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Lot 83
The Second King of Siam - a fascinating two page letter on gilt embossed Royal crested paper headed Duplicate - Palace of the Second King, Bangkok, Siam May 26th 1857 To Messrs Trouton & Simms (scientific instrument makers). `Gentlemen, On the 20th inst. I wrote to you about the elegant instruments that came from your establishment. I have since then instructed J Jarvie Esq to order from you an artificial horizon. While travelling about the country, I found localities where the mercury was very much disturbed, by the motion of an elephant, or a horse in the distance, so that the taking of observations was very embarrassing` etc goes on to discuss the order of a new instrument signed and sealed with the Royal Seal
Lot 17
Navigating Instruments Salem Mass. 1963 § Bedini (S. A.) Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers Washington D.C. 1964 § Wroth (C). The Way of a Ship: An Essay on the Literature of Navigation Science Portland Me. 1937 plates and illustrations original cloth; and 7 others navigation and scientific instruments 8vo &4to(10)
Lot 58
Lootsman.The Lightning Colomne 60maps 1670 2 parts in 1 letterpress title with fine engraved pictorial border depicting mariners with charts and scientific instruments and a vignette of ships at sea 60 double-page and/or folding engraved charts including 12 of the British Isles woodcut charts (including New-Deepe and St. Malo) and numerous woodcut illustrations in text including constellations instruments coastal profiles etc. (2 with volvelle) with 3pp. Almanach for 1668-79 title a little soiled and frayed at fore-edge 1 chart bound upside down 2 a little frayed at edges with slight loss (Sweden &Canarese/Lancerota) lightly browned charts generally very clean bound in later half pigskin over thick wooden boards with metal clasps spine with gilt rules and five raised bands morocco label a little rubbed [cf.Koeman IV Jac 41 collation very similar; Shirley British Library M.LTS-1f] folio Amsterdam by Jacob &Casparus Loots-man 1670. ***Very rare. This issue does not quite conform to any listed by Koeman although it is very similar to Jac 41 (dated 1668). Jac 42 is dated 1670 but the collation and pagination of this copy is different: A2-E1 (***)2 (a)-(m)4; A-L4; pagination 3-32 [4]; 1-96;1-88. Unlike Jac 41 this copy has map no.2 (general chart of the North sea) bound in the first part as it should be but is unnumbered and map W4 (Holland) is bound upside down in the first part instead of the second. The only copy sold at auction in the last 30 years was that dated 1676 in the Wardington sale (Sotheby`s 10th October 2006 no. 44 000) which also contained the later third part on the Mediterranean. Most of the charts are as listed under Jac 14; in this copy the charts of Zuyder-Zee Texel... Nieuwe-Diep and Haven de S.Malo (the last two appear in text as woodcuts) are not present but there is an additional chart of Eylandt/Spitsbergen..
Lot 146
Brewster, David -- Astronomy and telescopes 67 autograph letters to James Veitch of Inchbonny, near Jedburgh, of between 1 and 4 pages each, some with integral blank, discussing object glasses, astronomical observations, his reading of works on astronomy, observations on telescopes in the Edinburgh Observatory, comparing of Brewster and Veitch`s calculations on the transit of Mercury, discussing a mistake respecting the hourly motion of Mercury, praising the "Nautical Almanack", a Newtonian telescope made by Mr Hauskbee, Makyelyne`s method for removing tremors from a reflecting telescope, flint glasses, Jupiter and various telescopes, common and Achromatic refractors, a machine for grinding glass, La Lande`s formula for computing the sun`s angle of position, grinding lenses, "the angle of Position", calculation of the elements of the occultation of Venus, requesting a frame for a glass globe, Dopplemayer`s "Celestial Atlas", his work on a Planisphere, thumbnail sketch of his 4 inch globe, requesting dir ctions for constructing the "Electrical Machine", details of a composition for reflecting specula, advice on setting up a globe apparatus, study of optics and double microscopes, praise of Chambers` Dictionary, Dr. Robison`s receipt from Dr. Herschel of a speculum, results obtained from Veitch`s 45 inch Newtonian reflector, improvements to reflector and praise for it at the Observatory, deficiencies of the Newtonian telescope at the Observatory, technical discussion on the Moon`s movements, longitudes of all the stars of the First Magnitude in his catalogue, eclipse of the moon seen through his Newtonian telescope, calculations of an eclipse due in March 1801, appreciation of Veitch`s early encouragement and support, technical disucssion of impending eclipse of the Moon and of the satellites of Jupiter, describes the Galvanic Column, telscope made by Messer in London, dispute relating to the moon, enclosing Table for moon calculations, expected occultation of Venus, Short`s method of making handles, illustra es with a diagram the action of light in a speculum of a parabolic figure, Veitch`s "very ingenious" method of accounting for the variation of meridians, deficiencies and abilities of the new director of the Edinburgh Observatory, requests details of Veitch`s instrument for finding the stars in daytime, description of his invention of two micrometers, Dr Herschel`s seven foot telescope, description of Veitch`s new plough to be included in his Encyclopaedia, request for plough drawings, advice of Mr Tulley of Islington on construction of achromatic telescopes, errors in astronomical tables, Veitch`s article on Grinding, work on book on New Philosophical Instruments, requesting Veitch to make another object glass for his microscope, appreciation of Veitch`s proposal to make a telescope for him, purchase of a portable transit instrument for the Astronomical Institution from Troughton, simplified method of interpolation, Capt. Colby of the Trigonometrical Survey drawing a perpendicular to the Meridian at the Obs rvatory, forwarding order from Professor Shumacker of the chair of Astronomy at Cophenhagen, for a reflecting telescope, receipt of observations on the occultation of Jupiter, observations on differential thermometer readings in rain, plates of Optics, urging Veitch not to publish the method of centring achromatic object glasses, introducing Professor Sedgwick of Cambridge, &c., 15 September 1797 - 11 May 1832; and 2 other letters to Veitch from John Grainger and Oliphant Brown Note: An important archive of Scottish scientific correspondence. David Brewster (1781-1868), Scottish physicist who investigated the polarization of light, discovering the law named after him for which he was awarded the Rumford Medal by the Royal Society in 1819. Born in Jedburgh, his education was extended by his friendship with James Veitch of Jedburgh, an amateur astronomer, and he entered the Univeristy of Edinburgh at the age of 14. One of Brewster`s major concerns was increasing the public awareness of the importance of scien e. He edited a number of scientific periodicals and wrote many books and articles on science. He was also instrumental in the foundation of several academic organizations including the Edinburgh School of Arts in 1821, the Royal Scottish Society for Arts in 1821, and the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831. With James Veitch, Brewster built many optical devices such as microscopies and sundials, developing an expertise that resulted in the invention of the kaleidoscope in 1816. In trying to improve lenses for microscopes, he became interested in optics and particularly in the polarization for light that transverses it. Brewster then sought an expression for the polarization of light by reflection and found, in 1815, that the polarization of a beam of reflected light is greatest when the reflected and refracted rays are at right angles to each other. This is known as Brewster`s Law, and it may be stated in the form that the tangent of the angle of polarization is numerically equal to the refractive index of the reflecting medium when polarization is maximum. Brewster then worked on the polarization of light reflected by metals, and established the new field of optical mineralogy. During the 1820s he studied colour in the optical spectrum and worked on absorption spectroscopy of natural substances. James Veitch (1771-1838) was a self-educated polymath, who while earning his living as a ploughwright, also found the time to dabble in mathematics, mechanics and astronomy. He set up a scientific workshop on the Jedburgh turnpike where he gave lessons to local educated men in these subjects. By the late 1820s he had stopped making ploughs and devoted his time to making telescopes and clocks. His customers for telescopes included Brewster, Sir Walter Scott, the Earl of Hopetoun, the Earl of Minto, and Professor Schumacher of the Altona Observatory in Germany. Veitch`s early encouragement inspired David Brewster to take an interest in scientific matters and, as this correspondence shows, the friendship lasted more than 35 years [the last three letters are undated]. With Veitch`s help, Brewster had made his first telescope by the age of ten. Veitch was known to major public figures such as Walter Scott and Francis Jeffrey, editor the Edinburgh Review and, amongst others, Mary Somerville, also a native of Jedburgh, the first woman to have a work published in the the Royal Society of London`s Philosophical Transactions. Provenance:Veitch family, by descent.
Lot 4
A fine Victorian lacquered brass and mahogany Orrery. John Davies, London, circa 1870. The shaped mahogany baseboard mounted with circular lacquered-brass ring divided for the months of the year annotated with signs of the Zodiac and figures relating to the actual distance of the earth from the sun in miles every two months, two of the five crossings signed John Davies, LONDON, the centre with silvered Solar sphere (or optional candle) rotated via an ivory-handled crank engaging with the contrate wheel beneath, which in turn is mounted with arm applied with an angled terrestrial globe pivoted on a further pulley to allow controlled rotation during its motion around the sun, the baseboard further applied with distant sphere representing Mars with its two moons rotating on a fixed pivot via a line connection with the contrate pulley beneath the Solar sphere, the whole raised on three turned bun feet, 79cm long, with original pine box containing optional candle to represent the sun (with brass stand) and an extensive series of original annotated watercolour rendered drawings relating to every aspect of the design and construction of the instrument, many dated December 1867. Provenance: Property of a descendant of John Davies. John Davies was born in Tetbury 1839. He was apprenticed to a watchmaker in London; however his interest in scientific instruments was such that he designed and made several one-off examples for his own use, the current and previous lots being two of them. Photography was another interest which resulted in him setting up in business, in partnership with his brother Martin, as photographers, printers, booksellers and stationers at 14 High Street, Weston-super-Mare in 1873. ‘Davies Brothers’ continued to trade after John’s death in 1919 until the premises was destroyed in an air raid in 1942. The current lot incorporates a 1.5 inch terrestrial globe by Newton & Sons dated to circa 1830. An identical globe from the same source is offered as the following lot. The brass ring is annotated with the actual distances of the earth from the sun every two months to allow the observer to appreciate the fact that the motion of the earth follows an elliptic rather than an exact circular orbit. The two moons orbiting Mars (Phobos and Deimos) were not officially discovered until 1877 by the American astronomer Asaph Hall Sn’r. This fact suggests that the bodies around the sphere representing Mars on the current lot must have been incorporated during later design stages.
Lot 29
Musical Boxes, Barometers and Scientific Instruments- six reference works: Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. Musical Box A History and Collector’s Guide George, Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1st edition 1980, dj; Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. Collecting Musical Boxes George, Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1st edition 1967, dj; Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. Restoring Musical Boxes George, Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1st edition 1980, dj; Reeve, Claude B. The Musical Clock Argus Books Ltd., Kings Langley, 1st edition 1975, dj; Goodison, Nicholas ENGLISH BAROMETERS 1680-1860 A History of Domestic Barometers and Their Makers Cassell, London 1969, dj; Daumas, Maurice SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS of the 17th & 18th Centuries and their makers B.T. Batsford, London, 1st edition 1972, dj, (6).
Lot 176
A small collection of scientific instruments, 19th century and later, comprising a 17th century style polyhedral sundial on turned ebonised wood base, 21cm; a brass novelty inkwell in the form of a globe, 20cm high; two replica Leeuwenhoek type simple microscopes; and a mahogany microscope box, 20cm high (5).. Provenance: The Estate of the late Professor Rupert Hall and Mrs Hall. Visit www.dnfa.com for condition reports.
Lot 318
UNTERMYER, Irwin. Bronzes, other Metalwork and Sculpture in the Irwin Untermyer Collection. 1962; D`ALLEMAGNE, Henry Rene. Decorative Antique Ironwork. 1968; PLUMB, J.H. (and others). The Horizon Book of the Renaissance. 1961; LINDSAY, J. Seymour. Iron and Brass Implements of the English House. 1964; SCHIFFER, Herbert, Peter & Nancy. Antique Iron. 1979. [Ibid] The Brass Book. 1978; MICHEL, Henri. Scientific Instruments in Art and History. 1966. With 4 others of related interest. (12) This book lot is zero rated for VAT.
Lot 115
A group of scientific instruments including: a mahogany and brass three drawer telescope, 84cm long extended; a cased Sike's Hydrometer; a cased spherometer, by Harvey & Peak, London; a cased compass; a German cased calculating slide rule; two copper printing plates; and miscellaneous items (qty)
Lot 120
A group of scientific instruments comprising: an aneroid barometer, by J. Hicks, London, silvered dial, 11.5cm diameter; a large white metal pocket clock, by Alex Clark, London, the white dial with black Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial with arabic numerals, 9cm diameter; a steel and brass pocket watch, by S. Smith & Son, London, the white dial with black Roman numerals and two subsidiary dials, 5cm diameter; a two draw mahogany and brass telescope, 42.5cm long extended; and various other miscellaneous items (qty)
Lot 1051
A RARE ENGLISH BRASS QUADRANT BY JOHN BIRD the brass plate of lattice framework with fixed and pivoted telescopes, two scales divided into 90° and 96°, vernier, clamp and micrometer tangent screw, on columnar shaft with radial feet and levelling screws, 60.5cm h, fitted mahogany case with further parts and original accessories including a miniature spanner, brass handles, with contemporary iron double-column stand, c1760 John Bird (w. 1745, d.1776) was the most highly regarded London maker of astonomical instruments, especially the quadrant, in the mid 18th century. Jean Bernouilli (Lettres Astronomiques…, Berlin 1771) observed of Bird's portable quadrant that "one always receives these instruments equipped with everything that belongs to them…" The present example, which is in entirely original state but requires repair and conservation because of the effects of long term storage in damp conditions, is of the exact type for which Bird charged the high price of 35gns. See Turner (A), Early Scientific Instruments, 1987, pp204-8. ++Long kept in damp conditions but the instrument very complete and retaining all or virtually so of the original accessories. The lid of the case cracked and with oil and paint stains; lacking the mouldings from two of the sides
Lot 184
A FINE LACQUERED BRASS SUNDIAL BY HENRY SHUTTLEWORTH, LONDON, CIRCA 1770. engraved to a latitude of 55º (Newcastle or Londonderry) with finely worked sixteen-point compass rose, outer minute scale, perspective radiused Roman hour numerals recording IIIIam to VIIIpm each separated by a decorative Fleur-de-Lys motif, signed at South Shuttleworth London, gnomen, three threaded pad feet, (retaining much original lacquered finish and black-waxed filling), 10in (25.5cm.) high, Lit: Turner, A: Early Scientific Instruments Europe 1400-1800, Sotheby's 1987, p.176, this dial illustrated fig. 182. Henry Raines Shuttleworth (w,1760-1797) was apprenticed to the famous London Maker John Cuff in 1746. Made a Freeman of the Spectacle Makers Company 1756 he subsequently established his own Mathematical Shop near the West end of St. Paul`s in Ludgate Street. Succeeded by his son, (also Henry, apprenticed to his father 1778) in Ludgate Street 1797-1811. His signature denotes some of the finest London mathematical Instruments of the Period.
