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Auction: 374 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale at NYINC
Lot: 245

THE REMARKABLE PERSONAL ROYAL PRESENTATION GOLD MEDAL TO EDWARD FLETCHER Esq. | Victoria, 'The Sea Gallantry' (Board of Trade Foreign Services) Specimen Gold Medal, 1866, by W Wyon after B Pistrucci, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D:, crowned bust left, rev. VICTORIA REGINA CUDI JUSSIT MDCCCXLI in four lines in crowned wreath, edge plain, but 'PRESENTED BY HM the QUEEN TO E W D FLETCHER Esq. MDCCCLXVI engraved on detachable brass lunette, 46mm., 64.87g [AGW], 12h // 5.94g [Frame] (Boddington, OMSA, 'The Sea Gallantry Medal (Foreign Services) of the Board of Trade of Great Britain' [1972], pp. 4-6), light handling marks and hairlines, scratches to rims where continually removed from brass suspension, otherwise brilliant, extremely fine and of the highest rarity in this metal, a superb Personal Royal Presentation bestowed by Queen Victoria herself

In 1841, William Wyon, Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint was commissioned to design a medal to be awarded "... when assistance has been afforded by Foreigners to subjects of Her Majesty who have been in danger, in consequence of disasters at sea, or otherwise.., to Foreigners who have particularly distinguished themselves on such occasions...". . The original intention was for a common reverse, bearing the inscription 'Victoria Regina Cudi Jussit MDCCCXLI, but in the event this reverse was never used, and early awards were made with the reverse struck from a specially commissioned die, bearing details of the rescue and the name of the recipient. In 1850, owing to the expense of creating a new reverse die for each award, a standard reverse was instituted, with the new inscription 'For Saving the Life of a British Subject'. The medal was approved by Queen Victoria later that year, but was superceded in 1867 by the introduction of the Albert Medal.



Curiously there is no trace of Edward Fletcher Esq of Liverpool performing a gallant act or indeed of ever saving a life at sea. From ancestral records his life began and ended rather unremarkably in Liverpool. Born 6 March 1803 to Joseph and Elizabeth Fletcher of Paradise Street, by the 1861 Census, he was recorded as a resident of Toxteth Park, living with his unmarried elder sister Arabella, and a profession listed as 'Wine Merchant'. Tragically he would die only eight months after the presentation of these awards, his will being granted with less that £100 to his name. By sheer good fortune however a remarkable surviving archive of contemporary letters has been consigned alongside the present lots on offer that sheds a fascinating light into the direct interaction of Queen Victoria with her loyal subjects, and indeed the key workings of her newly appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Thomas Myddelton Biddulph. Transcribed below are the salient points of the month-long correspondence between Liverpool, Buckingham Palace, and Balmoral that reveal the remarkable exchange of artwork for these very medals at the personal request of Queen Victoria.




31 High Street, Liverpool, Sept. 22, 1866

(Fletcher to Biddulph)


Sir,

I have held in my possession for many years a picture in enamel of Her Majesty the Queen by a London artist after the picture by [Edmund Thomas] Parris of 1839 … and another after the artist, the companion picture of his Royal Highness and the late Serving Consort in enamel…both 7 x 5 ½…

Yours

Ed. Fletcher




Buckingham Palace, Sept. 30, 1866

(Biddulph to Fletcher)

[Franked Liverpool, Oct. 2, 1866]


Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 22nd inst. which I have submitted to Her Majesty. Her Majesty desires me to express to you her thanks for the kind spirit with which your letter is written and for the handsome offer you make of the two Pictures.

Although it is not usually Her Majesty's custom to receive presents, the manner in which these Pictures are offered induces Her Majesty to desire me to inform you that if you will kindly forward them to Buckingham Palace, the Queen will accept of them with thanks. I have the honour to be Sir

Your obedient and humble servant

Thos. Biddulph

31 High Street, Liverpool, Oct. 5, 1866

[Fletcher to Biddulph]


Sir,

I beg to inform you that I have this day dispatched to your address, Buckingham Palace, the two Royal Portraits which have been so highly revered by Her Majesty passing acceptance.

I think that they will arrive safely and be deemed not material unworthy of the Royal favour. Included are cuttings from the Liverpool [….] Catalogues of 1839 + 1840 with labels to identify the pictures with the artist's name and verify the dates of production.

Again thanking you with sincerity for your kindness in this matter

Ed Fletcher




Buckingham Palace, Oct. 12, 1866

[Biddulph to Fletcher]


[Franked Liverpool, Oct. 13, 1866]

Sir,

I have to acknowledge the safe arrival of the two Pictures which I will communicate to Her Majesty, and I shall have it known of writing to you again. The delay is occasional as you will understand by Her Majesty being at Balmoral.

I am Sir, your obedient and faithful servant

Thos. Biddulph




Buckingham Palace, Oct. 24, 1866

[Biddulph to Fletcher]

[Franked Liverpool, Oct. 26, 1866]


Sir,

In consequence of my absence from Balmoral, I have been presented sooner conveying to you the expression of Her Majesty's thanks for the two Portraits you so kindly presented, and which have been received with much gratification by the Queen.

I am now commanded by Her Majesty to ask you to accept of two Medals, one of the Queen and the other of the Prince Consort which you make like to keep as Memorials of Her Majesty's acceptance of the Portraits.

I have the honour to be Sir, your obedient and humble servant

Thos. Biddulph




31 High Street, Liverpool, Oct. 26, 1866
[Fletcher to Biddulph]
Sir,
I am deeply honoured by your letter of 24th inst. conveying to me exciting intelligence of her Majesty's approval of the Royal Portraits. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the express packet containing two very beautiful medals of Her Majesty and the late Prince Consort. I beg that you will be kind enough to express to Her Majesty my warmest gratitude and thanks for this most gracious gift of her favour and condescention [sic]. To me they will soon be a dearly cherished evidence of the Queen's munificent generosity as well as a memorial of the most gratifying incident in my life.

I have the honour to be with good respect your so obliged and faithful servant

Ed Fletcher

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Sold for
$11,000

Starting price
$6000