Presented is an ebony frame, ivory arc, antique sextant made by the English instrument maker, F. Stopponi of Red Street, Holborn, London and sold in this country by Charles Taber & Co. New Bedford.

 

The sextant is in excellent original condition, but what sets it apart from all others is the folk art, 6 1/2 by 7 inch painting of an American eagle over the federal shield with a crossed Union Jack on the left and an American flag on the right. There is a blue banner in between with FRIENDSHIP, LOVE and TRUST on it. There also is what appears to be a pike on the right. There is the  indication of a drum under the fold of the flag and other objects to its left. Sailors were infrequently known to have decorated their cases with paintings such as this, but they are very rare, and generally not in this excellent condition.

 

There is an advertisement on the inside cover which reads in part:

 

 CHARLES TABER & Co, NEW BEDFORD

IMPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERES

NO. 45 UNION ST, NEW BEDFORD 

......On hand every description of nautical instrument

warranted sextants, quadrants, spy glasses....etc.

 

 

THE SEXTANT: This beautifully made instrument has a ribbed brass index arm measures 11 7/8 inches long on the index arm. The arc measures from - 5 to plus 100 degrees. The ivory plate on a cross bar between the two limbs is engraved "F. STOPPONI, London". The horizon mirror is on an adjustable turntable and can be rotated by an arbor. Note the tangent screw, ivory vernier scale, reading from right to left from 0 to 20 arc minutes, a peep sight, and one set of sun shades all of which help date the instrument. There is no provision for a handle on this sextant which marks it as a transitional piece between an octant and a sextant.

Some time after 1780, the addition of a tangent screw, as fitted to this instrument, allowed for fine adjustment and represents one of the two major changes in the basic operation of the octants and sextants for the next 150 years! The second was the fitting of telescopes, a second set of shades and a ribbed index arm.

Period keystone Oak case with age cracks

SEXTANT CONDITION: The sextant appears in exceptional condition having been maintained and stored with great care. The mirrors are in excellent condition and ready to use. The ivory is in perfect condition.The engraving is sharp and distinct. Present is a small ivory plate on the back, but the ivory pencil cap is missing. The shades are complete and in good working order. The ebony frame shows as near new. The instrument has its original machinery, a one hole peep sight, and everything is original and in good working order.

 

THE CASE: The "keystone" solid Oak case is good condition, but dusty inside, and has some age cracks top and bottom. Paint has flaked off of the top mostly along the lower edge of the cover. The lock is missing inside and there is no key. An advertisement on the inside, in excellent condition, reads CHARLES TABER & Co, NEW BEDFORD,

IMPRTERS AND MANUFACTURERES, NO. 45 UNION ST, NEW BEDFORD  and more. What may be a relative by marriage, Elizabeth Taber, wife of Stephen Taber of New Bedford was the founder of Taber Academy in Marion, MA in 1876.

 

Index mirror in good condition

Peep sight and horizon mirror in good condition

Maker's name

Old style vernier reading from the right

BRIEF HISTORY OF CHARLES TABER: Born near New Bedford, MA on April 3, 1824 of Mayflower stock. Taber shipped out on a whaler at 15. After many years at sea, he became master of his own vessel. When gold was discovered in California, Captain Taber sailed around Cape Horn in August 1848. For a time he was engaged in the transportation of troops for the U.S. government. Taber was later the captain of a ferry boat which plied the waters between San Francisco and Sacramento. He returned to New Bedford and continued a career ashore in the instrument business with his brother William starting in 1849, and later as a printer. The Taber firm was active until 1854. 

 

DIMENSIONS:

 

Length of frame 11 7/8"

Width of frame at arc   9 3/4"

Index mirror 40 x 30 mm

Horizon mirror 20 x 20 mm

Weight    2 Lbs 2 oz

 

QUALIFICATIONS: We are one of the few company's still selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging whether Joel's opinion counts, he was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of "Bowditch", The American Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium Board, 1975 -1978; the author of a book on marine sextants, Cornell Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with Tamaya of Japan in the introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation computer, in the U.S. market. Joel is a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy "D" Qualification as a Senior Skipper - Oceans. For six years he was a Varsity Offshore Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling unless we are at fault.

Copyright 2007 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved