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Prismatic brass compass leather case signed E. Koehn Geneve Suisse 1917
$1,013.09
£750.19
€850
CA$1,393.15
A$1,549.54
CHF 811
MX$18,899.29
NOK 10,190.47
SEK 9,585.45
DKK 6,471.31
About the Item
Brass prismatic surveying compass; this is a small compass, signed E. Koehn Geneve Suisse No. 58611, Verner's Pattern VII after the name of the designer, Colonel William Willoughby Cole Verner (1852-1922), produced in 1917 and supplied to British officers, typically used in navigation. It can also be held in the hand and thus away from magnetic fields. It’s equipped with a sighting system with target complete with optical prism for magnification and a goniometric compass rose so that the angle between the line of sight and the north indicated by the magnetic needle can be measured. Complete with compass rose block and original leather case. Good condition, fully functional, diameter cm 5.3 - 2.2 in thickness cm 2 - 0.7 in.
The last photo is the gift box.
Curiosity
The Greeks and the Romans were still unaware of the possibility of harnessing magnetic fields for orientation, while it seems that this possibility was already somewhat known to the Chinese: around 2600 B.C. Emperor Hoang-Ti was able to overcome Prince Tchi-Yeou in battle thanks to a "magic" chariot, the See-Nan (chariot pointing south). The emperor, thanks to this device, identified the enemy's escape route, despite the fact that the enemy had concealed it through a blanket of smoke: fixed on the chariot was a human-shaped wooden silhouette that rotated on itself and, with its arm outstretched, always pointed south (pointing south of course was also pointing north at the same time, but south was considered by the Chinese to be the most important cardinal point). The Chinese also used their discoveries related to magnetic fields as a form of entertainment and spectacle: they would throw magnetized arrows as if they were dice, and these would line up in a south-north direction as if by magic, which greatly impressed and amazed the spectators.
- Dimensions:Height: 0.7 in (1.78 cm)Diameter: 2.2 in (5.59 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:1910-1919
- Date of Manufacture:1917
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1020246455632
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