daughter of Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton); Vice-Admiral Jean-Pierre Lucas (whose ancestor captained the Redoubtable from which the musket shot was fired that fatally wounded Nelson at Trafalgar); and other officials from HMS Victory and the Royal Naval Museum.

The Society may issue annually other covers devoted to Nelson's life and triumphs. This would start on 14 February 1997, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent through to 21 October 2005, the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar. The commemorated events would be specially selected to provide an outline of Nelson's career from his birth in 1758, through his Royal Navy service in each of 27 ships, to his impressive successes culminating in his tragic death at the age of 47.

The Royal Naval Philatelic Society costs 10 pounds to join with a œ5 annual renewal fee. Members may then buy the covers priced from 3.95 pounds to 9.00 pounds dependent on the signatories and stamps. For further information contact the Society at 19 College Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire, POI 3LJ. Tel. 01705 820921.

Other Napoleonic Newsdesk Items:

Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #30
© Copyright 1996 by First Empire.

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com