A brass telescope inscribed on the main tube G. Washington, Mount Vernon, with additional inscription on brass sleeve at the viewing end Doland, London. 19 in. ln., 2.125 in. dia. Housed in silk-lined Moroccan leather case inscribed Telescope owned by General Washington. After his death, the inventory of George Washington's personal property contained eleven spyglasses. He used many spy glasses and telescopes during the Revolutionary War and at Mount Vernon, but the whereabouts of the telescopes after Washington's death are not well known. Mount Vernon's collection contains five telescopes, spy glasses, and field glasses with provenance linking them to Washington. Despite the provenance of this telescope, some questions have been raised about the authenticity of items once handled by Lanier Washington. While he did own some legitimate Washington pieces, Lanier Washington also fabricated items in an attempt to link them with his great-great-great uncle. Accompanied by a notarized affidavit from George Washington's great-great-great nephew, William Lanier Washington, attesting to the telescope's provenance and explaining that this telescope was sold at the American Art Association Auction, New York City on Feb. 7, 1920, as Lot No. 303. The items in this auction were sold by Lanier Washington in a sale titled "George Lanier Washington's Collection of Relics and Memorabilia of George Washington." Lanier Washington signed a notarized affidavit immediately after the auction, attesting to the transference of the telescope from Gen. Washington to the 1920 auction. In the affidavit accompanying the lot, Lanier Washington outlines the provenance of the telescope as follows: Gen. George Washington - Col. William Augustine Washington (Gifted) - Col. George Corbin Washington (bequest) - Col. Lewis William Washington (bequest) - William d'Hertburn Washington (bequest) - Lewis William Washington (purchased) - William Lanier Washington (bequest). The New York Times published an article the day after the 1920 auction, stating that the telescope was one of many items purchased from the sale by book dealer George D. Smith. The telescope eventually became the property of the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was offered in an October 2008 Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction held at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. It was purchased and kept by a private collector since 2008. Condition: Expected wear to telescope and case.
A brass telescope inscribed on the main tube G. Washington, Mount Vernon, with additional inscription on brass sleeve at the viewing end Doland, London. 19 in. ln., 2.125 in. dia. Housed in silk-lined Moroccan leather case inscribed Telescope owned by General Washington. After his death, the inventory of George Washington's personal property contained eleven spyglasses. He used many spy glasses and telescopes during the Revolutionary War and at Mount Vernon, but the whereabouts of the telescopes after Washington's death are not well known. Mount Vernon's collection contains five telescopes, spy glasses, and field glasses with provenance linking them to Washington. Despite the provenance of this telescope, some questions have been raised about the authenticity of items once handled by Lanier Washington. While he did own some legitimate Washington pieces, Lanier Washington also fabricated items in an attempt to link them with his great-great-great uncle. Accompanied by a notarized affidavit from George Washington's great-great-great nephew, William Lanier Washington, attesting to the telescope's provenance and explaining that this telescope was sold at the American Art Association Auction, New York City on Feb. 7, 1920, as Lot No. 303. The items in this auction were sold by Lanier Washington in a sale titled "George Lanier Washington's Collection of Relics and Memorabilia of George Washington." Lanier Washington signed a notarized affidavit immediately after the auction, attesting to the transference of the telescope from Gen. Washington to the 1920 auction. In the affidavit accompanying the lot, Lanier Washington outlines the provenance of the telescope as follows: Gen. George Washington - Col. William Augustine Washington (Gifted) - Col. George Corbin Washington (bequest) - Col. Lewis William Washington (bequest) - William d'Hertburn Washington (bequest) - Lewis William Washington (purchased) - William Lanier Washington (bequest). The New York Times published an article the day after the 1920 auction, stating that the telescope was one of many items purchased from the sale by book dealer George D. Smith. The telescope eventually became the property of the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was offered in an October 2008 Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction held at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. It was purchased and kept by a private collector since 2008. Condition: Expected wear to telescope and case.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
