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4.75 VERY EARLY SCRIMSHAW BOX. A very rare identified and dated example of whaleman's work embodied in a reticulated baleen box. This early form scrimshaw ditty box is made using laborious cut-out "silhouettes" rather than engraved designs typical of later baleen examples. Scores of these silhouettes surround the entire circumference, including a wide variety of varying birds, a dog, a horse and even a hunter with rifle shooting a duck! Then there are the well-recognized sailor designs too such as pin wheels, hearts, star bursts, crescent moons, angel wings and complex geometrical patterns. These finely detailed decorations would have been difficult enough to engrave, let alone cut-out with such delicate precision! The baleen used in making this box consists of one long piece wrapped twice, forming two layers, riveted together with colored paper sandwiched in between. It terminates on the outside with a single classic "Shaker-style finger." The top and bottom of the box are pine wood pinned through the baleen. The lid so formed, fits on with a nice press fit. Of particular note is the fact that the underside of the lid is signed in pen, "March 14th 1819 Nancy Caminius" and the top is carved with the initials "NC". The date of 1819 makes this example one of the earliest known dated scrimshaw in existence! Bear in mind, the first signed and dated scrimshaw was produced by Frederick Myrick on the whaleship SUSAN some ten years later! The overall condition is excellent and very sound. There are two cracks in the rim of the box which are covered by the lid. A couple of very minor losses exist in the geometric designs. And as expected, the underlying paper is faded with losses. Remarkably though, there is no worm damage typical of most old baleen and there are no other cracks, chips or losses! 6 inches in diameter by 4 inches high. A museum piece!

In his landmark work on scrimshaw, "Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders, Whales and Whalemen, 1972, N. Flayderman & Co., Inc., New Milford, Connecticut, author Norman Flayderman depicts a cut-out busk on page 166 with the caption "A rare form of fully pierced busk, courtesy Nantucket Historical Ass'n." Only one similarly pierced baleen basket is pictured in the entire book with the caption, "Those with large pierced open-work are often backed with colored paper of tinfoil to accentuate their delicacy." Neither Michael McManus in "A Treasury of American Scrimshaw," nor Martha Lawrence in "Scrimshaw The Whaler's Legacy" depict an example of a cut-out baleen box!

WITH LID	DETAIL	FINGERS	BIRDS

HUNTER	RIVETS	INSCRIPTION	INITIALS

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7.25 REFERENCE BOOK. H.H. Archibald, "The Wooden Fighting Ship in the Royal Navy AD 897-1860," 1968 Arco Publishing Co., New York. 169 pages, hard cloth cover with dust jacket. This large format book contains a wealth of detailed information on the development of ships in the English Navy from its earliest beginnings. Written in a narrative style which is accompanied by numerous color plates and black and white drawings, this book is everything one could hope for on the topic. But if that weren't enough the author has compiled 8 comprehensive appendixes: 1. A summary of Naval events by year from 897-1860. 2. British and Enemy Losses of ships over 50 guns from 1688-1855. 3. Ships under the reign of English monarchs from 1517-1805 (including crews, guns ship statistics, etc.) An amazing amount of information here alone! 4. Some abstracts from the establishment of the Royal Navy between 1814-1860. 5. Two facsimile reprints of tables in the book "A Sea-Man's Grammar 1627." 6. Flags and Pennants of Command and Distinction. 7. Types of shot and shell (with drawings). 8. Glossary of Nautical Terms. This book is ex the collection of the Chief of Staff of Anti-Submarine Warfare Group 3. It does contain some neatly underlined paragraphs on a couple of pages. Otherwise it is in outstanding, virtually mint condition. Only the dust jacket is slightly torn at the top and bottom near the spine. 12 1/2 by 9 1/4 inches by 1 inch thick. A simply "great" book which would make a wonderful gift! 79

