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The Ultimate 19th Century Political Pocket Watch!

Jackson & Van Buren: Gold Jugate Pocket Watch. In the Spring of 1833, following his re-election and the controversy surrounding his veto of the Bank Charter, President Jackson decided to go on a good-will tour of the Southern and New England States. He was accompanied on this tour by Vice President Martin Van Buren and Secretary of War Lewis Cass. Naturally, the trio of dignitaries was feted and shown the sites at all their stops. During their visit to New York City, like Lafayette in 1824, they were shown Castle Garden. In transversing the pontoon bridge to the fortress-like structure, the bridge gave way and the mounted Jackson and members of his party were thrown into New York harbor, narrowing escaping drowning. A participant of this event, one William Molony, had this watch custom engraved as a souvenir. The dial has engraved jugate portraits of Van Buren and Jackson. The owner's name is spelled out in place of the usual Roman numerals. The back cover is engraved with a scene of ships in New York Harbor, Castle Garden and waving crowds in the foreground. The fusee watch was made by M. L. Tobias of Liverpool. The case (hallmarked J & C) and dial are solid gold. The crystal and chain are replacements. The end of the chain has a silver U. S. Mint medal of Washington and Jackson under glass, as a fob. The watch itself is not currently running. The provenance includes New England antiquarian Walter A. Backofen, collector Donald Ackerman (sold via mail auction catalog in 1982) and dealer Rex Stark. It is, without question, the ultimate political watch and the only Jackson-Van Buren jugate in existence. The engraved portraits are highly-detailed and expertly done. It really doesn't get much better than this in the field of political collecting! From the Collection of the Late Edward C. Gillette.

Auction Info

Auction Dates
August, 2018
25th-26th Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 4
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,800

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $250,000 (minimum $19), plus 20% of any amount between $250,000 and $2,500,000, plus 12% of any amount over $2,500,000 per lot.

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Sold on Aug 25, 2018 for: $8,750.00
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