16.25 FLOOR GLOBE. Good, early 20th century American floor standing terrestrial globe signed "Weber Costello, Chicago Heights, Illinois, Political Reality Globe." This large size world globe is constructed in the traditional manner with paper gores overlaying a plaster sphere with wooden reinforcements at the poles. The lithographed surfaces show good detail with political boundaries, all major cities (over 100,000 population), mountain peaks, rivers, canals, railways, steamship routes and more,  accurately depicted as of circa 1935. The 16 inch globe is in excellent overall condition with no scuffs or abrasions and shows just enough surface toning to give it a great antique appearance! The graceful solid walnut stand is done in the Duncan Phyfe style with lion paw feet and carved "urn" support pillar. The 18 1/2 inch diameter equatorial ring is overlaid by paper printed with degrees, statute miles, and time zones from Greenwich.  Together with its quadrupedal stand this globe measures 33 inches high and 23 1/2 inches across at the base.  A handsome, high quality floor standing globe for library or study at a very reasonable price. 895

16.76  HAND BELL.  Genuine hand bell of the type used by school masters and town criers in the 18th and 19th centuries.  This authentic relic of an age gone by is constructed of solid brass fitted with a walnut handle connected by a decoratively turned brass sleeve.  The bell retains it original cast iron clapper suspended on a stout wire and produces a very loud sound when rung!  The handle is attached with the original square retaining nut at the tip.  The number “5” is impressed on the butt of the handle.    5 inches wide at the mouth of the bell and standing 9 inches tall overall.  There are a couple of very minor chips in the wooden flange just above the connector.   Otherwise this handsome bell is in nearly perfect original condition with a wonderful age patina to all surfaces.  Over 150 years old!  89

16.75   MEXICAN WAR SWORD.  Very rare early American officer’s foot sward dating to the 1840’s.  This handsome sword has a stout blade beautiful etched with classic floral designs, a spread-winged American eagle clutching arrows and olive branches in its talons, a drum, a shield, a flag staff and the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”   Near the hilt it is signed “W H HORTMANN & SONS PHILADELPHIA.”  The reverse side of the blade is etched with similar decorative motifs and the bold letters “U.S.”  The all brass guard is pierced and decoratively cast with flowers and foliage.  Traces of the original gilding still remain.  The pommel is sound and tight.  The fine grip is covered in authentic shark skin wrapped with brass wire.  The shark skin evidences some wear with a couple of minor losses at the pommel end.  This sword is complete with its rarely-found original scabbard covered in sharkskin having its original brass fittings.  Excellent overall condition, noting expected minor flaws for an authentic working sword of this vintage. 

According to Bruce Bazelon & William McGuinn, compilers of “A Directory of American Military Goods Dealers and Makers 1785-1915,” 1999, REF Publishing, Inc., Manassas, Virginia, page 131, William H. Hortmann & Sons operated a military store at 51 North 3rd Street Philadelphia from 1842 - 1854, moving to 7th & Chestnut in 1854.  Inasmuch as the Mexican War (1845) created an immediate need for military goods in America, after a 30 year hiatus since the War of 1812, it is safe to assume that this sword was manufactured soon after the Hortmann’s began their operation at the 3rd Street address.

16.78  EARLY GLOBE.  Scarce 4th quarter 19th century terrestrial globe of Belgium manufacture, with the important aspect and appeal of having been made for the English speaking market.  This classic, early globe is signed in the maker’s cartouche located south of Australia, “GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE OF BRUSSELS New Physical Political Globe Published by MERSBACH & FALK Brussels, 1881.”  The inscription is encircled by a popular Victorian era “belt” as a border.   The bottom of the globe is supported on a brass disc engraved “GREAVES & THOMAS, LONDON,” presumably the printers of this globe made for the English speaking market.   This detailed globe is made in the traditional manner with lithographed gores overlaying a gessoed cardboard core.  Details include major cities, territories and states, along with major geographical aspects such as mountain ranges and ocean currents.  It measures 11 ½ inches in diameter and stands 2 feet tall.  The turned ebonized base with faux leather undercovering measures 9 inches in diameter.  This antique globe is in an amazing state of original preservation.  There are virtually no signs that it was even ever used or displayed.  It is in near mint condition.  Perhaps the only apology is an area in Antarctica where an old price label was applied, slightly discoloring the surface.  Otherwise this rare, 131 year old world globe is perfect!   995

