A antiques collector from Hastings plans to donate rare documents to commemorate the bicentenary of Nelson’s funeral, it was reported on www.hastingstoday.co.uk.

The collector, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of theft is in possession of a portfolio containing pencil sketches of Lord Nelson’s State Funeral by painter Henry Singleton, which have been valued at £10,000.

The collector said: “In my earlier days I was an art dealer and I still collect art. I am particularly interested in Nelson and Trafalgar as it was the greatest military period of the century and as an antiquarian I can’t help but be drawn towards the greats of history.”

Nelson was buried in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral on January 9, 1806, after a five-day state funeral. The antiquarian said: “There were huge celebrations in memory of the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s death in October, but people forget that he wasn’t buried until January.”

Other items in the collection include a painting by J. Thristle entitled ‘Admiral Nelson of the Nile and Burnham Thorpe (1798)’ and a drawing by Slade Baker. There is also an 1804 Grant of Arms which was issued to the First Secretary to the Board of Admiralty during Lord Nelson’s time, William Marsden, who found fame after the victory at Trafalgar.

The sketches can be viewed on the National Maritime Muesum website: www.nmm.ac.uk