SPECIAL-1.   COMMEMORATIVE CANDY DISH.  Late 19th century covered milk glass candy dish depicting Uncle Sam astride a battleship.  This classic bit of patriotic Americana was undoubtedly produced in 1898 when the frenzy over the sinking of the Battleship Maine resulted in the Spanish-American War.  Hundreds of different curios were produced in that historic year to elicit patriotic fervor in the American people.  This charming example features Uncle Sam with top hat and long tail coat atop the Battleship Maine as the cover.  The body of the dish is the hull of the ship having a patriotic American eagle on the bow with turret guns and portholes cast along the sides.  This authentic relic measures 6 ¾ inches long and stands 4 ¾ inches tall.  Remarkable original condition for such a potentially fragile item over 115 years old.  The only flaw is one small insignificant chip at the very bottom rear.  195 now 79

See our catalog item 12.79

SPECIAL-2.  Genuine 19th century American ship’s pilot house clock made by the venerable Seth Thomas Company of Thomaston Connecticut.  This all brass 48 hour ship’s clock in its original nickel finish has a silvered brass dial with bold Roman numerals swept by blued steel spade hands over a minute chapter ring.  An inset seconds bit indicating single seconds is set below the “XII” with the Fast/Slow adjustment just above.  The face is signed “SETH THOMAS” between the two winding arbors and is further marked “Made In U.S.A.”  below the “VI.”  It is provided with a manual striking lever on the rim of the “IX” marked “STRIKE.”  This clock has a classic ship’s clock flared bezel which is hinged on the right, opening on the left for easy access to wind and set.  There is a screen on the bottom of the clock which allows the pleasing bell strike to be clearly heard.  7 inches in diameter and 4 inches thick.  Excellent original condition and a strong runner, showing good age and use but no abuse.  Complete with winding key.  749 now 295

SPECIAL-3.  CHINESE GOD of WINE.   Authentic, hand-thrown early 20th century hard-fired porcelain effigy of Yi-Di, the Chinese God of Wine and Alcohol.  This genuine likeness of the 4400 year old mythological Chinese god is beautifully molded with exquisite detail.  The gaunt, bearded personage with flowing locks and wind blown robe is depicted sitting atop a large wine amphora riding on the waves.  The attention to detail in this statue is amazing, even down to the veins in Yi-Di’s arms!    This traditionally-made porcelain statue has a variety of colorful shinny and matte glazes which combine to form a most appealing presentation.  It is elaborately signed in two areas.  With some research this piece could very well have been made by an important artist.  14 inches tall and 9 ½ inches wide at the widest.  Excellent original condition.  There are a few minor losses to the tips of Yi-Di’s flowing hair.  Otherwise perfect.  A super decorative compliment to the bar, priced cheaper than a bottle of Two Buck Chuck! 495 now 195

Prompted by Emperor Yu's daughter, who wanted to present her father with a special gift, Yi-Di perfected a wonderful alcoholic beverage.  After much experimentation and fermentation, he arrived at a marvelous brew of fermented rice with a spicy taste.   He offered it to the Emperor, who thought it was delicious but far too potent. "Of course I can handle my alcohol," said the Emperor, "But what of future Emperors?"   As a result Yi-Di was banned from making more of his brew.  Nevertheless his ambrosia-like concoction still propelled him to godly status.

SPECIAL-4.  ANTIQUARIAN BOOK.  Jacob Hazen, “Five Years Before The Mast,” 1853, Belford, Clarke & Co., Chicago and New York.  Hard cloth cover, 444 pages.   The title page reads:  FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE MAST; / or Life In The Forecastle / Aboard Of / A WHALER AND MAN-OF-WAR. / By JACOB A. HAZEN. / With Appropriate Illustrations.”  The original articles forming this narrative were compiled by the author shortly after his discharge from the Navy in 1842.  The language is therefore charmingly formal, reflective of an earlier time with different life experiences and perceptions.  This is particularly true of a seaman at sea visiting foreign ports during the age of sail.  Fascinating reading from a first hand perspective in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including a shipwreck. The frontispiece is nicely illustrated with woodblock engraving of a midshipman in the rigging.  Good original condition noting slight toning of the pages due to age.  An amazing book 160 years old!  95 now 39

A version of the original engraving in this book is depicted in Richard Malley’s “Graven By The Fishermen Themselves,” entitled “The Sailor Boy,” page 65.

SPECIAL-5.  NAUTICAL ADVERTISING THERMOMETER.  Early 1900’s dial thermometer housed in a wooden ship’s wheel frame.  This handsome yet functional presentation was made for the “Cummings Transfer And Fuel Co. of Albany, Oregon.”  The 3 digit phone number is a testament to its age!  It depicts a lovely square rigger under full sail in the middle encircled by the thermometer scale reading single degrees Fahrenheit from -20 to 120.  The dial is protected by a convex glass crystal with a gilt metallic rim.  The dial measures 5 ½ inches in diameter and the entire presentation is 10 inches wide from spoke to spoke.  A brass hanging bracket is equipped on the back.  The wooden ship’s wheel frame and 8 spokes are all turned of solid hardwood.   Excellent original condition and extremely accurate!  169 now 59

SPECIAL-6.   IDENTIFIABLE SHIP IN A BOTTLE.   Genuine first half of the 1900’s sailor-made ship diorama depicting the famed American clippership LIGHTNING under full sail.  The magnificent ship is portrayed plying a bluish white putty sea passing rocky headlands in the background guarded by a solitary sentinel lighthouse just behind the jib sails.  The entire presentation is colorful and bright contained within its crystal clear glass bottle with Bakelite cap.   The bottle measures exactly 9 inches long and is 3 5/8 inches in diameter.  Flawless original condition, complete with its original 2 piece teakwood stand.  Circa 1940.  495 now 199