Lot 7
Marine Chronometers- ten volumes relating to the invention and development of the marine timekeeper: Mercer, Vaudrey JOHN ARNOLD & SON AHS, London 1972, dj; Gould, Lieut-Cammander Rupert T. MARINE CHRONOMETER ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT The Holland Press, London, reprint 1973, dj; Jagger, Cedric PAUL PHILLIP BARRAUD AHS, London 1968 with seperate supplement volume, both paperback; Amis, P., Good, R. and others PIONEERS OF PRECISION TIMEKEEPING a symposium published by the AHS, London circa 1972; Betts, Jonathan (editor) PRINCIPLES AND EXPLANATIONS OF TIMEKEEPERS BY HARRISON, ARNOLD AND EARNSHAW BHI facsmile of the original 1767 edition 1984, gilt tooled leather quarter bound; Sobel, Dava Longitude Fourth Estate, London 1984, 2 copies each with dj; Sobel, Dava and Anrewes, William J. H. The Illustrated Longitude Fourth Estate, London 1998, dj; Andrewes, William J. H. The Quest for Longitude Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments (publishers), Harvard 1996, dj; King, Andrew (curator) From a Peal of Bells JOHN HARRISON 1693-1776 exhibition catalogue, Usher Gallery, Lincolnshire 1993; Betts, Jonathan John Harrison exhibition catalogue, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich 1993 and a first day cover set of stamps commemorating Harrison's timekeepers 1993, (13). Provenance: The Library of John Hooper. Visit www.dnfa.com for condition reports.
Lot 17
Mercer (Vaudrey). The Frodshams, The Story of A Family of Chronometer Makers, 1981, dust wrapper; Chapuis (Alfred) & Droz (Edmond). Automata, A Historical and Technological Study, 1958, small 4to., cloth; Turner (Anthony). Early Scientific Instruments Europe 1400-1800, 1987, 4to., dust wrapper; with three others (6)
Lot 2
A small mixed collection of scientific instruments Various makers, 19th century Comprising a lacquered brass surveyor’s sighting compass, Troughton & Simms, mid 19th century, in original sharkskin case; a gilt brass ‘Hutchinson’s Improved Surveying Aneroid’ altimeter/barometer, Elliott Bros, late 19th century, in original leather case; three various pocket compasses, 19th century; a prismatic microscope objective, cased, late 19th century; and a French map distance gauge, 19th century, (7).
Lot 503
An unusual Arctic exploration pair awarded to the Rev. George Fisher, late Royal Navy, a Chaplain and Astronomer in the 1818 and 1821-23 Expeditions, and afterwards the Principal of Greenwich Hospital School: the only Chaplain and one of two Astronomers entitled to the Arctic 1818-55 Medal, his important scientific observations later filled 300 pages of Parry’s published journal Arctic Medal 1818-55, unnamed as issued; Westminster Fire Office Medal, silver, the reverse with old engraved inscription, ‘Mr. George Fisher, Elected 17th Augt. 1809’, 40mm., generally good very fine (2) £1200-1500 Ex Len Matthews collection, who purchased the above described awards in a charity auction held in 1990, when offered with a quantity of unrelated family documents; and Spink, 30 November 1999 (Lot 489). George Fisher was born at Sunbury, Middlesex in July 1794, the son of a surveyor, James Fisher, and his wife Henrietta. One of a large family left to the care of a widowed mother when James died in 1797, George Fisher received little early education before entering the office of the Westminster (Fire) Insurance Company aged 14 years in 1808. Employed as a clerk, it is probable, too, that he served as a porter, in which role he would have been responsible for the removal and protection of items from fire-damaged properties. More certain is the fact his ‘devotion to uncongenial duties won the respect and rewards of his employers’, reference no doubt to his silver Westminster Fire Office Medal. In 1817, and having likely come into contact with noted scientists of the day as a result of his work at Westminster, Fisher entered St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, but his studies were put on hold as a result of recurring illness - and his appointment as an Astronomer to the forthcoming Arctic Expedition, an appointment made on the recommendation of the President and Council of the Royal Society. Referred to in Admiralty instructions as ‘Mr. Fisher, who is represented to us as a gentleman well skilled in Astronomy, Natural History, and various branches of knowledge’, he was provided with assorted scientific instruments to assist his observations and research, pioneering work on the physical, chemical and physiological consequences of the Arctic climate. Astronomer to the 1818 Expedition Four ships under Admiralty orders participated in the 1818 Expedition, setting sail on 21 April - H.M. ships Alexander and Isabella were ordered to find a North-West Passage, while the Trent and Dorothea - Fisher's ship - were to seek a passage from the Svalbard Islands by way of the North Pole to the Bering Strait, and thence to the Pacific Ocean, courses of action resulting from a belief that there was an ‘Open Polar Sea ‘, a theory that existed until the final decades of the 19th century. Be that as it may, the Trent and Dorothea safely reached their rendezvous at Magdalena Bay, on the north-west coast of Spitzbergen Island, where they remained for some days surveying the harbour. On putting out to sea again on 7 June, the ice soon closed-in and both ships became entrapped, but they later found refuge at Fair Haven on 28 June, in the extreme north-west of Spitzbergen. Setting out again on 6 July, they penetrated to 80¼ 34'N, the most northerly limit of their voyage, before encountering an impenetrable barrier of ice and again being entrapped. Eventually, however, the ships broke clear, but then ran into a gale in which they were severely damaged. Once more finding refuge in Fair Haven, and having made temporary repairs, the expedition sailed for home on 30 August, thereby bringing to a close the Royal Navy’s last attempt to sail a ship across the ‘Open Polar Sea ‘. In spite of the unforgiving ice and sea, a scientific harvest was reaped from the expedition, based on Fisher's experiments on the length of the pendulum at Spitzbergen. An abstract of these experiments eventually saw print in an