Antique Italian Dry Card Compass 1719

€400,00

Antique Italian mariners compass made in Livorno, Italy in 1719!

Rare piece, not many of these have survived. 
These compasses were mainly used on ships in combination with a main gimballed compass to verify the accuracy of the latter.
This compass has a hand-painted compass card. In the middle is an inscription: "Fecit In Livorno Anno 1719", which means made in Livorno, year 1719.
The North is indicated with a fleur-de-lis and the other directions were named after the 8 wind-directions in the meditteranean region.

The North-East is Greco, East is Levante, in this compass the L has been replaced by a cross symbol.
The South-East is Scirocco, South is Ostro, South-West is Libeccio, West is Ponente and North-West is Maestro.

The compass is in a very good condition considering its age.
There are a few small cracks in the wood visible. The glass has been installed later, this is probably why it has survived quite well.
There is also a top-lid which doesn't fit well anymore.

Please take a good look at the photos for a good impression.

The diameter of the compass is 12 cm. without the top-lid and the height (also without top-lid) is 7 cm.