A LARGE 2:1 RATIO ROYAL STANDARD
Lot 94

A LARGE 2:1 RATIO ROYAL STANDARD

LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Closed3 September 2014

Price Realised

GBP 20,000

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A LARGE 2:1 RATIO ROYAL STANDARD
LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY
In a glazed and ebonised frame, with Lion Passant Guardant in proportion within the field, signed and inscribed 'J.R. Nicholas/ Royal Standard' (top right)
73 in. (185.5 cm.) high, 141 1/3 in. (359.5 cm.) wide

By repute flown from the Royal yacht and gifted to Admiral John Nicholas, Captain of Devonport Docks and Superintendant Kings Harbourmaster, Devonport by King George V.

Specialist note

Admiral John Nicholas:
In October 1880 he passed out from Britannia Training ship as a midshipman then served on various ships including Minotaur and Furious seeing action in Egypt and the Mediterranean . He rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming Captain of Devonport Dockyard in 1916, Deputy Superintendant King's Harbourmaster of Devonport, Rear Admiral in July 1917, Vice Admiral in 1922 and full Admiral in 1926.

Royal Standards from this period have the lions passant guardant in proportion within their quarter unlike later examples in which they are elongated and out of proportion. The Standard can only be flown when the Monarch is aboard ship or in residence and is carried by the Royal Staff travelling with the Monarch. It is extremely rare for Royal Standards to leave Royal possession although there are a few precedents of Royal Standards being gifted by the Monarch such as from Queen Alexandra to Scott for his expedition and Queen Mary to The Sandringham Company on their departure to war.
The wooden toggle is indicative of this Standard being from a Royal Yacht rather than a Royal Naval ship which would have been more likely to use Inglefield clips.

We are grateful for the kind assistance given by Graham Bartram FFI, Chief Vexillogist, The Flag Institute, London, in the dating of this Standard and the additional information provided