Lot 191
191
AN EARLY 19TH CENTURY 8IN. RADIUS PILLAR-FRAMED VERNIER SEXTANT BY W & T GILBERT FOR THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
AN EARLY 19TH CENTURY 8IN. RADIUS PILLAR-FRAMED VERNIER SEXTANT BY W & T GILBERT FOR THE EAST INDIA COMPANY

Details
AN EARLY 19TH CENTURY 8IN. RADIUS PILLAR-FRAMED VERNIER SEXTANT BY W & T GILBERT FOR THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
stamped on the brass 'T' frame with the heart-and-cross cipher of the East India Company, 'S.G.O. No. 5' and numbered '1834', the polished brass arc signed W & T Gilbert London with inset silvered scale divided 0°- 145°, vernier with clamp, fine-screw adjustment, swivel magnifier with diffuser, adjustable sighting tube holder with tube, two mirrors and six shades, the reverse with ebony handle and pin feet (frame re-finished in black, lacks case and accessories) -- 11½in. (29cm.) wide
See illustration
Literature
Ifland, P. Taking the Stars, 1998, Krieger, pp40 plate 42.
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

The East India Company was amongst the first to invest in the most expensive and therefore accurate instruments available, that cost being modest compared with the loss of a ship and cargo. The 'S.G.O.' stamped on the frame is thought to represent 'Surveyor-General Office' indicating that this instrument was possibly used for charting coastline.

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