Could your next office Christmas party be held on the warship HMS Victory, commanded by Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson against French and Spanish forces in 1805?
A tabloid newspaper in the UK has reported that Nelson's ship, whose legend was sealed at the Battle of Trafalgar, may be used for corporate events. The fears follow news that she is to be sold by the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
However, a bit more digging reveals that the ship's new custodian will be the National Museum of the Royal Navy. It is hoped that the sale will enable the raising of funds to restore the ship - Victory's commercial prospects are limited while she remains a Navy vessel.
The warship, built between 1759 and 1765 in Chatham, Kent, has occupied its current moorings in Portsmouth, UK, since 1922. But time is steadily taking its toll on the 247-year-old vessel. HMS Victory costs £2m a year to look-after, while restoration to the ship could cost a further £16m.
However, despite tabloid fears to the contrary, it's a safe bet that National Museum of the Royal Navy will take good care of the ship - and ensure that drunken office parties are kept well away from this British national icon.
HMS Victory's value is believed to be around £360m. But the good news is that you don't need a budget of £360m in order to own an authentic piece of Lord Admiral Nelson's history - nor to enjoy the impressive returns that Nelson's memorabilia can bring.
For instance, the average value of a Nelson signed letter rose by 6.15% (from £8,950 to £9,500) between 2010 and 2011. Just imagine what HMS Victory will be valued at in another 10 or 20 years...
Nelson memorabilia pieces we have for sale, here at Paul Fraser Collectibles, include:
