^Lot 4217 OUTSTANDING HISTORIC EARLY FLUTE BELONGING TO

LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN HUNTER OF THE U.S.S. CONSTITUTION. It is difficult to find early American made musical instruments and rarer yet to locate identified examples with a military association. This 24" four section one-key flute was made by Bacon & Hart of Philadelphia, PA between 1813 and 1833. All four sections of this rare flute are marked "BACON & HART PHILA. M". There is a 1/2" band of cream colored organic material between each of the four sections and a pewter cap on the keyed end. There are at least three scrimshaw like carvings on the body of the flute that include the words "B F B Hunter U S Navy", a flag on pole and what appears to be an American eagle. There are clearly additional carvings that are too light to discern by normal means. Lieutenant Benjamin Fitz-Bourne Hunter, USN was an officer in the United States Navy and his career began with an appointment as an acting Midshipman in 1835. In 1839 he was assigned as a Midshipman on the USS Constitution. Subsequent to his assignment to the USS Constitution, he sailed the South Pacific on the USS Cyane as the Acting Master to exotic ports such as Callao, Mazatlan and the Sandwich Islands. He served at Monterey during the Mexican War and sailed to California to support John Fremont and America's claim to California. After a long and eventful career, he retired from Naval service in 1851. It is hard to imagine a more historic or well traveled musical instrument with sound military association during these turbulent years of American history and the pursuit of Manifest Destiny. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copies of information pertaining to the life and career of Lieutenant Hunter along with copies of his appointment as a Midshipman and his orders to the USS Constitution. Also included, is a copy of a photograph of Lt. Hunter. CONDITION: flute shows expected but light wear and appears fully functional, though it has not been tested. The manufacture's markings are a bit light, but easily read. The scrimshaw like engraving is also light but most can be easily discerned. (02-25887/BF). NON-GUN. $1,500-2,000.