Peter Litherland, Liverpool

• Movement: gilded full plate, rack lever escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved bell shaped balance cock, foot marked 'Patent', plain flat balance with Bosley regulation, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, signed and numbered P. Litherland & Co., Liverpool, No. 69 
• Dial: white enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute ring, pink gold arrow form hands
• Cases: plain silver inner case, aperture to back for winding, regency pendant and bow • plain sliver outer, both cases hallmarked London 1795 and with maker's mark JW incuse for Joseph Wilkes

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 307, pl. 192

Movement working intermittently at the time of cataloguing. The watch has not bee tested to determine the accuracy of its timekeeping. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and a service maybe required at the buyer's discretion. Cases in good condition with minor scuffs and scratches consistent with age and use, inner with some more significant scratches to the left of the pendant. Dial with hairline running between 2 and 3, a minute chip between 1 and 2 and scratch running around the dial above 4 through 6.
"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."

Peter Litherland (1756 - 1804) was born in Warrington and in 1791 took out his first patent for the rack lever escapement. In the introduction to his second patent of 1792, he wrote: “…an entire escapement to be applied to watches…for use on sea or land…producing greater certainty of time than any hitherto invented being more simple and less likely to be out of repair…especially for ascertaining the longitude at sea at much less expense than those now used”. Hallmarked for 1795 and numbered 69, this is very early example of the rack lever. Litherland died in 1804 but rack lever watches continued to be made for another 30 years or so by a variety of different makers including Roskell, predominantly in Lancashire. Further information on Peter Litherland and the rack lever can be found by the following authors in the corresponding Antiquarian Horology issues: Vaudrey Mercer, June 1962; Dr R. Kemp, June 1985; G. C. Crabtree, March 1986.