AN EDWARD TROUGHTON DOUBLE-FRAMED SEXTANT, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1820,signed Troughton, London, with silver scale and vernier, magnifier, two sets of coloured filters, in fitted mahogany case with three alternative telescopes, together with a copy of Troughton's 1788 'Framing for Octants, Sextants, Etc' patent, 10in (25.5cm) radiusthe case 12 1/2in x 5in x 12in (32cm x 13cm x 30.5cm) Footnotes:Edward Troughton (1753-1835) was a leading maker of surveying and navigational instruments in England, and is recorded at 136 Fleet Street in London. He originally served as an apprentice for John Troughton at the family firm. Later in his career, Edward partnered with William Simms (1793-1860) to form Troughton & Simms, which continued to produce surveying and other scientific apparatus.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
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Pair of Derby porcelain vasesdecorated with flowers and gilt detail on blue ground, stamped to the base, 14cm high and a leather cased sextant, marked 'Elliott Bros, London', 7cm across (3)Damage and some losses to the vases. The sextant case has scratches and marks with age, small glass intact but unsure if working
British School (18th Century)The Royal Observatory, Greenwich and its meridian buildings from the south-south-east, c. 1790Oil on canvas 63.8 x 86.4cm (25 x 34in).Footnotes:Whilst we have never come across an oil painting with the Royal Observatory being the sole focus of the picture, the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich has a similar view, in watercolour, probably by the same hand, which they date to 1779-89 (I.D. - NMM AST0042).Dr Pieter van der Merwe, Curator Emeritus for the National Maritime Museum, writes about the watercolour:'Watercolour of the Royal Observatory and its meridian buildings from the south-south-east, the artist's viewpoint being roughly from in front of the entrance to the late-19th-century South Building. Modern Blackheath Avenue would be to his right, where the ground is also more level than shown.Notable features include the tall chimney of the rear extension to Flamsteed House that was added under James Bradley (1692-1762) as 3rd Astronomer Royal from 1742. His extension was demolished in 1789 and replaced by a larger one (with two tall chimneys) by Nevil Maskelyne (1732–1811), 5th Astronomer Royal from 1765. The two-storey building with a classical pediment is Bradley's 'New Observatory' of 1749 comprising a ground-floor computing room with an assistant's quarters above and two single-storey wings holding a quadrant room to the west and Bradley's transit room to the east: the roof of the latter is shown open for transit observations on Bradley's Greenwich Meridian, established in 1750 (about 6 metres west of Airy's, the current Prime Meridian of 1851).The image dates to after 1779 since the so-called 'Advanced Building' – the one with the sloping (and opening) roof was built to contain new instruments in that year, south of Bradley's quadrant room and as an upward extension of John Flamsteed's 1670s sextant house: neither now survive. The side windows of Flamsteed House are also inaccurately shown as three panes wide when in fact they had four and were vertical-opening upper and lower casement pairs from 1779 until changed to single sashes in 1790. The vent-like finial on the west turret is the rotating lens of the camera obscura that Maskelyne installed there by 1778.The domed building at left seems to be at the south-west corner of Bradley's Flamsteed House extension but this is owing to misleading perspective. It is in fact the western summerhouse on the Observatory's north terrace, though it may not have been so fully visible from the artist's apparent viewpoint. Its eastern pair is hidden by Bradley's New Observatory. In 1773 Maskelyne raised the height of the summerhouses and extended them south, adding hemispherical domes and upper horizontal windows (of which one is shown here). The domes opened to observe comets using a pair of equatorial sectors installed under them.The pitched-roof building at lower left (in fact more square than rectangular) is the 1670s 'Garden House' used as a stable through the 18th century, with sloping access up to the gate shown in the perimeter wall: it is today a flat-roofed plant room. The other shed, apparently wooden, is undocumented and probably for an associated purpose (e.g. a hay store). The foreground shows former sand and gravel workings on the south-west and south side of the hill, now a partly terraced garden area. This early quarrying had stopped when the Observatory was built in the 1670s, or very soon after.The drawing arrived, originally on loan to the National Maritime Museum from the Royal Greenwich Observatory, in a rather damaged gilded wooden frame. It may be the image of the Observatory that is second on a list of a dozen pictures, formerly belonging to Nevil Maskelyne, that his wife presented to the Observatory and left at Flamsteed House when she moved out in 1811, following his death. When the Royal Greenwich Observatory closed in 1998, ownership of this and other items belonging to it was transferred to the Museum. See ZBA0692 for further details.'Into the later 19th century Blackheath itself (south and east of the Park walls) was largely gravel and sand pits between the roads until they started to be filled in. This was finished after World War II with bombing rubble from the London blitz, grassed over level as it now is, except the Maze Hill pit which still survives just outside the south-east corner of the Park - now a large grassy and gorsey declivity about 15 to 20 feet below the road: it tended to be a hangout for the highwaymen