Very unusual mahogany cased Georgian compass, clinometer and level compendium by John Braham, Bristol c1830

Antique compass having 2½” hand decorated paper card with outer quadrant scale 0°-90°-0°-90°-0°, and inner scale displaying cardinals, intercardinals, false points and by points, fleur de lys indicating north, decorative compass rose to centre. Polished bar needle on jewelled suspension, under flat glass held in brass bezel. Transit lock. All contained in the mahogany case lower part, with bubble level and side mounted sights.

The upper lid with inset brass swinging clinometer with a range from 0-90° divided to 1°, and “Links” from 0 to 30. Cursive script details of the manufacturer, “Braham Bristol,”

Condition: In very original condition, the compass paper dial with ageing but otherwise very good, the glass with one or two very minor marks. The compass needle swinging freely and finding north easily, the transit lock and clinometer working correctly. The mahogany case in sound condition.

Comments: This Georgian compass and clinometer is the only such instrument we have seen, and is in lovely original condition.

The surveyor’s chain is a measuring device used for land survey. One chain is 66 feet in length and contains 100 links. One link, then, is 1/100th of a chain. This odd length assisted in calculating the area of a tract of land.

One for the compass collector.