The engraved Urdu inscription reads sani-e' in compass mangrin shagerd-e rashid lala makban la'l sana 1293 hijri and translates as 'Maker of this Mangrin/Mongrin (?) compass is a pupil of Rashid Lala, Makban La'l, year 1293 Hijri (1876-77 AD)'
Another instrument of this type by the same maker was sold at Sotheby's, London, 6 October 2010, lot 148; another by an unrecorded maker sold at Christie's, London, 31 March 2009, lot 227.