Auction Catalogue
Naval Interest World War One an extremely rare and interesting group of four cap tallies collected by the late Lieut Salmond an officer on board HMS Whirlwind in 1914 and probably all acquired during a joint naval review at Ruval in May 1914; they are ‘HMS Whirlwind’ (destroyer) ‘SMS Hohenzollern’ (battle cruiser) ‘SMS Fuerst Bismarck’ (battle cruiser?) and the Imperial Russian armoured cruiser ‘Admiral Makaroff’. A contemporary hand written note attached to the latter item states’ Cap Ribbon of Russian armoured cruiser Admiral Makaroff presented to Lieut Salmond at Ruval, May 1914 by Lieut Makaroff, Imperial Russian Navy who, at this time, was serving in the ship (as Gunnery Officer) named after his Father. This officer is believed to have been murdered by Bolshevicks in 1918’. The two German tallies of similar construction to the British one, the Russian one broader and the title and tail anchor in applied rich gilding. Presumably drawn from the ship’s stores as it is in mint state, the Bismarck tally slightly shortened otherwise very good condition overall (4) £500-700
See Colour Plate XVI.
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