Catalogue description High Court of Admiralty: Miscellaneous Objects, Artefacts and Documents extracted from Prize Papers

This series contains both artefacts and textual records found among ships papers taken as prize or delivered into court in the course of equitable actions heard before the High Court of Admiralty.

The records include captured working papers and laissez passer of ships taken as prize or involved in equity disputes before the Court of Admiralty; private papers and memoranda of passengers or crew on those ships, and artefacts, including wine, casually forfeit with the ships concerned. Items present in quantity, or of particular interest, include samples of wallpaper of the 18th century, marbled papers, and paper bales; textiles; playing cards; ornaments and accessories of dress; a slate with worked calculations concerning navigation; music; plans and views; and a Christmas 'card' of c1801.

Most items in this series have been removed from the Miscellanea and Prize Papers of the High Court of Admiralty (HCA 30, HCA 32). Where the ship's name is known, it is possible that related records may be found not only in those two series, but also in other records of the instance or prize jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty.