Nelson honour is auction's star lot

The silver, gold and enamel Breast Star of the Order of the Bath was awarded to Nelson for his role at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797 where, disobeying orders, he left the fleet and attacked and captured two Spanish ships.

Nelson, whose daring victories made him a national hero, was shot dead on the deck of the Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Auctioneer James Morton said: "This is an exceptionally important piece of Nelson memorabilia which is even more remarkable having been rediscovered more than 200 years after the Admiral's death at the Battle of Trafalgar. We are privileged to have been entrusted with the task of offering it."

The sale, on Friday October 22, is at Sotheby's auction house in central London.