and footpads who infested the Heath in older days. However, robbery wasn't a problem in the Park which was fully walled round in 1619-25 (replacing about 200 years of only being fenced) under James I, a large job finished in the year he died.Dr van der Merwe also comments on the similarities between the watercolour and our picture – 'The (fanciful) rocks are a little different but the figures are the same, the turret domes the same (one with a vent finial) the other not, the trees at the back of the building the same and also the half-open sash window at lower right.' He also points out that our oil painting shows the central south window of Flamsteed House being three panes wide, as opposed to four in the Museum's watercolour version. As there is a watercolour of 1843 which also shows a clear view of the south window as a sash, also three panes wide, one might infer that the oil painting follows the watercolour, perhaps after the long Great or Octagon Room windows were all changed to sashes in 1790.The Royal Observatory of Greenwich is known for hosting the Prime Meridian of the world. During the second half of the 19th century, the expansion of transport networks created the need for an international time standard as almost every city in the world had its own local time. In 1884, delegates representing 25 different nations met at the International Meridian Conference in Washington DC. Greenwich was chosen to be the Longitude 0° 0' 0''; the centre between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.We would like to thank Dr Pieter van der Merwe for his help in cataloguing this picture.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A gilt brass pocket box sextant by Elliott Brothers, with silvered scale to 140, hinged magnifying glass and two swing-out colour filters, signed 'Elliott Brothers 30 Strand London', diameter 7.7cm, with two leather cases.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Stanley of London black enamelled Abney level and clinometer, leather cased, together with an oxidized brass cylindrical box sextant with silvered scale to 140, hinged magnifying glass and two swing-out colour filters, contained within a leather case.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A SCARE 18TH CENTURY BRASS SEXTANT BY RAMSDEN, LONDON C.1793 AND INSCRIBED TO LORD DAER 1793. THE INSTRUMENT IS CASED WITHIN ITS ORIGINAL MAHOGANY BOX WITH A LATER HENRY HUGHES LABEL.. ( IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE LORD DAER REFERRED TO IN THE INSCRIPTION IS POSSIBLY THOMAS, EARL OF SELKIRK WHO TRAVELLED EXTENSIVELY AND FOUNDED A SETTELMENT ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND IN THE GULF OF ST LAWRENCE)
Oktant von CF Cannon London 19. JHMessingoktant/sextant zur Nautischen Navigation in originaler Holzbox- wohl vollständig und funktionstüchtig - 7 justierbare Blenden - Handhabe in Edelholz - 2 Okulare - Box min. ausgeblichen und rissig - dabei 3 Wechselobjektive und Fernglasaufsatz. Ichaufkleber der 60er Jahre von Cf Cannon in der Box.
Niederländischer Sextant von Harri, um 1870Nr. 4379, Winkelskala signiert "L.J. Harri, Amsterdam" (Lendert Johannes Harri), brüniertes Messing, Mahagonigriff, Silberskalen, Gradeinteilung 0-120°, Alhidade mit Mikrometerschraube, Ableselupe, 7 verdunkelte Gläser, Index- und Horizontspiegel, 3 Teleskope, in dazugehörendem Mahagonikasten mit Korrekturtabelle des Königlich Niederländischen Meteorologischen Instituts in Rotterdam im Deckel. Start Price: EUR 300 Zustand: (2-3/2-3)Dutch Sextant by Harri, c. 1870No. 4279, engraved on the arc "L.J. Harri, Amsterdam" (Lendert Johannes Harri), burnished brass, mahogany handle, silver scales, graduation 0-120°, alidade with micrometer fine-screw adjustment, reading magnifier, 7 darkened glasses, index and horizon mirror, 3 sighting telescopes, in matching mahogany case with correction certificate of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute in Rotterdam in the lid. Start Price: EUR 300 Condition: (2-3/2-3)
A Royal Navy sextant with Certificate of Examination dated 1899, belonging to Commander Philip G Wodehouse D.S.O of H.M.S Rattlesnake, awarded Order of the Crown of Italy 17-5-1918 for the rescue of the crew of S.S Lorenzo, he was awarded his D.S.O for minesweeping under fire at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles Straight, together with the above officers Epaulettes, sword slings and tin container, (without sword belt), (2) Note: No in house shipping available for this lot
Set of D. Filby, Hamburg sextant and Rosell compass, 19th century.Metal, wood and paper.In original wooden boxes with damage.Faults and damages. Wear and tear due to use and time.Measurements: 12 x 32 x 29 cm (sextant box); 12 x 21 x 20 cm (compass box).Sextant "D. Filby Hamburg" in ebonised wood and brass, vernier with adjusting screw, three coloured filters for the fixed mirror and four for the movable mirror, observation telescope with optics. Contained in a damaged wooden box.The firm was founded by David Filby in 1837. It deals in nautical literature, nautical charts and nautical instruments imported from Great Britain. It also has a small tool repair shop. In 1862, Carl Plath, an expert instrument engineer, bought the company. The activity is increasingly focussed on the construction of sextants, compasses and barometers.The compass is signed on the inside paper Rosell-Barcelona. J. Rosell started the business in 1837; in 1879, after his death, ownership passed to his widow; there is an advertisement for Viuda de José Rosell with that date in Anuario-almanaque del comercio, de la industria, de la magistratura y de la administración. J. Rosell, "Gran establecimiento de instrumentos científicos", Guía Comercial de Barcelona, 1863.
