1156

,UK - London, England-,Captain Joseph A. McClure's Sextant

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 USD and UP
,UK - London, England-,Captain Joseph A. McClure's Sextant
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday August22, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
August 23 & 24, 2013
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Grand Ballroom #4
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday August 25, 10am-1pm

c1800s-A fine example of an early sextant--the tool used for taking celestial measurements used to help navigate at sea. To use the sextant, one would position a viewing lens in the threaded hoop attached to the left side of the tool, and would look into the horizon mirror, which would show the horizon in the upper half of the view, and the image reflected by the index mirror in the lower portion of the view. By swinging the index arm until the horizons met, one would then take the measurement and know at what angle the object`s halves lined up. Colored filters, or shades, also provided protection from the sun or other harsh light, and could be swung out of the view in order to view stars at night. The sextant is inscribed "Spencer, Barrett & Co. London." and bears 3 round, colored filters in green, red, and very dark red glass, also 4 square-framed filters in red, green, and two ultra-dark by the horizon mirror. The Spencer and Barret Company operated in England between 1830 and 1880 and specialized in navigational tools. The sextant features ebony wood in the frame base, with brass construction. The tool bears a fine patina. This sextant is housed in an original fitted mahogany keystone box, measuring 12" x 11" x 5" with jointed and screwed construction. The remnants of a paper label are still affixed to the underside of the lid, but any other labels, nameplates, or markings are no longer present. The latches and lock mechanism and key are also missing from the box. The lot is accompanied by a letter of provenance, linking the item to Captain Joseph A. McLure, who captained the American Schooner "John L Treat" until his death in the early 1900s, and was a ship master by the age of 21, having begun as a simple cabin boy at 12 or 13 years of age. The letter of provenance also explains how to use the tool, how it came to be within the McClure family, and how the late wife of McClure left the tool to her friend, by whom this letter was written. The two viewing scopes are held within a cotton bag imprinted "Royal Mint/ Sydney". The tool itself is still functional, but may benefit from a professional, restorative cleaning. HKA#64907