Harrogate firm's excitement at discovery of historic book from 1690 signed by legendary figure

Antiquarian book specialists at auctioneers Duggleby Stephenson were amazed to find that a 1690 copy of the works of the Roman historian and biographer Seutonius which was brought in to the firm’s Harrogate Office for assessment bore the signature of Lady Emma Hamilton, the mistress, and love of his life, of legendary naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Incredibly, this rare book played a part in the astonishing transformation of a Cheshire blacksmith's daughter into one of the most famous women in 18th century Europe.

Coralie Thomson of David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers, which is located in Raglan Street in Harrogate, said: "The book was part of an extraordinary series of events that began in 1786 when the politician Charles Francis Greville, a younger son of the son of the Earl of Warwick with whom 20-year old Emma had been living in London, packed her off to live with his widowed uncle, 55-year-old Sir William Hamilton who was the British ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples.

"Emma was shocked to discover on arrival that the visit was intended to be permanent.

"Remarkably things turned out rather well.

"Like everyone else Sir William was very taken with Emma, indeed, he would marry her five years later.

"Unlike many others he treated her with great kindness and set about educating her.

"There followed tuition in the arts, the development of a shared interest in classical antiquities and history, hence Sir William's gift of Seutonius.

"Emma also became fluent in Italian and French and became a Royal Court favourite, with the result that when Admiral Nelson arrived in Naples in 1798 after his great victory over the French in the Battle of the Nile, she was able to act as his translator and political facilitator in the kingdom - a contact that would ultimately led to her becoming his mistress.”

The book goes under the hammer in the Grand Tour Sale at Duggleby Stephenson's York Saleroom today, Friday.