Antique Compasses
Circa 1700-1730
French Brass Compass
A very early French Pocket Compass. Han-etched brass with a Fleur-de-lis on North, 16 cardinal point ornate compass card, blued-steel needle on brass pivot. Compass lid has unfortunately been lost to time.
Circa 1740
French Hand Coloured Brass Compass
Roman numerals hand-etched on brass compass perimeter, fleur-de-lis on North. Complete with original glass, compass lid, functional pivot, and paper dial. Hand-coloured paper face dial features vibrant colors and clean lines. Lovely patina, with appropriate discoloration on paper appropriate with age. French made, circa mid 1740.
Circa 1770
English Georgian Boxwood Compass
Antique travel compass, turned boxwood, with cover. Compass card with 16 winds, printed by an engraved copper plate and later water-coloured by hand, with goniometric circle. Original blued-steel needle, jeweled pivot. English made, circa 1770. This piece was made before glass compass faces rose to popularity- therefore, it is has no glass.
Circa 1800
Georgian Gilt Pocket Compass
A rare Georgian pocket compass, made in England, circa 1800. Hand-painted, porcelain or enamel compass card in classic Georgian style. Unsigned; incredibly high quality piece. Gilt or gold-plated brass case, English bar, blued-steel needle (gilt north/south markers) on jeweled pivot with beveled glass. Functional transit lock operated by bow lever. Finds North very well.
Circa 1830
Georgian Brass Pocket Compass
Fine 19th Century Brass Compass. Complete original, with bevelled glass, blued-steel needle, brass pivot, 16 cardinal point compass card , and press-fit lid with inscribed compass card (quadrants marked 0-90-0-90. English made, circa 1830.
Circa 1850
French Victorian Ships Compass
A mid-19th century fine dry compass. Made of brass, with jeweled pivot. English made, fleur-de-lis on North, floating paper compass card. Unsigned. White north needle, opposed to black. Circa 1850.
Circa 1860
Victorian Brass Pocket Compass
Fine, English Victorian Brass Pocket Compass. Complete with original press-fit lid, ornate blued-steel needle, functioning gilt pivot, beveled glass, and compass card. Compass card shows minimal discoloration. Unsigned. English made, circa 1860. (Small crescent crack on glass).
Circa 1900
Lutz & Schultz Inclinometer Compass
Silver Compass with gilt Inclinometer, Signed 'Lutz y Scholtz, Buenos Aires Cordoba Rosario'. Half-blued needle on Ruby pivot. Marked 90-0-90. Needle lock operated at stem. Retractable base leg. Silvered inner ring graduated 360 degrees. An incredibly scarce and fine piece. Circa 1900.
Circa 1910
French Brass Hunter-Style Compass by Testrite
20th Century Hunter-Style Pocket Compass by Testrite. French made, circa 1910. Brass case, original beveled crystal glass, jeweled pivot with half-blued steel needle and mechanical stop.
Circa 1914-1918
Radium-Painted French Compass
Handsome French Brass Pocket Compass. Needle lock on side, with adjustable inner needle. Half-blued steel needle with Sapphire pivot. Marked 'Made in France'. Needles painted with Radium dots, likely used for military application during WW1 (needles still glow in the dark).
18th & 19th Century
Wooden Folding Compasses
Top Left- 'Made in France' etched under West.
Top Right- 'France' etched under North.
Bottom Left- 1850 Wooden Pocket Compass by Francis Barker. Fleur-de-lis on North.
Featured in the Compass Library.
Bottom Center- W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy. N.Y. Blue-steeled needle. Star on North.
Bottom Right- More Info Coming Soon