A scarce, high quality, 1″ diameter gilt brass pocket compass having enamelled card dial with hand painted cardinals and intercardinals. Polished flat steel bar needle with jewelled suspension, highly-polished reflector ring, bevelled convex crystal. Gilt brass drum form case, long necked suspension post and Georgian bow with transit lock button behind. Contained within its original, black velvet and champagne silk-lined, moroccan leather-covered case with brass keeper.

The compass remaining in completely original condition, with virtually all its gilding, very slight marks to verso and losses to bow, the crystal near-perfect, the leather case modestly worn with a very slight warp in one area of the upper lid, retaining most of its original finish. Crisp overall.

This most attractive compass is very unusual, being of smaller size. The compass predates the advent of gold plating in 1805 and the gilding is a result of the traditional amalgamation process as the cast brass bow and suspension post bear casting marks which plating would have hidden to a greater degree. Although the carat is not known, the richness of the colour would suggest 18ct gold.

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

Dimensions: 1½” diameter x ½” deep

Stock No: SI0883

Price: SOLD