Code BA10051329: Sir Henry James Warre Georgian Silver Long-Neck Compass by Dollond, Hallmarked London 1836
| This is a Georgian Silver compass made in England by Dollond of London in 1836 and belonged to Henry James Warre when he was aide-de-camp to William Beresford in the British Army. The University of Washington published this information about Warre: Introduction In 1845 and 1846, Henry James Warre, aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in British North America, made a secret military reconnaissance tour of what is now Oregon and Washington. The reconnaissance was to indicate "the capabilities of the Oregon Territory in a Military point of view." Warre and his companion, Lieutenant Vavasour, posed as private travelers and toured the region with the assistance of the Hudson's Bay Company. They assessed settlements for their strategic value and for the numbers of American or British citizens. It is uncertain whether Warre and Vavasour's report played a part in resolving the land dispute between America and Britain. That dispute was settled by the Treaty of Oregon in 1846. The sketches Warre made during the journey, which he obtained permission to publish with his account, are valuable both for their artistry and for their portrayal of this region. Original Publication Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory by Captain Henry J. Warre (A.D.C. to the late Commander of the Forces). Lithographed, Printed, and Published by: Dickinson & Co., 114, New Bond Street. Copyright 1848. Sketches includes a short text by Warre giving an overview of the journey, 16 sheets of lithographs (some 2 per page, making a total of 20 plates), and a map showing Warre's route. The order of lithographs in Sketches does not consistently correspond to the chronology of Warre's voyage, nor are plates placed on the same sheet necessarily on the same topic or in chronological order. Some references are made to the illustrations in the text, but not consistently. The lithographs present territorial views of the Rocky Mountains, The Dalles in Oregon, Mount Hood, Willamette Valley, Cape Disappointment, and Palouse Falls. Also shown are settlements at Willamette, Astoria, Fort Vancouver, and a Native American burial site. Biography of Artist Henry J. Warre (1819-1898), an Englishman, spent his career in the military. After enrolling in the Royal Military Academy as a youngster he served as an aide-de-camp to his uncle and later his father. Warre's service took him all over the world including North America, Ireland, Ionian Islands, Crimea (he also published a book, Sketches in Crimea), India, and New Zealand. He also visited Norway and made a world tour in his later life. Some of Warre's lithographs can be found here: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1522445 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5573413 This is called a long-neck compass for obvious reason. The compass case is in excellent condition. It is solid silver and bears the silver hallmarks for London 1836. There is also the case makers initials M H (Mary Ann Holmes). It is also signed with the owner's name: Henry J. Warre and his military at that time A . D . C (Aide-De-Camp). The dial is made of porcelain and is in excellent condition. It has a nice design typically used in the early 1800s. It is signed DOLLOND, LONDON. The compass has a quality jeweled brass cap with a bar needle. It is in excellent working order and finding North very easily. Under the long neck there is a small lever acting as a transit lock, lifting the brass disc located under pivot to avoid any contact with the pin. The compass still has its original slightly convex glass crystal, which is in excellent condition without any scratches or chips. The length from bottom to the bow is 60mm. The diameter of the dial is 41mm. This is to be considered as an extremely rare Georgian Long-Neck compass and has great value for the serious collector. |
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