Code BA15052901: Georgian Shagreen Cased Long-Neck Silver Compass, Hallmarked London 1781
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This is an extremely rare Georgian Long-Neck open-face Silver compass dating from 1781. This makes this compass one of the oldest pocket compasses of its kind.
The case of this compass is made of sterling silver with London 1781 silver hallmarks inside the back lid. It has also the case maker's hallmark T H (Thomas Hobbs). The silver case is still in excellent condition without dings or dents. The bow has a very nice design typically used in the late 1700s. The same design was used on verge pocket watches of this era as well. The compass has a porcelain dial in excellent condition without any chips or damage. The transit lock can be activated by sliding a small lever on the back of the long neck. The lever to activate the transit lock is also a sign of the quality of this instrument. The locking mechanism is very sophisticated and includes several springs and levers as can be seen in the pictures. The dial is covered with its original glass crystal free of chips and scratches. The needle has a brass jewelled cap and is very precise and finds North easily.
The compass is housed in a very rare shagreen case still in excellent condition for its age without any damage. It has a strong hinge and a hook to secure it when closed. This is a museum quality compass. It is the oldest of its kind and comes in a rare shagreen case. The compass measures around 41mm in diameter and around 58mm from bottom to bow. The shagreen case measures 51mm in diameter. |
SOLD
