A rare and attractive high quality Georgian long necked gilt brass compass by William Fraser & Son c1810

A scarce, high quality, 1½” diameter gilt brass pocket compass having enamelled card dial with hand painted cardinals and intercardinals, fleur de lys for north, and arrow indicating magnetic north, and maker’s name “Fraser & Son.” Polished flat steel bar needle with jewelled suspension, highly-polished reflector ring, bevelled convex crystal. Gilt brass drum form case, long necked pendant and Georgian bow with transit lock button behind. Contained within its original champagne silk-lined, moroccan leather-covered case with brass keeper.

Condition: The compass remaining in completely original condition, with almost all of its gilding, very slight marks to verso and losses to bow, two small marks, one to verso edge, one to side of case at 10 o’clock, the enamel dial and crystal near-perfect. The transit lock working correctly, the needle swinging freely and finding north easily. The leather case in very good condition, the silk linings aged.

Comments: William Fraser & Son is recorded as working from 1805-1812. This compass is gold-plated as opposed to fire gilded, which dates it to post 1805. Although the carat is not known, the richness of the colour would suggest 18ct gold.

In very good original condition, this very attractive antique pocket compass is very much a collector’s piece.