Civil War Blockade Runner Quadrant Sextant Occulant

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Civil War Blockade Runner Quadrant Sextant Occulant

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Sold Date: 03/21/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fine Art

This is a particularly pristine example of a mariner's Quadrant from the mid 19th century. It was likely made in Boston around 1845 or 1850. It belonged to a great grandfather. During the War of Southern Rebellion, a great grandfather, was a Southern Blockade Runner. After a total of 6 round trips, fortune smiled upon him and the British commandeered his ship and interred him for the duration of the of the Civil War and thus he lived. He married a British citizen. Dear great grand Mother immediately got preggers, god bless her reproductive system, and the Union could not extradite him and throw him in a Union prison. Later after the War Between the States, he purchased another ship and filled it with supplies for the gold fields in California . He took great grand Mother, and my great Aunt, sailed the ship around the horn of South America to the San Francisco and the California gold rush. He sold his ship for the lumber to build San Francisco, his canvas sails to Levi, Straus, and he and great grand Mother and growing family went on to prosper. Well, this is his Quadrant. It was made by Frederic Lincoln of Boston . See below.

On first sight some confuse a Quadrant with the later Sextant. This transitional navigational instrument was originally designed by English scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society, John Hadley. Hadley is credited with having invented this "New Instrument for taking Angles" which he introduced in May of 1731 known as the Quadrant, or sometimes the "Octant."

This fine quality instrument features limbs of ebony wood with inlaid linear scale on ivory and all brass fittings is an excellent collectors piece. The large arc is calibrated from 0 to 100 degrees down to 20 arc minute increments. The braced brass index arm measures one foot in length and has a thumb screw stop with endless tangent fine adjust knob. In concert with the finely divided ivory vernier, this arrangement provides a reading to an accuracy of one single arc minute. This innovative double reflecting instrument based on Hadley's new design, has a 2-hole pinnule sight (large and peep), large index mirror at the pivot and a split image horizon mirror that was the standard navigational instruments until the 20 th century.

This fine instrument is complete with original blank ivory maker's label and Sun filters. On the reverse it has two of the three brass pillar "feet." Please note that one of the "feet" is missing due to the instrument sustaining some slight damage in its long and productive life at sea (see Photo). This instrument features the lovely and correct sculpted rosewood handle.

The fine stepped "keystone stepped box" is of oak and is in its original finish and is complete original lock, fancy brass escutcheon, hinges and hook and eye closures. The lock is not locked and the key has likely been missing for a century or so. The keystone storage box measures approximately 13 inches long and 12 inches wide. Note the piece missing from the box.

In the lid is the label of "Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., Commercial Block, No. 136, Commercial Street , Boston ." With its handle, braced brass index arm and stepped keystone box, I believe that this Quadrant bears the earmarks of an instrument dating from 1840 - 1855. The early engraved Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., trade label is a thing of beauty in its own right. The label represents a rare form of early American advertising which is extremely valuable in its own right. "Frederick Walker Lincoln, Jr. was born at Boston on February 27, 1817. His grandmother was Deborah Revere, daughter of Paul Revere. When he was thirteen years old, he was apprenticed to Gedney King and his son and successor, Charles Gedney King . In 1839 Mr. Lincoln went in business for himself. He continued for forty-three years as a maker of nautical and surveying instruments. In 1883 he sold the business and retired into the nautical history and folklore of this country.

The instrument and its keystone stepped box are in a remarkable state of original, as found, pre...