Charles Dixon Battle of the Nile naval print, originally published in 1901 as a colour book plate in Britannia’s Bulwarks: The Achievements of Our Seamen, The Honours of Our Ships. The scene is titled “The ‘Majestic’ at the Battle of the Nile, 1798” and depicts HMS Majestic amid the smoke and confusion of one of the Royal Navy’s most famous late eighteenth-century actions.
The available evidence strongly supports identification of this example as an original period book plate from the 1901 publication rather than a modern reproduction. It should not be confused with an artwork made in 1798. The historical date printed beneath the image refers to the Battle of the Nile itself; the plate was published more than a century later. The artwork is attributed to British marine artist Charles Edward Dixon R.I. (1872–1934).
Original Charles Dixon Battle of the Nile Print from 1901
The printed caption beneath the image reads “THE ‘MAJESTIC’ AT THE BATTLE OF THE NILE, 1798.” A smaller line identifies the ship as the Majestic, gives a tonnage of 1,642 tons, records that she was launched at Blackwall and notes her heaviest guns as 32-pounders.
The composition is dominated by the dark hull and towering rigging of HMS Majestic, surrounded by other vessels, cannon smoke, damaged sails and flashes of fire. Dixon’s dramatic treatment gives the image strong decorative appeal even without specialist knowledge of naval history, while the identified ship and battle add further interest for collectors of Royal Navy, maritime and Nelson-era material.
The reverse is particularly useful when identifying the piece. It carries printed text headed “THE BATTLE HONOURS OF THE ‘MAJESTIC’”, together with two monochrome illustrations and the printed page number 48. One illustration is captioned “IN PRESS-GANG DAYS”, while the other is captioned “MANNING THE FIGHTING-TOP.” The monochrome artwork is associated with C. J. Staniland R.I., whose illustrations appeared alongside Dixon’s colour plates in the original publication.
Britannia’s Bulwarks and British Naval History
Britannia’s Bulwarks was published in London in 1901 by George Newnes Limited in association with Navy and Army Illustrated and was edited by Commander Charles N. Robinson. The large-format volume combined full-page colour naval illustrations by Charles Dixon with monochrome work by C. J. Staniland. Surviving individual plates are now collected both as maritime ephemera and as decorative antique naval prints suitable for framing.
The scene represented here relates to the Battle of the Nile, fought in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars. HMS Majestic participated in the British attack on the French fleet in Aboukir Bay. The plate is therefore attractive not only as an example of early twentieth-century colour printing, but also as a later visual interpretation of an important episode in British naval history.
For accuracy, this listing describes the object as an original 1901 book plate. It is not being offered as Charles Dixon’s original painting, a hand-signed artwork or an eighteenth-century print.
Condition of the 1901 Naval Book Plate
The plate is offered in good antique condition for its age, with visible signs of handling and paper ageing. The photographs show some age-related toning, light marks, slight waviness or creasing to areas of the sheet and minor wear around the margins. The colour image itself remains visually strong and the principal printed details are clear.
The reverse text and illustrations remain legible. No claim is made that the sheet is free from every small age spot, handling mark or paper imperfection. These are normal considerations for a paper item that is approximately 125 years old. Please examine all supplied photographs carefully because they show the actual example offered for sale and form an important part of the condition description.
- Item type: Original colour book plate / antique naval print
- Title: The “Majestic” at the Battle of the Nile, 1798
- Artist: Charles Edward Dixon R.I. (1872–1934)
- Publication: Britannia’s Bulwarks: The Achievements of Our Seamen, The Honours of Our Ships
- Publisher: George Newnes Limited / Navy and Army Illustrated
- Publication place: London, England
- Publication year: 1901
- Subject: HMS Majestic and the Battle of the Nile, 1798
- Reverse: Printed text and monochrome illustrations relating to the battle honours of HMS Majestic
- Exact sheet dimensions: Not supplied
- Condition: Good antique condition with age-related paper wear and handling marks
- Quantity: One original period book plate
A Collectable Royal Navy Display Piece
This original 1901 Charles Dixon naval print has a useful combination of age, a named artist, a precisely identified publication and a recognisable Royal Navy subject. It would suit a collector of maritime prints, naval history, Nelson-era imagery, antique book plates or British military ephemera. Its horizontal composition also makes it an obvious candidate for sympathetic framing, provided archival materials are used to protect the old paper.
Unlike a modern reproduction, the printed material on the reverse forms part of the original book-page history of this example. That feature is worth retaining and photographing even if the piece is later framed.
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