A Second War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Leading Seaman E. R. Pitt, Royal Naval Reserve, late 9th Battalion, London Regiment, who was wounded in the Great War, and took part in H.M.S. Ayrshire’s epic voyage to Archangel in the Second World War Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (L.5704 D., E. R. Pitt. L.Smn. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (6739 Pte. E. R. Pitt. 9-Lond. R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar (5704D. E. R. Pitt. Smn. R.N.R.) mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Great War Silver War Badge, good very fine (8) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 11 June 1942. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 July 1941. Edward Robert Pitt was born in Wivenhoe, Essex, on 30 January 1899. During the Great War he served with the 9th Battalion London Regiment, but was severely wounded in 1917 and was discharged from the Army, being awarded a Silver War Badge. Enlisting in the Royal Naval Reserve, he served during the Second World War in H.M.S. Gavotte from 1940 to 1941, and H.M.S. Ayrshire from 1941 to 1945, both armed trawlers that served on the incredibly arduous and dangerous convoy duties in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. During this time the convoys were under constant threat and attack from German U-boats, surface ships, and air attack. Adding to this, the atrocious weather conditions to contend with, all on a relatively lightly armed and small ship, it really must have been as Churchill said; ‘the worst journey in the world’. The following is an extract account of his life and service as taken from documents held by his family: ‘He ran away from home at the age of 15 and joined the army going into the Rifle Brigade, but was found to be underage and was bought out by his grandmother. When he became of age he re-enlisted into the 9th London Regiment. His re-enlistment came at the time when some of the bloodiest battles of the Great War were being fought and he was severely wounded during one of these in 1917. He was then discharged from the Army. After the Great War he joined the Merchant Navy and travelled the World over... At the outbreak of the Second World War he was recalled to active service and served in the Royal Navy and became Leading Seaman on H.M.S. Gavotte, a converted trawler, this ship on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1941. Between 1941 and 1945 he served in H.M.S. Ayrshire, this also being an armed trawler working on convoy duties between Scotland and Murmansk. He finished the War as a Chief Petty Officer, being awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.’ A photograph within the group shows Pitt manning an anti aircraft gun aboard a trawler which would suggest this was one of his duties aboard ship. Given his previous Army service, this is quite likely. H.M.S. Ayrshire ‘In June 1942 Lieutenant Leo Gradwell was in command of the H.M.S. Ayrshire, a small (roughly 500 tons) converted fishing trawler forming part of the anti-submarine screening force for Admiralty convoy PQ-17 departing for Archangel in the Soviet Union with much needed war supplies on 27 June 1942. Arctic convoys at this time had to be concerned not only with Luftwaffe and U boat attacks but also the attentions of major German surface units, including the Tirpitz. The convoy therefore had a heavy escort force following it in addition to a light close escort of destroyers, corvettes and trawlers such as the Ayrshire. However, the heavy escort fell behind just as luck would have it, that air reconnaissance of German bases was prevented by bad weather. On 3 July, a reconnaissance plane finally made it to Trondheim, home of the Tirpitz, and found to the Admiralty's horror that the Tirpitz had gone, as well as her cruiser screen. With a large raiding force at sea, and unable to know precisely were it was, and with the heavy escort force too far away to reach the convoy in time, an order was given to scatter the convoy. What followed was largely a disaster: the Tirpitz never showed up; the Germans having thought the convoy was bait for a trap and turned away; and the scattered merchant ships were easy prey for both bombers and U boats. This is where the remarkable story of H.M.S. Ayrshire begins. With the convoy ordered to scatter Gradwell decided to head directly north towards the pack ice east of Svalbard, and persuaded three of the scattering freighters to follow him: the Panamanian registered Troubador, the Ironclad, and the United states registered Silver Swor. None of the three ships or their tiny escort had charts for this area, since it was well off the planned convoy route, and so Gradwell had to navigate their course using only a Sextant and a copy of The Times World Geographic Pocket Book. On reaching the pack ice, the unlikely flotilla became stuck fast in the ice unable to move. Gradwell took overall command as the senior naval officer present and organised the ships to defend themselves. Taking stock it was discovered that the Troubadour was carrying a cargo of bunkering coal and white paint. Gradwell ordered the paint supplies opened and soon all four vessels were painted white, with white sheets over the decks to camouflage them from Luftwaffe bombers. He also ordered the freighters to move around their deck cargo of Sherman tanks into defensive rings pointing outwards with their main guns loaded turning them into improvised gun turrets. After several days stuck fast the camouflage proved effective, in that they were never spotted or attacked. Finally, upon breaking free of the ice, Gradwell lead his three merchant ships across the Barents sea to the Matochkin Straight where they were met by a force of Soviet navy corvettes who accompanied the rag tag convoy to the port of Archangel, arriving on 25 July 1942.’ Sold with the recipient’s riband bars, cap badges, and identity tags; Mentioned in Despatches Certificate; photographs of the recipient, including one of him outside Buckingham Palace having been invested with his D.S.M.; a large amount of research including accounts of Pitt’s service; and other ephemera.
