*156. AMERICAN AZIMUTH COMPASS WITH NAVY MARKINGS. Signed on the green dry card "ROBERT MER-

RILL/NEW YORK". 7 1/2" diameter spun brass compass bowl with weighted

bottom. Fully gimbaled with stand mounted to bottom of box. Fitted with

folding sight vanes that have sighting lenses, one of them being colored

glass. Beautifully made dovetailed mahogany box with bracket base. Front

with painted lettering "U. S. NAV Y" and number "4 ". Top lid lifts off and

has hook and eye hardware to hold it in place when stored. Box size 11 1/2"

x 11 1/2" x 9 1/2". Condition very fine noting one small old repair to 2" sec-

tion of rounded edge on lid. Robert Merrill is listed in New York

Directories as early as 1835. This instrument pre-dates 1860 because after

that year the firm became Robert Merrill & Sons. A fine and rare American

compass that likely saw use on Civil War vessels.

SOLD

*157. EARLY AMERICAN HALF HULL WITH INTERESTING U.S. NAVAL HISTORY. Made using 20 alternating

sections/lifts of mahogany and pine. Fitted with stem, keel and rudder. Model length 50 1/2". Original dark

green backboard, 11" x 51 1/4". Condition excellent with model having original varnish finish that has

acquired nice age color. Reverse side of back-

board with period pencil inscription "Barque

Eringo, 324 tons, Launched Nov/53. Sold to

Government 1854 then called the Release.

Went to Arctic Ocean to bring home Dr. Kane.

Geo. W. Brown".The barque Eringo was

launched 1853, East Boston, by Brown & Lovell for T.B. Wales & Co., Boston". She was purchased by the

government April, 1855, renamed Release and fitted out at the New York Navy Yard. In June 1855, she sailed

as part of an Arctic Expedition to search for Dr. Elisha Kane and his missing party of explorers. In 1861 she

acted as supply ship for the Gulf Blockading Squadron. In 1862 Release was sent to Gibraltar to meet

Kearsarge then to Morocco to watch the Confederate Raider Sumter. She finished up the Civil War as an ord-

nance storeship and was placed out of commission October, 1865. This model is part of a half model group-

ing that I purchased in the mid 1970's. It is part of a collection owned by the Rothery family of Marblehead,

MA. Have several correspondence letters from Rothery to Howard Chapelle at the Smithsonian regarding his

collection and specifically this model. Apparently The W.P.A. took off the lines of the Rothery Collection half

models but according to Chapelle's letter the program shut down before the drawings were put in final form.

Chapelle does ask that the Smithsonian be considered should the family decide to donate their models. Rare

to find a model with a U.S. Naval history.

10,950.00

*158. FINE AMERICAN HALF HULL MODEL. Constructed using 21 alternating lifts of mahogany and pine.

Fitted with stem, keel and rudder. Model length

53 1/2". All original finish with topside painted

black and bottom in natural varnish. Original,

dark green backboard, 12 3/4" x 58". Condition

overall excellent noting typical minor bruises,

etc. and a small, thin section of very top piece of

wood on deck missing. Paint and varnish with desirable surface crackling and fine age patina. This model

also from Rothery Collection(see previous item) and judging from backboard also made by George Brown.

Desirable 19th century half hull that has great form and surface.

10,750.00

*159. SHIP IN A BOTTLE IN ORIGINAL FRETWORK DISPLAY STAND. 11 1/2" long

greenish colored bottle with large ship flying numerous signal and house flags.

Vessel name on long pennant "FLEETWOOD". Red bottom with grey topsides and

false gun ports. Glass beads for rigging blocks. Open carved stand with a pair of

love birds on horizontal section and two more pair of birds on each of end sec-

tions. Also carved with other leaf, diamond, tear drop and scroll designs. Overall

height 12". Condition about mint with all wood intact and with original finish that

now has excellent age color. Over the years I've had several examples by this maker

and a few in similar wood stands but never one with birds or in such great condi-

tion...the somewhat delicate fret carvings tend to get damaged over time...this one

was obviously cherished and well taken care of. Probably dates around turn of 20th

century. A real beauty.

SOLD