16.71  MINIATURE CANNON.  Commemorative brass cannon on a cast iron carriage with an applied embossed brass plaque reading, “FORT  TICONDEROGA  NY.”  The bottom of the carriage is marked “1/0 18 MFCO.”  3 inches  long.  Excellent original condition with a nice age patina.  Circa 1930.  49

Fort Ticonderoga is located on the shores of Lake Champlain, on the New York, New Hampshire border overlooking Vermont’s Green Mountains.  This remote outpost on Lake Champlain guarded the narrow water highway connecting New France with Britain's American colonies. Whichever nation controlled Ticonderoga controlled the continent.  During the American Revolution Fort Ticonderoga was the scene of America's first major victory in its struggle for independence and the United States' northern stronghold which protected New York and New England from British invasion via Canada.

In 1755, during the French and Indian War, the British pushed north into traditionally French territory. In response Governor-General Vaudreuil in Québec ordered Michel de Lotbinière to construct a fort south of Crown Point that would cover the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain. Construction of Fort Carillon began that Fall and continued for the next four years.

In 1759 British General Jeffrey Amherst laid siege to Fort Carillon. Losses elsewhere in New France had left the garrison ill-equipped, so the French abandoned the fort after blowing up the powder magazine. Amherst repaired the fort and renamed it Ticonderoga.  Then construction of a new British fortress at Crown Point was begun.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold lead an attack on the Fort Ticonderoga with a small band of "Green Mountain Boys," capturing it from the British in an early morning raid on May 10th.  This was only three weeks after Lexington and Concord and was America’s first victory in the Revolutionary War.

16.67  IVORY COMPACT.  Mid-1800’s or earlier lady’s traveling make-up case in the form of an oval make-up compact.  This beautifully constructed compact is made of ivory and silver with a very nice gilt brass hinge cast with a detailed scene depicting a winged griffin, pot of flowers and an attendant monkey!  The top, side and bottom of this compact are constructed of thin ivory beautifully embellished with recurring scalloped designs and oval scribes.   3 ½ by 2 ½ inches and 1/2 inch thick.  Interesting old repair on one edge.  A very nice early piece! 

 ex.  Sotheby’s Parke Bernet

16.66  CORK SCREW.  Genuine, early 19th century cork screw with a turned bone handle.  The handle is plugged with a turned bone cap on one end and is fitted with a bristle brush for dusting off a wine bottle.  The handle is fastened by a small circular retainer with hole attached to a stout metal support.   The “working end” consists of a corrugated disk atop a helical cork screw.  Good, old condition.  A portion of the screw tip has broken off from use but is still quite functional.  

ex. Paul Madden Antiques, Sandwich, Massachusetts. 

16.64  POSTAL SCALE.  Genuine early 1900’s English scale as used in Britain to determine  postage costs by weight.  This all brass balancing scale is stamped on the balance beam “MADE IN ENGLAND WARRANTED ACCURATE.”  It features hard steel wedge pivots in the center and on each end.  The inverted heart-shaped frame is provided with a pointer to indicate the balancing point.  The balance beam is cleverly double pivoted to insure the weighing platforms remain horizontal during use.  The unit is mounted to its solid mahogany base on 4 rubber feet.  It is complete with all three brass weights which rest neatly in felt-lined recesses.  The weights are marked “1/2 OZ, 1 OZ and 2 OZ” respectively.  Excellent condition.  Fully functional and accurate.  The brass surfaces are in there original lacquered finish with light age spotting.  179

16.63.  STERLING SILVER TRAY.  Large American serving tray in the form of a scaly fish with big eyes, thick mouth, gills, fins and tail.  The underside of the tail is stamped “REED & BARTON 100H STERLING.”  This handsome tray measures 22 inches long, 9 ¾ inches wide and is 1 inch deep.  It weighs just ½ ounce short of 2 ½ pounds!  With today’s silver prices hovering around $25 an ounce and climbing (a recent high of $48!), this antique tray now is worth over $1,000 in scrap weight alone!  Lovely original condition with no flaws. 

Reed and Barton, based in Tauton, Massachusetts, has been producing fine quality silverware since 1824.  The company is internationally acclaimed for its silver and silverplate.  It has produced a large variety of silver and pewter products since Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton took over the pewter manufactory of Isaac Babitt in 1824.  During the Civil War Reed & Barton even manufactured weapons for the Union Army!  To this day, Reed & Barton remain in business under ownership of the Reed family.