A HUGHES OF LONDON SEXTANT, of wooden construction, with brass fixings and inlaid with ivory for the name plate and scale, 12" long With non-transferable standard ivory exemption declaration number PK9UTMU2 (Est. plus 21% premium inc. VAT)Glued crack to underside and a nother leg glued into place. Patina throughout.
AN ENGLISH OXIDISED BRASS SEXTANTHEATH AND COMPANY LIMITED, LONDON, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 20th CENTURYThe 7 inch triple-ring pierced frame with pivoted arm mounted with mirror opposing hinged aperture for reading the silvered inset silvered Vernier scale incorporating screw micrometer adjustment to left hand side and inscribed RAPID-READER over trade plate 'HEZZANITH' AUTOMATIC TANGENT SCREW, AUTOMATIC CLAMP, PATENT, the edge of the scale plate beneath further inscribed HEATH & Co. NEW ELTHAM, LONDON S.E.9, the angles applied with two sets of hinged filters and horizon mirror opposing brass sighting tube, the rear with wooden grip, the mahogany box with paper test certificate issued by The 'Hezzanith' Instrument Works, LONDON annotated with performance results for the instrument reference B89 to the interior of the lid, the exterior with carrying handle to front, together with a late Victorian Scottish oxidised and patinated brass monocular microscope with telescopic eyepiece and twin nosepiece to body tube, and fine-screw focus to the top of the cylindrical limb, above rectangular stage with slide clips and subs-stage condenser assembly incorporating adjustable iris aperture, mounted via a knuckle pivot onto further squat column applied to a Y-shaped platform foot engraved J. LIZARS, OPTICIAN, GLASGOW, No. 106 to rear, in original mahogany box with two objective cannisters labelled 1/6in and 1in together with another by Leitz, (2).The sextant box 14cm (5.5ins) high, 28cm (11ins) wide; the microscope box 31.5cm (12.5ins) high, 19cm (7.5ins) wide, 16.5cm (6.5ins) deep. The firm of Heath and Company was founded in 1845 by George Heath in Erith, Kent. He specialised in supplying instruments to the maritime trade as was succeeded by his sons Frederick Thomas and George William on his death in 1872. By 1900 the firm had expanded to become one of the most prolific manufacturers of nautical and surveying instruments and had adopted the `Hezzanith` trade name; in 1926 the business was amalgamated with W.F. Stanley of London.The optician John Lizars (1810-1879) set-up business as an optical instrument maker in Glasgow in 1830. After his death his successors continued making eyeglasses, telescopes, microscopes, barometers, thermometers, magic lanterns and slides, cameras, stereo cameras and viewers and binoculars. By 1913 had branches in Edinburgh, Paisley, Greenock, Aberdeen, Liverpool and Belfast, latterly the company merged with C. Jeffrey Black to form the Black and Lizars chain of optical retailers.
An 8 inch radius vernier sextant by Heath Navigational Ltd, London: serial number '70098', the three circle frame with black crackle finish and brass arc calibrated to 125°, signed as per title, with sighting scope, mirrors and shades, in a fitted case with calibration certificate dated '2nd March 1970', the case 13 x 28 x 27.5cm, together with a copy of Watts,O M. 'The Sextant Simplified', fourth edition, Reed Publications, London, 1969.
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