Watch cases & swivel ring, from Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition, recovered by Dr John Rae

These watch cases & swivel ring are part of a collection of relics recovered from Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition of 1848-9. They were given to Dr John Rae by North American Inuits in 1854, who told Rae how Franklin's men had perished in the Arctic.

The 18ct gold case was made in London in 1843-4. The silver case, stamped with the number 4658, has had a disc cut out from it by Dr Rae who made it into a mascot to give to a niece of Lord Napier. The swivel ring is from a silver watch.

During his trip of 1853-4, which was wholly sponsored by the Hudson's Bay Company, Rae and his seven men brought home news of the fateful Franklin expedition. For this, they received a government reward of 10,000 pounds.

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