appendix of A Voyage of Discovery Towards The North Pole by Beechey. In addition, the results of Fisher's observations of the ships' chronometers during the voyage were embodied in a paper read before the Royal Society on 8 June 1820, entitled On the Errors in Longitude as Determined by Chronometers at Sea, Arising from the Action of the Iron in the Ships upon the Chronometers. Astronomer and Chaplain to Parry’s 1821-23 Expedition It was about this time that Fisher evidently took Holy Orders, in order to become a Naval Chaplain, and it was in this role, and again as Astronomer on the recommendation of the Royal Society, that he joined William Parry's second North-West Passage Expedition. In April 1821, H.M.S. Fury - Fisher's ship - and Hecla were sent by the Admiralty to search for a passage along the west coast of the unexplored Foxe Basin in the northern reaches of Hudson Bay, and north of Repulse Bay. Parry subsequently became the first to sail through Frozen Strait, but in late August, having found no passage through Repulse Bay, he explored the coast of Melville Peninsula northward, naming, among other features, Haviland Bay, Bushnan and Vansittart Islands, Gore Bay and Lyon and Hoppner Islets. He also examined two inlets by boat, sailing as far as Ross Bay. Wintering with his comrades at ‘Winter Island ‘, off south-east Melville Peninsula, Fisher set up his portable observatory ashore, in which task he was ably assisted by his servant, Able Seaman Henry Siggers. Numerous wide-ranging experiments were conducted, among them those of value to navigators in high latitudes, including comparative tests of compasses and numerous observations to determine refraction when stars were observed near the horizon in very cold weather. He also measured the velocity of sound, the contraction of a series of different metal bars at low temperatures, and the behaviours of various chemicals. While in 1822, he discovered the liquidization of gases, especially chlorine - one year ahead of the noted English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday, who is usually credited with being the first to liquefy chlorine. On 1 February 1822, Eskimos visited Fisher and his comrades, spending much of the winter in their company, thereby enabling them to make detailed observations of their customs and language. Leaving their winter quarters on 2 July - and using an Eskimo map of the region - the Fury and Hecla explored north along the east coast of Melville Peninsula. More Eskimos were encountered at Igloolik and afterwards the entrance to Fury and Hecla Strait was discovered. Ice, however, prevented Parry from passing through the strait, but overland journeys confirmed that it led west into open sea - in fact, this was the entrance to the southernmost possible North-West Passage, but modern knowledge confirms that ice conditions made it impassable to sailing vessels. Parry returned to Igloolik Island and established winter quarters at that place, where the expedition again had much contact with Eskimos during the winter and Fisher once more set up his portable observatory ashore, patiently continuing his valuable experiments. Leaving those quarters in August 1823, Parry made a second attempt to sail through Fury and Hecla Strait, but was again unsuccessful and, fearing the onset of scurvy, he abandoned the effort and returned home. This was the last major attempt to find a North-West Passage through Hudson Bay, and the search for an elusive passage continued in more northern latitudes. Parry's journal made specific note of Rev. Fisher's advancements in the departments of science: ‘I have the most sincere pleasure in offering my testimony to the unabated zeal and perseverance with which under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty from climate, and in spite of frequent ill health, he continued to pursue every object which could tend to the improvement of Astronomy and Navigation, and to the interests of Science in general.’ Indeed, of Parry's 800-page publishe
Lot 505
The uniquely dated ‘Discovery Investigations ‘Polar Medal in bronze awarded to Netman D. Kennedy, late Pilotage Service and afterwards Royal Navy: as a result of the hardships endured by such men - Kennedy spent six seasons in Antarctica - the international whale conservation programme was set in motion Polar Medal 1904, G.VI.R., bronze, 1 clasp, Antarctic 1929-34 (Duncan Kennedy), in its case of issue, extremely fine £2800-3200 Ex J. B. Hayward (Gazette No. 2, July 1974, Item No. 283). Duncan Kennedy, who was born in Greenock, Scotland in January 1888, served in the Pilotage Service in the Great War and was awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals. Previous to joining the Royal Research Ship Discovery II in 1929, he was a fisherman, so it seems natural that he was rated as a Netman - a Petty Officer responsible for operating the various-sized nets used to collect marine specimens - and having served through six Antarctic seasons aboard the Discovery II, he became one of just two Netman awarded the Polar Medal in bronze - and the only man to receive the clasp dated 1929-34. Kennedy and the Antarctic 1929-34 ‘Discovery Investigations ‘As early as 1917, it was recognized that whales were in danger of being hunted to extinction, as a result of which a British Government inter-departmental committee was set up to review the excesses of the whaling industry which then flourished in the Antarctic. However, it was not until 1923 that a committee with the required finances and authority was established to make ‘a serious attempt to place the whaling industry on a scientific basis’. The depletion of whale stocks could be avoided only by controlling the whaling industry, but effective control could not be planned for a painfully simple reason: not enough was known about the habits of whales, their distribution and migration, or of their main food - the shrimp known as krill. Kennedy thus became part of this historic scientific programme that spanned over a quarter of a century. Initially, Scott's old ship, the Discovery, was purchased by the newly named ‘Discovery Committee ‘. Then, in 1926, the steam vessel William Scoresby