GIVEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO THE CHIEF MATE OF AN AMERICAN SHIP. Handsome, beautiful quality, single draw telescope complete with its original mahogany storage box which has an inset german silver plaque that is engraved "Mr. Joseph Qualey". All nickel silver fittings with a leather cover on the tapered barrel. Length closed 26 1/2" extending to 33". Sliding cover for eyepiece and removable cap for objective lens. Draw tube beautifully engraved "Presented by the British Government/to/Mr. Joseph Qualey, Chief Mate of the American Ship "William Frothingham"/in acknowledgment of his services on the occasion/of the rescue of the survivors of the crew of the/Steamer "Spartan" in February 1862". Also signed by the famous opticians "Troughton & Simms/London". Have a copy of a New Zealand newspaper article published May 1862 that describes the event in full. The Captain, his wife, child and servant girl as well as the chief officer and two seamen were drowned. The rest of the crew took to the boats until picked up by the William Frothingham. Overall condition excellent noting that the leather cover seam stitching is failing in the middle of the barrel. This exact scope is illustrated and discussed on pages 124 & 125 in Klamkin's book "Marine Antiques.