Code BA141109667: Georgian Long-Neck Hallmarked Silver Compass by W & S JONES, London, 1808
| This is a rare Georgian Long-Neck open-face Silver compass dating from 1808 and made by W & S Jones. "William Jones (1763–1831) was an English maker of optical and other scientific instruments, who had Thomas Jefferson among his customers in London. He later formed a partnership with his younger brother Samuel Jones. W. & S. Jones were among the most successful scientific instrument makers in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1797,Jones introduced the box sextant or 'pocket sextant' for nautical navigation, an early marvel of mechanical miniaturisation. W. & S. Jones published The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery to promote their instruments and to describe their use. They worked at 135 Holborn from 1792 to 1800, and at 30 Holborn from 1800 to 1860". (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jones_(optician) ). The case is sterling silver with London 1808 silver hallmarks on the back. The case is also engraved with maker's initials V D. The silver case is still in excellent condition without any dings or dents. The bow has a very nice design typically used in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The same design was used on pocket watches of this era as well. The compass has a porcelain dial signed W & S JONES, HOLBORN LONDON. It is numbered every 10 degrees and graduated in degrees. Between North and East, the numbers go from 0 to 90, than from 90 to 0 between East and South. The same pattern is repeated between South and West, and between West and North. This kind of compass is highly precise and several examples were used by the military for this reason. The porcelain dial is free of chips or hairlines. The transit lock can be activated by sliding a small lever under the long neck. The dial is covered with its original glass crystal free of chips and scratches. The compass is precise and find North easily. This is a very rare compass measuring 51mm in diameter and 74mm from bottom to bow. |
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