Nelson's Lost Jewel - The Extraordinary Story of the Lost Diamond Chelengk (Hardcover)

Admiral Lord Nelson's diamond Chelengk is one of the most famous and iconic jewels in British history. Presented to Nelson by the Sultan Selim III of Turkey after the Battle of the Nile in 1798, the jewel had thirteen diamond rays to represent the French ships captured or destroyed at the action. A central diamond star on the jewel was powered by clockwork to rotate in wear. Nelson wore the Chelengk on his hat like a turban jewel, sparking a fashion craze for similar jewels in England. The jewel became his trademark to be endlessly copied in portraits and busts to this day. After Trafalgar, the Chelengk was inherited by Nelson's family and worn at the Court of Queen Victoria. Sold at auction in 1895 it eventually found its way to the newly opened National Maritime Museum in Greenwich where it was a star exhibit. In 1951 the jewel was stolen in a daring raid by an infamous cat-burglar and lost forever. For the first time, Martyn Downer tells the extraordinary true story of the Chelengk: from its gift to Nelson by the Sultan of Turkey to its tragic post-war theft, charting the jewel's journey through history and forging sparkling new and intimate portraits of Nelson, of his friends and rivals, and of the woman he loved.

General

Imprint:	The History Press Ltd
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	October 2017
Authors:	Martyn Downer
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 29mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	287
ISBN-13:	978-0-7509-6830-0
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Historical, political & military Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Naval forces & warfare Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > European history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Maritime history Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > History > European history > 1750 to 1900 Books > History > History of specific subjects > Maritime history Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Biography > Historical, political & military Promotions
LSN:	0-7509-6830-3
Barcode:	9780750968300

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