Whist and bezique set with the badge of his command, HMS Pelorus. BAYLY, Edward Henry.

An experienced naval officer, Edward Henry Bayly C.B. (1849-1904) captained HMS Pelorus, a protected cruiser, during the fleet review for Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897. Bayly was a friend of Rudyard Kipling, who described his time onboard the ship in A Fleet in Being (1898). Bayly was promoted lieutenant in September 1873, commander in June 1887, and captain in January 1894, having served overseas in several vessels. In 1899, he became captain of the armoured cruiser HMS Aurora on the China station. In June 1900, he replaced the wounded John Jellicoe as chief of staff to Admiral Seymour, was mentioned by Seymour in dispatches, and remained at Tianjin until the withdrawal of naval forces. He retired at his own request in February 1904, and this set remained in his family until 2023. Founded in 1820, Charles Goodhall & Son was a leading maker of playing cards and games sets in the 19th century. This item has been registered with the UK government's ivory declaration service. Mahogany box (110 x 240 x 100 mm), leatherette base, brass lock, complete with wooden and ivory whist and bezique markers, 7 packs of cards (all but one with full or partial remains of original paper wrappers, 4 still tied with string and presumed complete), printed piquet scoring pad with marbled edges, 3 printed information sheets, 6 duodecimo rule books, red ribbons. Lid with metal badge of HMS Pelorus. Lacking pencil, one scoring pad, and key. A few indentations to lid, other signs of general wear, one set of cards heavily used, several ribbons split: a very good example.