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Lot 19

TAPERED SPYGLASS BY DOLLOND.

21 September 2015, 13:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$750 inc. premium

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TAPERED SPYGLASS BY DOLLOND.

English, c. 1800, signed "Dollond, London" on drawtube. 26" tapered mahogany maintube extending by single brass draw to 31". Maintube bound in green oilskin tied with woven cord and set with brass fittings, fine 1 5/8" diameter triplet objective and erecting eyepiece system complete with lens cap and dust-slide. A few small dents to drawtube.
Provenance: Signed "Edward Greatkin to George Blackman, May 1st, 1807" on drawtube,"George Blackman, H.M.S. Penelope, 1807; Lieutenant, 1814; Now Captain G. Harnage, H.M. Brig Raleigh, 1820" on lower brass mount, and "Now Sir G Harnage, Bart., Belswardyne 1845" on upper brass mount.

An attractive captain's telescope with excellent naval provenance. Captain Sir George Harnage (b. 1792) was born George Blackman to Sir George Blackman, Bart., and Lady Mary, née Harnage. Young George joined the royal Navy in 1807 as a midshipman aboard the H.M.S. Hibernia before transferring to the H.M.S. Penelope. He served on her at the blockade of Ferrol and later in the West Indies, where he took part in the capture of Martinique in 1809. He was then appointed Lieutenant in 1813, before eventually being promoted to Commander of the H.M.S. Raleigh in 1820. When he returned home a year later, he, along with his father, assumed his mother's family name of Harnage before succeeding to the baronetcy in 1836.

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