Royal Naval Interest, a very interesting circular wooden box (base and lift off lid) made from the wood of HMS Discovery, attractively turned with reeded and baluster decoration, the lid centre inlaid with an engraved copper gilt disc ‘Part Of/the remains of the/Discovery/Which Sailed round the/World/With Capt Vancouver/The Gift of/ Rear Admiral Sykes/to Rear Admiral/ Sir Robert Barrie/Fellow Voyagers’, complete with career details of both officers, both sections with neat repairs to fractures, otherwise good condition £200-300

John Sykes, Rear-Admiral 1838, later Admiral, died 1858; Sir Robert Barrie, K.C.B., K.C.H., Rear-Admiral 1837, died 1841. Captain George Vancouver (1758-98), noted explorer who sailed on Cook’s second and third voyages 1772-80, and subsequently on his own voyages of discovery, notably the south-west of Australia, New Zealand, and his survey of the Pacific coast of North America, 1792-94, when he sailed around what is now Vancouver Island.