was added to the initiative, and was tasked with general oceanographic work, commercial scale trawling and whale marking experiments. However, later still, it was decided to build a new steel ship to carry out the indefinite and ambitious series of ‘Discovery Investigations ‘that beckoned, the Discovery II being the result. And in order to meet unknown conditions, her construction required careful planning and much original thought, in addition to the provision of an array of expensive scientific and other research equipment - given the international financial crisis of the early 1930s, evidence indeed of the vital importance of the project. In December 1929, as Discovery II stood ready at London's St. Katherine's Dock, she received a visit from the King of Norway, who possessed a keen knowledge of everything to do with whaling, while her actual departure for her three-year odyssey was captured by a reporter for the Oxford Mail: ‘Hundreds of People gathered to witness the departure of the vessel and after two hours' skilful manÏuvring she was steered into the Thames, where much larger crowds were watching. As the ship glided from her berth girls crowded to the windows of the factories overlooking the dock and waved good-bye to the crew. One very pretty girl, more daring than the rest, climbed out on to a ledge and shouted "A Merry Christmas next week," and the sailors responded with a cheer.’ At 234 feet long, and displacing 2,100 tons, Discovery II was only a fraction of the size of the 10-12,000 ton whaling factory ships active in Antarctic waters. Yet she was the largest research ship ever to explore the Southern Ocean and both the scientists and crew had to take time to get used to a new ship under conditions of intense cold, storm and pack ice. In addition, working the instruments and winches required constant practice, and the surveys, biological collections and hydrographic work were more comprehensive that ever before attempted in southern waters. Kennedy's nets were used for collecting sea plants and animals and were of several different sizes and mesh. The mouth of one tow net was the size of a dinner plate, while another was believed to be the largest in the world, so big that a man could stand upright inside it. Indeed long hours were dedicated to the raising and lowering of such nets in all variety of weather and seas - hard and frequently painful labour on the part of Kennedy, given the prevailing climate and temperatures. Just such conditions that turned Discovery II into a Christmas tree by a combination of gale and freezing seas that sprayed the ship's deck, bulwarks and upper works, thickly encrusting them with ice. Torches of burning waste and paraffin were sometimes necessary to thaw the blocks and sheaves over which ran the wires used to lower nets and instruments into the sea. Under such difficult conditions, a sense of humour was a valuable asset and greatly appreciated by all, and Kennedy’s ways of speech certainly played their part in keeping his fellow crew amused, or certainly according to the expedition’s official photographer, Alfred Saunders, who noted: ‘He had a persistent but unwitting habit of mispronouncing names. One of his jobs was to look after chemical and other scientific stores in the hold. To him sulphuric acid became 'sulfricated acid', hydrochloric acid became 'hydraulic acid', and formalin became 'formamint'. Once when he met a sailor who had had a violent fall on deck still walking about, he said that he thought he had 'discolated' his leg.’ In the present context it is impossible to do justice to the many achievements and adventures of Discovery II and those who served aboard her, but the drama of one particular incident during the ship's second commission (1931-33) deserves the spotlight, for she became the fourth vessel to circumnavigate Antarctica - and the first to accomplish this feat in winter. In January 1932, Discovery II was on her first voyage deep into the Weddell Sea, the first steel ship to penetrate those waters, when, near the position Shackleton had first met ice back in 1916, she became entrapped, her hull and rudder sustaining damage, including a leak in her starboard fuel tank. At one point, on 26 January, her captain wrote, ‘Scientific staff and all spare hands employed this day poling ice floes clear of rudder and propeller’, and it was only with great difficultly that the ship was extricated from her perilous situation. In spite of such danger, the surroundings never failed to make a marked impression on the senses, one crewman recalling that it was ‘impossible to describe the stillness and the quietness in the Antarctic, not a sound to be heard.’ Another notable chapter in Discovery II’s Antarctic sojourn occurred during her third commission (1933-35), when she was able to lend vital assistance to Admiral Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition. For, on 5 February 1934, the latter was faced with a severe crisis, his only doctor being taken ill with high blood pressure, a condition that necessitated his return home on the support ship Jacob Ruppert, leaving only a medical student with the expedition. Byrd, who could not even consider keeping 95 men in the Antarctic without a doctor, later wrote, ‘I determined then to get a doctor, or else cancel the expedition.’ The previous month, he had been surprised to hear Discovery II's radio operator tapping out morse messages on the airwaves - not that far from each other, the expeditions exchanged greetings. So he now sent a radiogram to the captain of Discovery II, then at Auckland replenishing her supplies, requesting assistance, as a direct result of which Dr. Louis Potaka, a New Zealander, sailed on the ship to rendezvous with Byrd's Bear of Oa
Lot 188
A massive Sunderland armorial lustre bowl, Dixon Austin & Co., the exterior decorated with four panels including a West View of the Sunderland Bridge, shipping scenes and a mock armorial of farming implements above the motto 'God Speed the Plough', the interior with an armorial believed to be for the Delmy family amongst scientific instruments and rural figures, c.1810-20, extensively damaged and restored, 39cm.
