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Lot 34

A manuscript Georgian Naval signals handbook
8x5ins(20x13cm)

8 October 2014, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £1,500 inc. premium

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A manuscript Georgian Naval signals handbook

On laid paper, bearing "GR" and Britannia watermarks, stitch bound as an indexed book from the centre to front and back. Each leaf bearing a watercoloured flag index marker and manuscript annotation as to meaning and position of hoist. Bound in a stiffened paper cover. 42pp. 8x5ins(20x13cm)

Footnotes

Although Naval signalling has an ancient history, systematic codes of signals did not gain popularity until the 18th century. The earliest signal book in the National collection at Greenwich is dated 1711 and it is recorded that Admiral Rodney employed signal codes in 1782. The first Admiralty standardised code dates from 1799, following Lord Howe's numerical code of 1790. This code book, almost certainly an officer's personal copy, bears as one signal the Royal Standard of 1714-1800, which would place it as one of the codes deployed in the second half of the eighteenth century.

Personal code books were frowned on officially, because of the risks of capture by the enemy.

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