Jun 12, 2025 - Sale 2708

Sale 2708 - Lot 146

Price Realized: $ 1,625
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(NAVY.) Designs for the 1926 restoration of the USS Constitution. 6 blueprints, about 27 inches high and between 39 and 104 inches wide; minimal to minor wear. Boston, 1926-1927
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Additional Details

Plans for the historic ship's first major restoration under the command of Lieutenant John A. Lord. One of the six original frigates in the United States Navy when it was built in 1797, it served in the War of 1812 and remains docked in Boston today as a museum. All were drawn either by Lieutenant Lord or draftsman Warren D. Liebmann. Includes:

1. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Docking Plan," by Lord. 26 x 104 inches; minimal wear. Boston, January 1927.

2. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Special Docking Plan . . . due to the decayed and weakened condition of hull structure," by Lord. 29 x 96 inches; minor wear at lower left corner. Boston, April 1927, stamped 18 April 1927 on verso.

3. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Berth Deck, Planking Removed," by Liebmann. 27 x 65 inches; minimal wear. Boston, November 1926, stamped 15 March 1927 on verso.

4. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Gun Deck, Planking Removed," by Liebmann. 27 x 65 inches; minimal wear. Boston, September 1926, stamped 15 March 1927 on verso.

5. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Berth Deck, Planking Removed," by Liebmann. 27 x 67 inches; minimal wear. Boston, October 1926, stamped 15 March 1927 on verso.

6. "U.S. Frigate Constitution Orlop Decks, Planking Removed," by Liebmann. 27¾ x 63½ inches; minimal wear. Boston, December 1926, stamped 15 March 1927 on verso.

WITH--the unrelated "Genealogical Chart of the Family of Lord Showing the Line of Lineal Descent of Dominicus Lord," 21½ x 29½ inches; moderate wear and 2 short tears. Undated.

Provenance: Item #2 is inscribed on verso to "U.C. Norton, c/o Cummings & Norton, West Jonesport, Maine." Ulysses Coffin Norton (1874-1946) was a Maine merchant; his mother was a member of the Lord family. These plans were consigned by a member of the Norton family after having laid in storage for several decades.