Antique Italian Dry Card Compass 1719
Antique Italian mariners compass made in Livorno, Italy in 1719!
Rare piece, not many of these have survived.
These compasses were mainly used in combination with a main gimballed shipcompass 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The North-East is Greco, East is Levante, in this compass the L has been replaced by a cross symbol.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.
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