Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An important gold presentation cigar case given by General Baldomero Espartero, Duke of Victoria and Regent of Spain, to Lieutenant Frederick Lowe, R.N., on the occasion of the General’s flight from Spain to England in 1843
Presentation Gold Cigar Case, an impressive two-colour solid gold cigar case, applied on both sides with a finely cast and chased high relief knight in armour, the base with presentation inscription ‘Given by Genl. Espartero, Duke of Victoria, to Lieut. Fredk. Lowe, R.N. 24th Septr. 1843’, indistinct Spanish? hallmarks, 125mm x 60mm, weight 260 gms, with old manuscript note ‘Given by Genl. Espartero, Duke of Victroria, to Lt. Fredk. Lowe, Commr. of H.M.S.V. Prometheus, Septr. 24th 1843, as a memento of his Excellcy’s arrival in England in that vefsel Augst. 23, 1843’, in original presentation case, an impressive object of outstanding quality and in excellent condition £4000-5000

Frederick Lowe was born on 30 October 1811, entered the Royal Naval College in March 1825, and first went to sea in December 1826. He saw service on the North American, Mediterranean, and South American stations and, in August 1834, accompanied an expedition sent from Lima to Para under the orders of Lieutenant Smyth for the purpose of exploring the Pachitca, Maranon, and Ucayali rivers. He received his commission as Lieutenant on 17 November 1837, and assumed command of the steam vessel Prometheus on 23 February 1843. In that ship he effected the escape of General Espartero from Spain by conveying him from Cadiz to England, where they arrived on 23 August 1843, much to the evident relief of the general.

Baldomero Espartero, Duke of Victoria , Duke of Morella, Prince of Vergara, Count of Luchana, Spanish general and statesman (1793-1879). Espartero fought against the French in the Peninsula War, and later against the revolutionaries in South America. After the death of Ferdinand VII in 1833, he supported Isabella II against the Carlists and won important victories in the Carlist War of 1834-39. His agreement with the Carlist general Rafael Maroto at Vergara in 1839 practically ended the war, and in the following year he was rewarded with the title Duque de la Victoria [Duke of Victory]. As a member of the Progressive party in the Cortes from 1837, Espartero played an important political role. His opposition to the Queen Regent, Maria Christina, helped force her to leave the country in 1840. The following year Espartero was made Regent by the Cortes and became virtual dictator of Spain. His ruthless suppression of opposition, notably at Barcelona, soon made him highly unpopular. In 1843 a general uprising took place and the rebels, declaring Queen Isabella to be of age, marched on Madrid, led by General Narvaez. Espartero, driven from office, embarked in the Royal Navy steam vessel Prometheus at Cadiz on 30 July 1843, and fled to England, where he remained until 1847. He was then restored to his honours and lived in retirement in Logrono until 1854, when he was placed by Isabella at the head of the Progressive party, but resigned in July 1856. After the expulsion of Isabella in 1868, he supported the provisional government, and in 1870 several members of the Cortes offered him the crown of Spain, but he declined it on the grounds of his great age and want of heirs.