JUNE 15, 2025 — A Union Jack flown during one of Britain’s most consequential naval battles is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s London on July 1, with estimates placing its value between £500,000 and £800,000 (USD$675,000–$1 million), according to Robb Report.
The flag, flown from HMS Spartiate during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, is among only three known surviving Union Jacks from the historic engagement.
In their press release, Christie’s has positioned the flag as a centrepiece of its Exceptional Sale during Classic Week. According to Thomas Venning, Head of Christie’s London Book Department, “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.”
HMS Spartiate was part of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s fleet of 27 British ships that faced off against 33 French and Spanish vessels off Cape Trafalgar. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost 20 ships; the British lost none. Nelson himself was fatally shot during the battle, adding to the engagement’s lasting legacy.
The flag’s provenance adds to its historical significance. It was taken by Second Lieutenant James Clephan, who served aboard Spartiate, as a customary token of battle, an act common among officers of the time. It remained in private hands for over two centuries and has only once before been made available to the public.
The textile itself bears visible evidence of combat. An analysis revealed embedded metal shards and fragments of wood, consistent with proximity to cannon fire. A half-moon shaped tear at one edge is believed to be the result of a cannonball strike.
The flag also serves as a historical specimen of British vexillology. It represents the second, and current, design of the Union Jack, adopted in 1801 following the Act of Union with Ireland. Notably, the handmade flag does not accurately “counterchange” the white and red saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick, an error common in early 19th-century reproductions.
The flag will be exhibited in London from June 26 through July 1 as part of Christie’s Classic Week, which coincides with the city’s broader summer cultural season.
Image: Christie’s
