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Auction: 341 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1044

Great Britain. Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. Marine Medal (1867-1875). Second type, oval with 'Liver Bird' suspension. Silver. Inscribed on the reverse to: THOMAS HENRY A.B. S.S. BATAVIA. 16:DEC: 1872. The edge additionally inscribed: FOR GREAT COURAGE & HUMANITY IN GOING IN THE BOAT IN A HEAVY GALE & RESCUING 9 OF THE CREW OF THE CHARLES WARD ABANDONED 20 NOV. 1872.
On the 19th of November 1872, some 1500 miles from land in the Atlantic Ocean, the Cunard steamship S.S. Batavia sighted the British bark Charles Ward of Newcastle, waterlogged and dismasted in a hurricane. Amid a furious storm, a lifeboat crew from the Batavia set out and rescued nine of the Charles Ward's crew. Among the passengers of the Batavia was Mark Twain who sent a special dispatch to the New York Times reporting, with his rare insight, on the event. Twain would go on to nominate the medal recipient for the Royal Humane Society's bravery medal.
With replacement certificate and a copy of Twain's New York Times article and excerpts from "Mark Twain's Letters, Volume 5, 1872-1873" in which the rescue and subsequent events are described in detail. Some minor edge bruising. Very Fine.

Sold for
$800