Alex Peck Medical, Surgical, and Dental Antiques and Books
Sale Catalogue Recent Additions
Below is a listing of recent additions to the Sale Catalogue.
Click here to view the entire Sale Catalogue. Please feel free to send an e-mail for additional details and to place an order. Sales are considered final after three days inspection unless other arrangements are made beforehand.
All pictures and text are copyrighted 1982-2010 Alex Peck. All rights reserved.
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CLICK THE PAGE NUMBER TO GO TO THE PAGE OF THE ITEM DESCRIBED
Page 2. 13. An exceedingly scarce model 1832 United States Army Medical Staff sword marked within a banner: N.P. Ames / Cutler Springfield [Massachusetts]. Mid-way on one side of the blade is the etched bust profile of a bearded man who is labeled in script: Esculapius. This refers to the Greek god of medicine and healing. Other etchings on the blade include a wreath surrounding the letters U.S., an eagle, floral sprays, crossed swords, a panoply, and a standing figure of Liberty. The fancy brass hilt retains 95% of its original gilt. The leather scabbard is in magnificent condition. It has a long brass throat with frog and a very long (12 inches) brass drag. Both are elaborately hand-engraved with floral designs and retain 95%+ of the original gilt. Peterson describes the sword as exceptionally rare. It is estimated that only a few such swords were ever made during the period of 1832 to 1840 when this was the regulation sword for the Medical Staff. See Peterson, pp. 138-139, number 123. Also, see Hamilton, p. 44. This very sword is featured in John Thillmann's book on United States staff officer's swords, 1832-1860.
Page 6. 40. A suture set.
Page
10.
67. A
fine Civil War surgeon's pocket Colt revolver with matching serial numbers
206433, indicating an 1862 manufacturing date. The barrel is 5" long
and the rifling is sharp. Both it and the frame retain areas of original
bluing, and the brass trigger guard and grip strap have much of their
silver-plating. In addition, the walnut scales have their original
varnish. The cylinder scene is crisp and the action is strong. The
butt strap is engraved: S.G. Gordon, M.D. Dr. Sidney C. Gordon
(1840-1924), of
Page 14. 99. A c. 1880s sterling silver paper knife (may also have been used as a book mark and page turner) beautifully hand-engraved: William E. Milbank, M.D. // "I have not so many friends that I shall grow confused among the number and forget my best one." Nicholas Nickleby. Dr. Milbank (1848-1928), of Albany, New York, was a New York Health Commissioner in the 1880s. The Charles Dickens quote appears in Chapter 22 of Nicholas Nickleby. The silver piece is 10" long is stamped with the silver maker Gorham's marks.
Page 14. 101. A very early capital amputation saw from Jacobean England. The saw is impressed with the H mark of Robert Hobbs, London, fl. c. 1606-1621. Instruments by Hobbs are believed to be the earliest extant English maker-marked surgical instruments. A nearly identical saw is illustrated in John Woodall, The Surgeon's Mate, 1639. This is precisely the saw that one would expect to have been used by Giles Heale, a member of the Barber-Surgeon's Company and the ship's surgeon on the Mayflower, and by Samuel Fuller, the surgeon of Plymouth Colony. 25" long.
Page 14. 102. A rare type c. 1820 English antique bloodletting spring lancet with original barrel-shaped case. The blade depth is adjusted by turning the large conical nut to the rear and it is cocked by pulling on the nut. A lever trigger to fire the blade is to the side of the lancet. The brass retains its handsome lacquer finish.
Page 15. 108. An antique c. 1930 Young Simpson anesthesia inhaler by Arnold & Son, London. The set includes a mask, a print of the mask in place, bottle with cork and fittings, tubing, and the original carrying box.
Page 15. 107. A fine and rare American set of c. 1860 antique lachrymal probes by Codman & Shurtleff, Boston. The probes are silver and numbered size 1 through 8.
Page 18. 132. A fine c. 1850 antique phrenology bust inkwell embossed along the front: By F. Bridges / Phrenologist. Note the rare gold decorative accents.
Page
18.
135. A
scarce and fine c. 1880 temple (small size) brass scarificator by Evans,
Page 20. 156. A c. 1850 George Tiemann's Patent 1846 scarificator. The full mark reads: G. TIEMANN / N-YORK / PATENTED / AUG 20th / 1846. All 12 oblique blades are present, the handle is horn, and this antique bloodletting instrument is in perfect working order. See Tiemann 1889, p. 115, fig. 1650.
Page 20. 155. A c. 1850 English antique medicine chest with all of its original bottles. Note the extensive use of brass-banding on the exterior.
Page 22. 170. An antique c. 1880 circumcision guard marked: KROHNE & SESEMANN / LONDON. The antique shield has a highly decorative silhouette.
Page 26. 206. A c. 1850 antique vaginal and rectal dilator with three adjustable blades controlled by turning the ivory handle. The instrument is made to a high standard.
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Medical Antiques Sale Catalogue
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