Lot 60
E.W. Godwin (1833-1886): An Anglo-Japanese taste walnut table, with folding shelves, gilt brass fittings, probably made by Collinson and Lock, circa 1872-5, 74.7cm (29.5ins) high, 81.5cm (32ins) wide (open), 40.6cm (16ins) deep. Condition report available on request.. Literature: Susan Weber Soros; The Secular Furniture of E.W.Godwin, Yale 1999, p.146 pl. 211, Jeremy Cooper, Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors, London 1987, pl. 326, Godwin sketchbooks, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. In her book, Susan Soros illustrates a sketch by Godwin for a table with folding shelves from the V & A archives (V & A PD E.255-1963, fol 21) and offers the following footnote to her illustration on p.146 pl 211. ‘This table is one of the most overtly Anglo-Japanese pieces in Godwin’s oeuvre. Nancy Wilkinson has identified drawings in Godwin’s sketchbooks of Japanese tansu (V & A PD E.280-1963, fol. 5) taken from Aime Humbert’s Le Japon illustre (1870) that show similar features, confirming Godwin’s awareness of these forms when he designed the table. The folding shelves seem to be a Godwin adaption, taken from late-eighteenth century Sheraton flap tables, since there is no precedent in Japanese furniture forms’. Similar examples are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, National Trust, Ellen Terry Memorial Museum, Smallhythe Place, Kent and are sometimes referred to as ‘Smallhythe’ tables. Dame Ellen Terry, the Shakespearean actress who lived with Godwin between1868-75 owned a similar table.. In recent years, two examples have been sold at auction, with Simon Chorley, Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire,November 30th 2006 and Sothebys London, The Best of British Design from the 19th and 20th Centuries-Paul Reeves: The Auction, 20th March 2008 Lot 38. Here Sothebys suggested that a total of six ‘Smallhythe’ tables are known to exist.. Clocks & Scientific Instruments
Lot 1477
A 19th Century French gilt brass mantel clock, with a circular enamel dial, the case with a classical lady reading and surrounded by instruments of science including a globe and telescope, the frieze with classical figures using scientific instruments, on panel feet with a glass dome and ebonised stand, 37 cm high.
Lot 75
A 19th century French gilt brass mantel clock, the eight day movement striking on a bell, with outside count wheel, with an enamel dial, inscribed 'a Paris,' above a celestial globe surmount with female figure and telescope, the base with applied laurel wreaths, containing scientific instruments, 14.5in (37cm) h.
Lot 569
A DUTCH RED LACQUER BRACKET CLOCK, the white enamel dial signed "J.M. Jumtes, Amsterdam, with a bell striking movement and a visible pendulum, the cartouche-shaped red lacquer case with gilt metal mounts including flowers and a trophy of scientific instruments, the bracket with conforming mounts including a bow and quiver of arrows, the clock 231/4" high (351/4" high overall with the bracket)
Lot 2
A storm glass and thermometer on walnut stand J. Blount Thomas & Co, Southampton and Negretti & Zambra, London, circa 1880. The cylindrical glass canister engraved FAIR, Change, STORMY from top to bottom and signed J. Blount Thomas & Co. Southampton to left-hand side beneath brass cap and suspension loop, mounted onto wooden stand beside Fahrenheit scale mercury thermometer with ceramic scale signed NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT MAKERS, LONDON, 38cm high overall, B.C. Ref. 308; and two wall mounted storm tubes, the first inscribed JOHN DAVIS & CO. FITZROY WORKS, LONDON S.E to the beech backboard and with Fahrenheit scale alcohol thermometer, 21.5cm high overall, B.C. Ref. 306; the second unsigned and on arched ebonised panel mounted with a Fahrenheit scale mercury thermometer, 24.5cm high overall, B.C. Ref. 307, (3). All illustrated in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETERS Aneroid and Barographs pages 144-146. The exact date or by whom the storm glass was invented is unknown but Admiral Fitzroy in his Weather Book of 1863 suggests that they were introduced around 1750. The glass cylinders contain crystals of potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride in an alcohol solution of camphor with some distilled water. In fine weather the crystals are supposed to gather at the bottom of the tube and move upwards prior to and during stormy weather. However, as these instruments were prone to responding to changes in other conditions such as temperature and exposure to sunlight, they were never considered particularly reliable.
Lot 4
A japanned metal hair hygrometer Negretti & Zambra, London, circa 1935. With 4 inch circular ceramic register calibrated for RELATIVE PERCENTAGE HUMIDITY and signed NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, LONDON, in black finish circular case with suspension loop, 10.7cm diameter, B.C. Ref. 313. Illustrated in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETERS Aneroid and Barographs page 147. The firm of Negretti & Zambra are recorded by Banfield as being established in 1850 when a partnership between Enrico Negretti and Joseph Warren Zambra was formed. The firm became one of the most prolific makers of scientific instruments and continued trading well into the 20th century. This instrument uses the relative expansion and contraction of hair with changes in moisture in the air to measure relative humidity.
