Trafalgar toby jugs and a Nelson Sailor.

The Trafalgar Sailor toby jug was produced to commemorate Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, his flagship HMS Victory, the Sailor crew and the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), attributed to the Enoch Wood factory, Staffordshire, England.

When we first collected in the 1980's a Trafalgar jug was very rare and in Anthony Oliver's (From Oliver- Sutton Antiques) book Staffordshire Pottery- Tribal Art of England, Page 149, He shows a model and says " The Trafalgar Toby: No other example is known" circa 1815..... The same toby photo was printed in Naval Ceramics by PD Gordon Pugh. Plate 84... back and front photos say....Sailor jug impressed with words" Victory " & "Trafalgar" Coloured Earthenware Staffordshire Circa 1805 courtesy of Oliver-Sutton Antiques.

So the old dealers thought it very rare, during our thirty odd years about five have been seen in different degrees of condition. In Vic Schuler edition 3 toby book, he thought there could be seven but whatever their exact number is, it's very low and the models are nice good rarities.

American Sailor or "Dollars" toby jugs are a sailor figure seated straight or astride a chest inscribed dollars, sometimes impressed with "W". He holds a pipe in the left hand and a jug in the other that is sometimes inscribed with the words "success to our wooden walls" Toby's handle is in the form of a tree trunk..... These thoughts have been passed down from a naval collector as to the correct descriptive name for toby: "I have long believed that this toby should be called a "Nelsons Sailor" as chronologically that is what it is: During the reign of George 3rd gold and silver coinage was very scarce and Spanish dollars became accepted currency. The Bank of England legalized the position in 1793 by counter- stamping the coins with the head of George 3rd and in 1804 the Spanish dollars were over-struck and issued as Bank of England "Dollars". In consequence the American sailor toby can properly be described to being a British sailor.....circa Nelson"! Before the introduction of decimalization coinage the name dollar was slang for 5 shillings (25p) today

Nelson's death at Trafalgar secured his position as one of Britain's most heroic figures; numerous monuments, including Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square London, have been created in his memory and his legacy remains highly influential
His historic story can be read through .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_Nelson

Where to see the "HMS Victory"
HMS Victory has been preserved and is still commissioned as a flag ship, she is the oldest warship in the world, although a ship the USS Constitution is the oldest warship still afloat, she was commissioned some 30 years later.
Victory attracts some 350.000 visitors a year as a museum exhibit and can be located at the western most entrance to the Royal Navy's facility in Portsmouth. England.
On collection of one of these fine toby jugs illustrated we made the visit to that historic area as Toby originally belonged to a famous maritime collector who also owned books/ledgers from Capt Cooks voyages. HMS Victory itself makes a splendid sight, there's good parking facilities and the "Lady Hamilton" pub just a short walk away... it's an area well worth a visit.

Admirals that have flown their flags on HMS Victory during our collected early toby jug period from (Lord Howe) 20th April 1782 to 21st October 1805 (Lord Horatio Nelson)

Admiral Lord Howe: 20th Apr 1782 -14th Nov 1782
Admiral Lord Howe: Jul 1790- Aug 1790
Admiral Lord Hood: Aug 1790-Aug 1791
Rear-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker: 6th Feb 1793 -May 1793
Admiral Lord Hood: 6th May 1793- 15th Dec 1794
Rear-Admiral John Man: 8th Jul 1795- 27th Sep 1795
Vice-Admiral Robert Linzee: Oct 1795- Nov 1795
Admiral Sir John Jervis: 3rd Dec 1795- 30th Mar 1797
Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson: 8th May 1803- 21st Oct 1805