British naval expert from Deddington to sell his collection of memorabilia

A very rare engraving depicting Nelsons victory at the Battle of the Nile. This double-faced plate commemorates the destruction of the French flagship, lOrient and Nelsons subsequent elevation to Lord, First Baron of the Nile. Collector Stephen Walters is selling it at auction in Steeple Aston. NNL-180313-131922001

A rare engraving of Admiral Nelson's victory at the Battle of the Nile will be the headline item at a sale of naval memorabilia owned by Deddington-based expert Stephen Walters.

A British naval historian, Mr Walters will be parting with a lifetime’s collection of artefacts and memorabilia at this weekend’s Antiques@TheHolt, near Steeple Aston, making his debut as an antiques dealer.

Mr Walters, who has a particular interest in the Mutiny on the Bounty, has dedicated 50 years to collecting all thing maritime related. He has been an adviser to nautical museums in the UK and overseas and has been a consultant on the 1984 film The Bounty starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson.

Mr Walters’ interest in naval memorabilia started after watching Treasure Island, starring Robert Newton, and he has been gathering examples since his teens.

He said: “The film fascinated me during the drab period after the Second World War particularly the way the start of our maritime history was portrayed on film as bright and breezy.”

The engraving which is for sale is a double-faced plate commemorating the destruction of the French flagship, l’Orient and Nelson’s subsequent elevation to Lord, First Baron of the Nile. It was published in November 1798.