There is certainly no shortage of Union Jack flags in the United Kingdom—the tat shops alone offer up thousands, if not millions—but the one crossing the auction block this summer is distinguished by an incredible history.
The iconic piece of fabric, which will be auctioned off during Christie’s Classic Week in London this July, was flown by HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This consequential naval clash saw Admiral Horatio Nelson and his 27 British ships defeat a robust 33-strong Franco-Spanish fleet, thereby stopping French general Napoleon Bonaparte and his army from invading England.
“Nelson was one of the first naval commanders to fly the Union Jack in battle, and to be able to look at one of the very flags flown by his fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar 220 years ago is both remarkable and inspiring,” Thomas Venning, head of Christie’s London Book Department, said in a statement.
The first Union Flag was created in 1606, but was later updated with the cross of St. Patrick of Ireland in 1801. (The second design is still in use today.) Measuring 91 1/3 inches high by 138 1/2 inches wide, this particular example is one of only three Union Jack flags to survive Trafalgar. Captain James Clephan R.N., Spartiate’s second lieutenant, took the flag after the battle, according to Christie’s. It was common practice for officers to take such rewards after battle. Benjamin Reed Zaricor acquired the flag in 2009 for the Zaricor Flag Collection. It has been offered to the public just once in 220 years, making it exceptionally rare.
The flag also sports a few notable battle scars that highlight its incredible provenance. An analysis carried out by the Zaricor Flag Collection showed shards of metal embedded in the fabric and a large hole on one edge. This suggests the flag may have been in close proximity to a cannonball. Fragments of wood splinters were also found throughout.
This piece of British history comes at a cost, of course. The flag is expected to fetch between $675,000 and $1 million (£500,000-800,000) at Christie’s London on July 1. It will be on display in the British capital from June 26 as part of the auction house’s Classic Week.
