BRASS AND LEATHER 3 DRAW POCKET TELESCOPE, 16 1/2" OPEN, 6" CLOSED. THE OBJECTIVE AND EYE PIECE COVERS ARE COMPLETE. THE OPTICS ARE WORKING AND ARE IN GOOD ORIGINAL CONDITION. PROVENANCE: THIS IMPORTANT OBJECT COMES TO US DIRECTLY FROM THE ONLY GRANDSON OF CALVIN BULLOCK OF NYC AND ROYALSTON, MA. BULLOCK AMASSED ONE OF THE MOST SIGNFICANT COLLECTIONS OF NAPOLEON AND ADMIRAL NELSON RELICS IN NORTH AMERICA. THIS COLLECTION WAS FORMED IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. AT THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY, MR. BULLOCK FOUNDED AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT COMPANY BEARING HIS NAME. HE BECAME FASCINATED WITH THE NAPOLEONIC ERA AND ITS OUTSTANDING MILITARY FIGURES. MOST OF THE COLLECTION WAS SOLD IN A RECORD BREAKING SINGLE OWNER SALE BY CHRISTIE'S, LONDON, MAY 8, 1985. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE AUCTION CALVIN'S SON, HUGH, INVITED HENRY COLE (CALVIN'S GRANDSON) TO NYC TO PICK OUT A MEMENTO FROM HIS GRANDFATHER'S COLLECTION. HENRY PICKED THIS NELSON TELESCOPE. THIS ITEM WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AUCTION AND HAS REMAINED IN HENRY'S POSSESSION SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S. A SIGNED LETTER FROM CALVIN'S GRANDSON CONFIRMING THE PROVENANCE BACK TO CALVIN WILL ACCOMPANY THIS LOT. OWNERSHIP BEFORE CALVIN BULLOCK IS UNKNOWN. BECAUSE OF THE EARLY DATE OF 1770 (ENGRAVED ON THE LENS CAP), WE BELIEVE THIS COULD BE NELSON'S FIRST TELESCOPE USED WHILE A MIDSHIPMAN ON THE RAISONNABLE AT THE AGE OF 12. NELSON ENLISTED JANUARY 1, 1771. HIS UNCLE CAPTAIN MAURICE SUCKLING, COMMANDED THE VESSEL. FAMILY LORE STATES THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE POCKET TELESCOPE USED BY NELSON IN THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.