All sales are subject to 888 Auctions’ Terms and Conditions of Sale. Bidding is available by live in-house bidding and absentee. A 20% buyer's premium is added to the hammer price of each lot. PAYMENT BY, BANK DRAFT, CERTIFIED CHEQUE OR WIRE TRANSFER ONLY. The auctioneer and 888 Auctions shall have the right to withdraw any item at any time for any reason and to default any sale in the event of an error or dispute. The auctioneer will also have full discretion to reopen the bidding, cancel the sale or re-offer and resell the property. Should a dispute arise after the auction, our sale record is conclusive.
Vintage American Samuel Thaxter & Son Boston compass, set in wood box, 9 x 9 cm, 206 grams. Samuel Thaxter was born in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1769 and died in Boston in 1842. He is first listed in the 1796 Boston Directory as a mathematical instrument maker. In the 1822-23 edition, the business is listed as Samuel Thaxter & Son (Joseph H. 1801-1835). Samuel Thaxter's grandson, Samuel Thaxter Cushing (1821-1882), took over the business around 1843. Upon the death of Samuel Thaxter Cushing, his widow, Abby C. Cushing took over management of the business until 1905 at which time Herbert Risteen Starratt became manager. The last entry of the company (Samuel Thaxter & Son) in the Boston Directory is 1916."