A RARE 5IN. RADIUS VERNIER SEXTANT BY JESSE RAMSDEN, CIRCA 1787

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

Details

A RARE 5IN. RADIUS VERNIER SEXTANT BY JESSE RAMSDEN, CIRCA 1787
with one-piece cast brass frame and arc, signed on the cross bar Ramsden London and stamped '890' on the reverse, the beveled scale divided to 145°, vernier with clamp and fine-screw adjustment divided to 20°, swivel magnifier, adjustable and detachable sighting tube assembly, three sighting tubes, two mirrors, four shades, index-alignment device to rear and threaded handle (later), contained within a fitted keystone case with accessories (later stamps and markings) -- 7in. (18cm.) high
See illustration

Literature

Ifland, P, Taking the Stars, Krieger, 1998, p.64, fig.72.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

A very similar example to this, made by Ramsden's pupil, John Stancliffe, was sold in these rooms as lot 214, sale 9390, 19th June, 2002. This example must have been complete a year or two later in 1788/9 after Stancliffe had completed his own division engine. The similarities between them are striking -- the frame is apparently identical, the engraving of their signatures by the same hand and the 'all or nothing' scale, divided on to the frame and not an inset scale, is peculiar to them both at this period. Ramsden later used silver for this type of instrument, No. 1403 being completed just before he died in 1800

More from MARITIME AND NAVAL BATTLES (MODELS)

View All