91st Auction
2015/5/16
Lot 691
Army & Navy Cooperative Society Ltd., 105 Victoria Street, London, Movement No. Nr. 5872, Case No. 5872, 56 mm, 203 g, circa 1865
A hunting case minute repeating pocket watch of historical interest with "Grande Sonnerie" and "Petite Sonnerie" of historical interest - with a logbook, a collection of original letters, newspapers clippings and black and white photographs related to Captain Smith's life
Case: 18k gold, tiered, polished, the front with the engraved representation of the "H.M.S. Worcester", the back cover monogrammed "JHS", gold dome with dedication engraving: "Presented to Capt. Henderson Smith Comnd. R.N.R. Commanding H.M.S. 'Worcester' by W.H. Roberts, Esq. as a token of gratitude for the gallant rescue of Himself, Mrs. Roberts & the Crew of the Yacht 'Bamba' which became a total wreck. 10th September 1869.", case maker punch mark "EW", slide for repeating mechanism, levers for quarters/full strike and strike/silence. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, blued spade hands. Movm.: 4/5 plate movement, frosted, gilt, screwed gold chatons, 2 hammers/2 gongs, 2 going barrels with click works, English lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance, blued freesprung balance spring, chatoned diamond endstone on balance.
Captain Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy training ship "H.M.S. Worcester" for over 25 years, training cadets from all over Britain; he died in December 1904 at the age of 78 and is buried at Highgate Cemetery in London next to his wife Jessie. Captain Smith was given the watch by Mr. Roberts in gratitude for the rescue of passengers and crew of the Yacht "Bamba".
One of the cadets trained by Captain Smith was Togo Heihachiro, who later became an admiral himself. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes, often called "the Nelson of the East".
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and by far the most successful cooperative retailer throughout the whole of the British Empire and India. The company's goal was to provide "The Very Best English Goods" at reasonable prices. The Kew Observatory records list them as makers of high-quality complicated watches which were very successful during tests at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring was doubtlessly entered in one of those trials.
A hunting case minute repeating pocket watch of historical interest with "Grande Sonnerie" and "Petite Sonnerie" of historical interest - with a logbook, a collection of original letters, newspapers clippings and black and white photographs related to Captain Smith's life
Case: 18k gold, tiered, polished, the front with the engraved representation of the "H.M.S. Worcester", the back cover monogrammed "JHS", gold dome with dedication engraving: "Presented to Capt. Henderson Smith Comnd. R.N.R. Commanding H.M.S. 'Worcester' by W.H. Roberts, Esq. as a token of gratitude for the gallant rescue of Himself, Mrs. Roberts & the Crew of the Yacht 'Bamba' which became a total wreck. 10th September 1869.", case maker punch mark "EW", slide for repeating mechanism, levers for quarters/full strike and strike/silence. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, blued spade hands. Movm.: 4/5 plate movement, frosted, gilt, screwed gold chatons, 2 hammers/2 gongs, 2 going barrels with click works, English lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance, blued freesprung balance spring, chatoned diamond endstone on balance.
Captain Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy training ship "H.M.S. Worcester" for over 25 years, training cadets from all over Britain; he died in December 1904 at the age of 78 and is buried at Highgate Cemetery in London next to his wife Jessie. Captain Smith was given the watch by Mr. Roberts in gratitude for the rescue of passengers and crew of the Yacht "Bamba".
One of the cadets trained by Captain Smith was Togo Heihachiro, who later became an admiral himself. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes, often called "the Nelson of the East".
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and by far the most successful cooperative retailer throughout the whole of the British Empire and India. The company's goal was to provide "The Very Best English Goods" at reasonable prices. The Kew Observatory records list them as makers of high-quality complicated watches which were very successful during tests at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring was doubtlessly entered in one of those trials.
Sold
estimated
22.000—30.000 €
Price realized
24.800 €