Very Rare Georgian Gold Plated Brass Compass by Gilbert & Co c.1808

A very rare and attractive larger high quality Georgian long necked gold plated brass compass by Gilbert & Co c.1808 A scarce, high quality, 2” diameter gilt brass pocket compass having enamelled card dial with hand painted cardinals, intercardinals, and false points, fleur de lys for north, the cardinals and fleur de lys illuminated in gold, outer quadrant scale 0° – 90° – 0° – 90°, divided to 10°. Upper part with maker’s name “Gilbert & Co,” and lower marked “London.” Polished flat steel bar needle with jewelled suspension, highly-polished reflector ring, bevelled convex crystal. Gilt brass shallow barrel form case, long necked pendant and Georgian bow with transit lock button behind. Contained within its original champagne silk-lined, moroccan leather-covered case with brass keeper, the inner lid with handwritten initials “N.H.S” (?) and date in 1808, possibly “9 Aug 1808.” Condition: The compass remaining in completely original condition, with almost all of its gilding, very slight marks to verso and losses to bow and pendant, the enamel dial near-perfect, the crystal with firing marks and one or two small light scratches. The transit lock working correctly, the needle swinging freely and finding north easily. The leather case showing the activity of almost 220 years(!), the silk linings distressed. Comments: Of larger size, this is a particularly attractive Georgian compass, the gold illumination to the dial appearing to be a trademark of Gilbert & Co who were recorded as active in the early 1800s. This compass is gold-plated as opposed to fire gilded, which dates it to post 1805. Although the carat is not known, the richness of the colour would suggest 18ct gold. In exceptional original condition, this very beautiful antique pocket compass is very much a collector’s piece – or a very special gift!