SPECIAL-7.   ANEROID BAROMETER.  Mid-century German barometer with the silvered dial marked “Weed & Company, Buffalo-Rochester.”  The bottom of the dial is further marked “West Germany.”  This precision weather devise has an open face dial revealing the complex, very high quality mechanism within.  Incredibly, the dial is marked in inches of mercury from 26 to 31 in 2/100th increments and bears the standard weather indication in red, “Stormy, Rain, Change, Fair and Very Dry.”  A beautifully reticulated blackened steel needle provides the reading while a second brass needle attached to a knurled brass knob registers changes.  A convex glass crystal set in a brass bezel protects the dial.  The body of this instrument consists of rich hardwood in a piano finish.  The back has a black metal plate equipped with a set screw for setting.  The top bears a brass hook eye for hanging.  5 ¼ inches in diameter and in absolutely perfect original condition.  Functional and accurate -- all the more amazing for an instrument over a half century old!  175 now 69

SPECIAL-8.   HYGROMETER.  High quality, vintage American hair hygrometer set in a highly polished solid brass case in the form of an ancient porringer ladle.  This weather devise features a brushed brass dial marked “% HUMIDITY Cooper ®” calibrated in single degrees of relative humidity from 20 to 100 with a blacked steel indicator needle.  The dial is covered by a convex glass crystal.  The back of the instrument bears the label reading “Protected By DURABRITE Non-Tarnish Finish, The International Silver Co.”  Indeed, the brass finish is immaculate.  5 ½ inches wide by 7 inches high overall. Well over a half century old.   This very handsome instrument is working, however it may not be absolutely accurate.  But at this price, who cares?!  Really a great look!  95 now 29

SPECIAL-9.  LARGE BAROMETER.  Very high quality, extra nice aneroid barometer of English manufacture.  This precision weather instrument features a silver dial with bold markings indicating “STORMY, RAIN, CHANGE, FAIR and VERY DRY.”  The dial is calibrated in inches of mercury from 25.5 to 31.5 in 5/100ths increments and is marked “COMPENSATED.”  At the bottom it is further marked “PRECISION BAROMETER, MADE IN ENGLAND.”  The classic black steel indicator needle is overridden by the brass set needle with knurled brass knob which indicates the previous reading.  It is set through the thick beveled glass crystal which is contained in the especially bright nickeled brass bezel inset into its wooden housing.  This stout wooden body consists of a solid piece of turned mahogany in a furniture-grade finish.  Inset hanging bracket on the back as well as an opening to set the movement to the proper reading.  This unusually large aneroid barometer measures 10 ½ inches in diameter overall.  The dial is 6 inches in diameter.  Condition is outstanding in every respect, noting only a minor, virtually unnoticeable “fish eye” in the beveled glass at the very bottom. Totally original, completely functional, and very accurate.  Circa 1950.   As good as they come.  229 now 79

SPECIAL-10.  ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH.  Genuine, very early 1900’s original silverplate print of the handsome barkentine ARCHER loading lumber alongside the dock in the Pacific Northwest.  On the ship’s prow can clearly be seen her female figurehead clad in a jaunty hat with her arm across her bosom and flowing trailboard behind.  On the ship’s quarter can clearly be seen the nameboard reading “ARCHER.”  Tin the foreground the ship’s old fashioned kedge anchor hangs from the cat and another is seen secured to the bulwark just abaft the nameboard.  This image is clear and very detailed, bearing scrutiny under magnification.  Sails are furled on all of the yardarms in a seamanlike manner, and much deck detail is visible.  The image measures 10 ½ by 13 ½ inches and is in excellent condition.  It is protected under glass within its simple wooden frame with original backing (stained) measures 12 by 15 inches.  This is an original period print, not a later reproduced copy.  199 now 79

Some reflections in the glass seen here are not flaws in the actual photograph.

The sailing barkentine ARCHER, call sign KMDR, was launched in Sunderland, England in 1876.  She was an iron-hulled ship 185 feet in length displacing 900 tons.  She was home-ported in San Francisco, California.  (“List of Merchant Vessels of the United States – 1900,” 32nd edition, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1900).

SPECIAL-11.   U.S. NAVY GRAVY BOAT.   World War II or earlier silverplate gravy boat from the officers’ mess of a commissioned U.S. Navy vessel.  This handsome Navy relic is in the fancy “King’s Pattern” with “ropework” border, fluted acorn knob and beautifully hand-engraved  emblem of the United States Navy -- the iconic fouled anchor and “U.S.N.”  This gravy boat is complete with its tightly fitting lid and measures 5 inches tall by 8 ½ inches long and 6 inches wide.  Excellent condition with no dents or scratches, but noting some minor discoloration and spotting.  129 now 49

SPECIAL-12.  DIPTYCH  POCKET COMPASS.  Fine 19th century folding wooden compass with a brass pivot and a very handsome engraved paper card made for the English speaking market.  The 2 inch diameter card is marked with a classic fleur-de-lis at the North point and boldly marked “E, S, W” at the other cardinal points with the intercardinal points also indicated.    The card is further marked down to single points of the compass AND remarkably, single degrees 0-360 on its periphery!  The card is housed under glass with a brass retaining ring in its mahogany body with folding lid, pivoting brass closure hook and brass caging device which automatically locks the card into place when the lid is closed.  Excellent original condition.  The compass is lively and accurate.  A very nice example of one of these highly collectible little instruments.  239 now 95