H.M.S's. Victoria & Camperdown disaster ephemera

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H.M.S's. Victoria & Camperdown disaster ephemera
comprising two period colour lithographs showing the collision from different perspectives each with legends, a period 'souvenir' photograph of the capsized Victoria seconds before submersion, a silver sixpence attached to an engraved cross reading This coin came to the surface in a ditty box after the sinking of H.M.S. Victoria off the Tripoli coast of Syria on the 22ⁿ^d^. June 1893, and a book by Richard Hough published by White Lion, 1959, the largest lithograph -- 18 x 28in. (47 x 72.5cm.)
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Lot Essay

H.M.S. Victoria, a 1st class battleship of 1887 was the flagship under the command of Admiral Sir George Tryon, K.C.B., the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in June 1893. The fleet left Beyrout for Tripoli when, for unaccountable reasons, Tryon insisted on proceeding with a fleet evolution manoeuvre at six cables instead of the minimum eight with the result that H.M.S. Camperdown rammed her starboard bow. Despite managing to turn and limp towards shore, ten and a half minutes after the collision she capsized and, with her propellers still turning, sank about five miles out in 70 fathoms. The Admiral, 22 officers and 336 men drowned, but not before Admiral Tryon stated in the presence of the Staff-Commander and Flag-Lieutenant that he accepted all blame for the disaster.

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