CHRISTIES TO SELL WATCH BY COINER HENRY VOIGT

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V19 2016 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 19, Number 15, April 10, 2016, Article 10

Kay Olson Freeman pointed out a lot in Christie’s upcoming New York auction of a very rare watch by Henry Voigt, who later became the first coiner of the U.S. Mint. Thanks! Here's an excerpt from the description (Sale 11898, Lot 32). -Editor

YANKEE INGENUITY AND DESIGN: THE EARLIEST KNOWN WATCH MADE ENTIRELY ON AMERICAN SOIL

Rarely in the world today does an object surface that redefines scholarship in an entire field. Such is the case with the discovery of the Henry Voight-Francis Bailey pocket watch. The presently offered watch was made by Henry Voight, chosen later by George Washington as chief coiner of the first US Mint and especially made for the first printer of the Articles of Confederation, Francis Bailey.

As impressive as the unparalleled technical merits of this unique watch, no less impressive are the life and times of the man by whom it was originally ordered. They bear witness to the age of the founding fathers. This watch literally rewrites the history of American horology and touches upon every element of the birth of a nation.

The heart of this incredible story connects us directly to masterful figures of early American history. However, perhaps even more prominent is its powerful representation of the American ingenuity to solve problems - whether political, scientific, or horological - in a creative, original, and bold way

Technical Importance of the Voight Watch
From a horological point of view, this watch reveals Voight’s genius in solving and improving watchmaking challenges of the era and innovating in a field in which the most revered masters had been practicing their arts for centuries. Protected within a seemingly simple silver case, the watch reveals exceptional surprises in almost every element of its design, from its case with a unique opening system, the novel form of temperature compensation, prototypical Voight-type double virgule escapement, and elaborately engraved balance cock with the pierced initials of its owner. Every element of this watch amazes and informs the modern researcher. The synthesis of these elements evidences and shows the mind of a genius at work and is the quintessence of proverbial Yankee ingenuity.

Henry Voight

Henry Voight (1738–1814) was an early American polymath, who in addition to being an accomplished coinmaker and appointed by President Washington Chief Coiner of the U.S. Mint also had a thriving clock and watchmaking business and was a mathematical instrument maker, machine and steam engine builder. He is recorded at “Second-street nearly opposite the Buck-Tavern above Race-street…making all sorts of new watches, upon all the principles which they can be made on in Europe, .”; he repaired clocks and watches for Thomas Jefferson and knew him well; he invented (with John Fitch) a new kind of steamboat which achieved then unheard of speeds of 6 to 8 miles per hour. John Fitch wrote of him:

"Mr Voight is a Plain Dutchman who fears no man and will always speak his sentiments which has given offense to some of the Members of our Co., and some of them have effected to have a contemptible an opinion of his Philosophic abilities. It is true he is not a man of Letters nor mathematical Knowledge but for my own part I would depend on him more than a Franklin, a [David] Rittenhouse, an Ellicot, a [John] Nancarrow, and Matlack [Timothy Matlock], all combined, as he is a man of superior Mechanical abilities, and Very considerable Natural Philosophy; and as we have many of the first Geniuses in our Co., perhaps nearly equal to those I have mentioned, it is Certain that he has pointed out more defects than them all, and pointed out ways to remedy those defects, when consternation sat silent in every breast for the disaster."

Francis Bailey
Francis Bailey (1744-1817) was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and set up his first print shop in the town of Lancaster, moving the business to Philadelphia in 1778. A prominent member of the community and churchman, he was appointed official printer of the state of Pennsylvania and a deacon of the Presbyterian Church, later becoming an influential Swedenborgian. Deeply involved in the American cause, Bailey was the first to call George Washington “the father of his country” in print and was an early printer of the Articles of Confederation, precursor to the U.S. Constitution. In 1776, while still in Lancaster, he printed an early edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense; in 1778 he published (with Hugh Henry Brackenridge) the United States Magazine, and in 1781 he became editor of the Freeman’s Journal or the North American Intelligencer. Another exemplar of American ingenuity, Bailey invented a printing process designed to thwart forgery, a serious concern at the time.

The watch has a wide estimate: $200,000 – $400,000. Be sure to read the details of the watch description - its technical details are impressive. An amazing object, to have survived the centuries and provide a tangible link to the early days of our country. What a great prize for a collector.

This lot description spells his name as "Voight", but most (though not all) references in numismatic literature spell it "Voigt". I've been guilty of using both variations at different times in The E-Sylum. The name is spelled "Voigt" in the watch, which was presumably engraved by Henry himself. So I went with "Voigt" for the headline and comments of this article (but left the Christie's text as-is).

-Editor