A terrific relic from a historic battleship, a souvenir 'keel plate' paperweight issued upon the launching of the British battleship H.M.S. QUEEN MARY in 1911. The 7 1/2 x 3 3/4" chrome-plated iron plate bears a brass grip, and the bottom is covered in green felt. The upper surface of this relic is period engraved: 'H.M.S. 'QUEEN MARY' KEEL PLATE 1911' Some corrosion to the top surface, else very good. Only one other example of the paperweight could be found: in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England. The H.M.S. QUEEN MARY was the last battlecruiser built by the Royal Navy before the First World War. The sole member of her class, Queen Mary shared many features with the Lion-class battlecruisers, including her eight 13.5-inch guns. She was completed in 1913 and participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight as part of the Grand Fleet in 1914. At the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916, she was hit twice by the German battlecruiser DERFFLINGER during the early part of the battle and her magazines exploded shortly afterwards, sinking the ship.