Lot 201
A black japanned Kew pattern marine barometer with Gold slide thermometer Negretti & Zambra, London, circa 1940. With brass cap above glazed cylindrical silvered vernier scale calibrated in millibars signed NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, LONDON and inscribed BAROMETER, MARINE MK.2. REF. MET. 1542, the cylindrical shaft with brass vernier adjustment knob, gimbal wall mountings, STANDARD CONDITIONS plate and mercury thermometer with Gold type adjustable scale above cylindrical steel cistern cover, 91cm high, in original pine carrying case, 100cm high overall, B.C. Ref. 93. Illustrated in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETERS Stick or Cistern Tube page 179 and described on page 178. The firm of Negretti & Zambra is recorded by Banfield as being established when a partnership between Enrico Negretti and Joseph Warren Zambra was formed in 1850. The firm expanded rapidly throughout the 19th century to become one of the largest manufacturers of scientific instruments and continued trading throughout the 20th century. In 1914 E. Gold of the Meteorological Office suggested adopting the millibar as the unit to be used for measuring atmospheric pressure and it was consequently adopted for daily weather reports from 1st April 1914 and was used on Station and Marine barometers from this date onwards. On the current example the thermometer incorporates a series of slides to the scale which were also devised in 1914 by E. Gold and allow corrections to be made for latitude, height of cistern above mean sea level, mean Index error as well as temperature for any given barometer reading. The barometer also incorporates a capillary bore contraction and Bunten air trap to the tube to assist in its use at sea. The silvered scale is numbered MO.M4694/44/54/58 which indicates that the instrument was returned to the makers for checking in 1944, 54 & 58, the Gold thermometer scale has a similar series of check date numbers. This barometer is an example of the final fully developed mercury marine barometer and retains its original pine packing case.
Lot 1
A 19th century French gilt and porcelain mounted mantel clock, the drum-shaped case surmounted by a laurel wreath, flanked with seated putti and scientific instruments, the rectangular base inset with floral decorated porcelain panels, raised on scroll feet, the 8cm. porcelain dial decorated with a cherub and signed Henry Marc, Paris, the twin cylinder movement striking to a bell, on a giltwood stand and contained under a glass dome, 32cm. high.
Lot 1
Fale,Thomas Horologiographia: the art of dialling: teaching an easie and perfect way to make all kinds of dials … London: by Felix Kyngston, 1627, 4to., Black letter, woodcut illustrations of a dial on title, floreated initials throughout, woodcut scientific diagrams and illustrations by Hondius on virtually every page, contemporary limp vellum, later arms on covers, 17th century ex libris and early 19th century armorial stamp on fly, small worm trail in final table, mostly interlinear, general light paper discolouration Note: STC 10680 (3 copies only in USA, including this one, another imperfect, 5 elsewhere). Houzeau and Lancaster 11390. Honeyman had 1633 edition only. Taylor, Math. Practitioners no. 82. Third edition (first printed in 1593) of the earliest English work devoted to the subject of dials and the author's only known publication. The table of sines which occupies the final unnumbered ll. is probably the earliest specimen (after the first edition.) of a trigonometrical table printed in England. The work includes also instructions for the manufacture and use of other instruments whereby the houre of the day and night is knowne, e.g. quadrants, of special use and delight not only for students of the Arts Mechanical, but also for diverse Artificers, Architects, Surveyors of buildings, free-Masons and others.
Lot 1
CLIFTON, Gloria. Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851, 1995, good in dust wrapper; DAUMAS, M. Scientific Instruments of the 17th and 18th Centuries and their Makers, Batsford 1972, good in dust wrapper; TURNER, Gerard L'E. Nineteenth Century Scientific Instruments, 1983, in dust wrapper and one other (4)
Lot 1
19th Century mahogany bowfront stick barometer by Adie of Edinburgh having reeded pediment and cistern, doubled beaded edges, the silvered register plate signed A J Adie, Edinburgh, the top with detachable key to adjust the vernier scale and to adjust the level of mercury, 102.5cm high - Alexander James Adie (1775 - 1858) was a highly acclaimed maker of scientific instruments and patented his sympiesometer in 1818. Adie was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819 - see illustration
Lot 1
NICHOLAS GOODISON: "English Barometers 1680-1860", Suffolk 1977, together with "Navigating Instruments" by Bruington, "A Supplement to a Catalogue of Scientific Instruments" in the collection of J A Billmeir, "Collecting Microscopes" by G Turner, "Old English Instruments of Music" by F Galpin, "Old Musical Instruments" by R Clemencic, "Musical Boxes" by A Ward-Hume and "An Encyclopedia of Antique Scientific Instruments" by J Mills (8)
Lot 1
A rectangular mahogany lidded box with gilt metal side handles opening to reveal a segmented tray and segmented interior containing various scientific accessories box dimensions 17.5" wide 6" high 11.5" deep along with a mahogany cased part set of bone handled dentist/medical instruments (mostly at fault)
Lot 1
Daumas (Maurice) Scientific Instruments of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries and their Makers, 1989, together with Knight (David M.), Natural Science Books in English, 1600-1900, pub. 1989, num. b & w illusts., both orig. cloth in d.j., 4to, plus Houfe (Simon), The Dictionary of British Book Illustrators and Caricaturists, 1800-1914, pub. Antique Collectors' Club, 1981, num. col. and b & w illusts., orig. cloth in d.j., 4to, with other art and antiques reference, incl. Miller's Antiques Price Guide, c. 1980s-90s, mostly orig. cloth in d.j.s, G/VG (3 shelves)
Lot 1
A 19th century French brass sector (universal scale) each side engraved with mathematical scales 32cm extended See Gerald L’E. Turner Nineteenth Century Scientific Instruments (1983) p. 285 & 286 for an explanation of these folding scales. It appears that English examples were essentially a draughtsman’s aid while the French was intended for gunnery
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