PLATE 1	PLATE 2	PLATE 3

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12.67 EARLY SHIP COMMEMORATIVE. Genuine, early 1900's framed photograph of the American steamer identified as the S.S. STEEL WORKER. This handsome presentation consists of a period black and white photograph of the vessel that has been hand tinted. It is mounted under glass within a turned redwood frame in the form of a ship's wheel. The frame is decoratively hand-painted in a distinctive style, "S.S. STEEL WORKER" with a fouled anchor. The image measures 5 1/2 inches in diameter with the entire presentation being 12 inches across. Excellent original condition. 179

The S.S. STEEL WORKER, call sign KDBJ, was built by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (a division of United States Steel) Kearney, New Jersey in 1920. She was of 5,860 gross tons, 3,450 net tons, had a length of 424 feet, a breadth of 56 feet and a draft of 26 1/2 feet. With a crew of 34, S.S. STEEL WORKER operated under the ownership of the Isthmian Steamship Company, home ported in New York.

The distinctive style and format of this presentation is quite recognizable and has come to our attention several times before. (See West Sea Co. items 5.13, 5.14, 5.74, 5.77 and 15.68). Although the authorship of these commemoratives is unknown, they apparently were produced by a cottage industry in the San Francisco Bay Area in the first quarter of the 20th century. They are quite collectible and are still very inexpensive for what they are -- decorative, real time ship mementoes made for the crew!

SHIP

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21.62 U.S. NAVY TRIPOD TELESCOPE. Most impressive World War II vintage U.S. Navy telescope mounted on its original tripod. This high powered optical device is the type used by officers on the bridges of capital ships during that war. A few such telescopes were also configured for exploratory landing party use. Because of the stresses and abuse that such arduous use inflicted, few survived. Represented here is a rare original example in very fine overall condition. The pristine state-of-the-art optics produce an extremely large field with a highly magnified image of incredible clarity with a magnification of 13 X! Such high magnification is accomplished using a complex internal prism system giving this telescope the same focal length (and thus magnifying power) of much longer, traditional telescopes. The all brass barrel has a bronze trunnion collar which bears the brass maker's label on the top. It reads:

The trunnion and the heavy brass yoke allow the telescope to train and elevate with precision using the convenient handle affixed to the left side of the barrel. The telescope is fitted onto its original tripod, marked in high relief inscription, "U.S. NAVY TRIPOD MODEL 660, NEW YORK." on the top of the heavy brass "spider." This centerpiece is secured by means of large wing nuts to 3 solid mahogany tripod legs tapering to brass-tipped feet. As shown, the entire presentation stands approximately over 5 feet tall, with a mid-range height of eye of 5 feet 1 1/2 inches. The height adjustable yoke can be raised up or down about 6 inches, affording heights of eye from about 5 to 5 1/2 feet. One 6 inch spacer is included for this purpose. The barrel of the telescope itself measures 22 inches long and 5 inches in diameter. The top is equipped with two sighting pins which allow the viewer to align the target with gunsight accuracy! It also has a set of 3 internal rotating filters which allow it to be used effectively in otherwise hazy or low light conditions! The entire presentation makes for a most impressive floor-standing telescope, displayable within a limited space, while providing state-of-the-art optics!

TELESCOPE	OBJECTIVE	DETAIL	OBSERVERS VIEW	MOUNT	MAKER

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22.52 SCALLOPED SATSUMA BOWL. Very nice early 1900's Japanese Satsuma porcelain bowl beautifully hand-decorated with colorful peacocks amidst an equally colorful scene complimented by a flowering tree and pastoral landscape. The rim of this hand-thrown bowl is indented with a pentagram shape to form a scalloped appearance. The entire exterior is also meticulously hand-painted with floral sprays. All elements, inside and out, are accentuated with gilded outlines. The hard-fired porcelain exhibits a mellow off white surface with very fine translucent crackle glaze. 8 1/2 inches in diameter by 3 1/2 inches high. Perfect condition. 250

PERSPECTIVE	BOTTOM

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