Dent

• gilt three-quarter plate movement, Earnshaw spring detent escapement, free-sprung bi-metallic balance, blued steel duo-in-uno balance spring, fusee and chain, diamond endstone, signed and numbered Dent, watchmaker to the Queen, 33 Cockspur Street Charing Cross London, 28318 • white enamel dial with British Royal and Russian Imperial cyphers, Roman numerals, outer minute track, up-and-down for state of wind indication, subsidiary seconds, blued steel hands, signed and numbered Dent 33 Cockspur Street London, 28318 • plain silver case, silver cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-setting, case and cuvette with London hallmarks for 1875 and maker's mark JTW for James Thomas White, numbered 28318  

Christie's London, 24th September 2002, lot 63

Movement running at the time of cataloguing. The dial and hands in very good condition. The case with scuffs and scratches throughout. The case back with visible scratches and scuffs, the inside case back and cuvette appear to have been previously polished. Marks are rubbed and numbering feint. The watch has not been tested to determine the accuracy of its timekeeping. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and that a service may be required at the buyer's discretion.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The present lot formerly belonged to the legendary British American explorer, Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904).  After he emigrated from Britain to America, he served in the Civil War before becoming a journalist in the early days of frontier expansion.  Stanley most notably gained fame for his expedition to Africa in search of Dr. David Livingstone, who had disappeared there years before.  After a 700 mile expedition through tropical forests, Stanley came upon Livingstone in present-day Tanzania.  It is to this fateful meeting that the famous phrase “Dr. Livingstone, I presume” is attributed.  Stanley went on to lead several more explorations throughout Africa, and was eventually awarded a knighthood in 1899 for his service to the British Empire in Africa. Dent, held in high regard for their manufacture of precision timekeepers, received Royal Warrants to supply marine chronometers to the Royal Navy. In addition to this it is clear that they also provided timekeepers for the purpose of expeditions. Stanley himself said of Dent, ‘The chronometers supplied by you [Dent]… were in every way thoroughly satisfactory and reliable.’

This piece was made by John Hammersley for Dent. Hammersley a very successful springer and adjuster in his own right, though working largely for M.F. Dent among other makers, is credited with the development of the tria-in-uno balance spring. Interestingly this particular watch, numbered 28518, is separated only by one number from an identical watch sold in these rooms as part of The Celebration of the English Watch, Part I in 2015.