Compasses Collection

Bookbinding Tools 1875
Various tools used in bookbinding, including a pair of compasses, a mallet, presses, a knife, a set square, needle and thread, and a gouge

Arms granted to the Carpenters Company of London, 6th Edward IV, 1466
KW278004 Arms granted to the Carpenters Company of London, 6th Edward IV, 1466, from The History of Freemasonry, volume II, published by Thomas C

Fuxi and Nuwa, found in the tombs of Astana Cemetery, Turfan (painted silk)
LSE3512892 Fuxi and Nuwa, found in the tombs of Astana Cemetery, Turfan (painted silk) by Chinese School (7th century); National Museum, Seoul

Kepler with Rudolf II
JOHANNES KEPLER German astronomer with Rudolf II

Cap badge, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Brass cap badge (the Kings Crown Shield) of REME, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Oval in shape, with a crown at the top, a pair of compasses at the centre

Johannes Kepler
JOHANNES KEPLER German astronomer

A Hansen, first officer on the Knivsberg, 1898. Creator: Christian Wilhelm Allers
A Hansen, first officer on the Knivsberg, 1898. Portrait of a German crew member using compasses and parallel rulers to plot the course of the SS Knivsberg through the South China Sea

China. Han Dynasty (206 aC-220 BC). Invention

Astronomy / 16th Century
A German astronomer and cosmographer, at work on a globe with his compasses

Awn Pugin / Herbert
AUGUSTUS WELBY NORTHMORE PUGIN English architect and designer who championed the gothic style

Astronomical Diagrams (colour litho)
8658793 Astronomical Diagrams (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Astronomical Diagrams)

"The Moon", 15th century illustration
AIS5386903 "The Moon", 15th century illustration; Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; (add.info.: The Moon. Two astronomers observe the sky)

Volvelle giving the rules for predicting solar and lunar eclipses. One of the volvelles features a dragon with multiple
7340903 Volvelle giving the rules for predicting solar and lunar eclipses. One of the volvelles features a dragon with multiple heads and a partial solar eclipse

A new and correct sea chart of the whole world showing the variations of the compass as they were found in the year
7340787 A new and correct sea chart of the whole world showing the variations of the compass as they were found in the year 1700, 1702 (engraving) by British School

Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century
MMM5468898 Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees)

Magnetic compass, made by Georges Adams, a craftsman in London (England), dated 1766 (steel)
MMM5457778 Magnetic compass, made by Georges Adams, a craftsman in London (England), dated 1766 (steel); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Magnetic compass, made by Georges Adams)

Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver)
MMM5469074 Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver, gilded copper and glass); National Maritime Museum, London

Portrait of Euclid (3rd century BC). Greek mathematician, detail of a page of a manuscript representing the allegories
BEN5464424 Portrait of Euclid (3rd century BC). Greek mathematician, detail of a page of a manuscript representing the allegories of Arithmetic and geometry

Astronomical compendium (measurement kit) for 49° latitude, open, with magnetic compass, 1597 (brass)
MMM5474046 Astronomical compendium (measurement kit) for 49° latitude, open, with magnetic compass, 1597 (brass) by Ducher, Hans (fl.1574); National Maritime Museum, London

Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism
MMM5470113 Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism, 1853-60 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument
MMM5474504 Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument, 1650-1700 (silver and gilded copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver)
MMM5474442 Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood)
MMM5474432 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Compass - Dieppe (France) magnetic azimuth compass, open, for latitude 50 degrees. Ivory instrument, c.1660 (ivory)
MMM5474061 Compass - Dieppe (France) magnetic azimuth compass, open, for latitude 50 degrees. Ivory instrument, c.1660 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

WW2: The instrument panel of a Hampden bomber (b/w photo)
8639406 WW2: The instrument panel of a Hampden bomber (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The instrument panel of a Hampden bomber)

Compasses placed in a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons (engraving)
8673196 Compasses placed in a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Compasses placed in a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons)

100 old time Bible words (litho)
8673187 100 old time Bible words (litho) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 100 old time Bible words)

Magnetic force (litho)
8673166 Magnetic force (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Magnetic force. The steel breast plates)

Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument
MMM5475101 Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument, 1830-50 (copper and silver-copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood)
MMM5474444 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory)
MMM5474404 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper)
MMM5474137 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Polyhedral sundial for latitude 10 degrees, with magnetic compass on its base, 18th century (brass and wood)
MMM5473987 Polyhedral sundial for latitude 10 degrees, with magnetic compass on its base, 18th century (brass and wood); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial (open), with magnetic compass. Ivory instrument around 1640, by Jacob Karner (?), c.1640 (ivory)
MMM5473360 Diptych sundial (open), with magnetic compass. Ivory instrument around 1640, by Jacob Karner (?), c.1640 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial (open)

Butterfield sundial Brass instrument, late 17th century, by Chapotot (?) (brass)
MMM5473359 Butterfield sundial Brass instrument, late 17th century, by Chapotot (?) (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Butterfield sundial Brass instrument, late 17th century)

Diptych sundial, for latitude 49 degrees, seen from the dial with open cover, in ivory, c.1640-60 (ivory)
MMM5475377 Diptych sundial, for latitude 49 degrees, seen from the dial with open cover, in ivory, c.1640-60 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial)

Diptych sundial (open), with magnetic compass. Ivory instrument, mid-17th century, by Thomas Ducher (?) (ivory)
MMM5474002 Diptych sundial (open), with magnetic compass. Ivory instrument, mid-17th century, by Thomas Ducher (?) (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial (open)

Latitude 42 degree sundial with lid Copper and paper instrument, 18th century (copper and paper)
MMM5473357 Latitude 42 degree sundial with lid Copper and paper instrument, 18th century (copper and paper); National Maritime Museum, London

Open sundial, with magnetic compass and moonrise and sunset table, in Chinese characters, c.1850-1900 (wood)
MMM5473329 Open sundial, with magnetic compass and moonrise and sunset table, in Chinese characters, c.1850-1900 (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Open sundial)

Diptych compass dial, for latitude 49 degrees, finely decorated. Object made of ebony and ivory
MMM5470013 Diptych compass dial, for latitude 49 degrees, finely decorated. Object made of ebony and ivory, c.1600-50 (ebony and ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Astronomical compendium, for latitude 48 degrees, 17th century (ivory copper and cardboard)
MMM5469983 Astronomical compendium, for latitude 48 degrees, 17th century (ivory copper and cardboard); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Astronomical compendium)

Magnetic compass and thermometer, for latitude 51 degrees, in its case. Ivory and copper object
MMM5469963 Magnetic compass and thermometer, for latitude 51 degrees, in its case. Ivory and copper object, 19th century (ivory and copper); National Maritime Museum, London

On board the 'Birkdale', the lounge with Captain Walmsley and his second in command, Mr Macwatters
MMM5465054 On board the 'Birkdale', the lounge with Captain Walmsley and his second in command, Mr Macwatters, this ship transported nitrate to the Chilean coast between 1892

17th century copper and steel marine compass (copper and steel)
MMM5457760 17th century copper and steel marine compass (copper and steel); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: 17th century copper and steel marine compass)

Vignette depicting military engineers at work
3359530 Vignette depicting military engineers at work; (add.info.: Vignette depicting military engineers at work. The man on the left is using compasses/dividers to measure a plan of fortifications)

Military engineers at work, 1850
3330712 Military engineers at work, 1850; (add.info.: Vignette depicting military engineers at work. The man on the left is using compasses/dividers to measure a plan of fortifications)

Portolan Map of the Mediterranean and connecting seas
3507730 Portolan Map of the Mediterranean and connecting seas; (add.info.: Portolan Map of the Mediterranean and connecting seas)

Astrolabe: detail obverse, c.1552 (bronze)
7339275 Astrolabe: detail obverse, c.1552 (bronze) by Gemini, Thomas (c.1515-62) & Sutton, Henry (c.1624-65); 35.2x0 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

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"Journeying through Time: Exploring the Rich History and Significance of Compasses" Step back in time to 1875, where bookbinding tools reveal the intricate craftsmanship behind compasses. Discover how Kepler, alongside Rudolf II, utilized compasses to unlock the secrets of celestial bodies and revolutionize astronomy. Unearthed from the tombs of Astana Cemetery in Turfan, painted silk showcases Fuxi and Nuwa's ancient use in China's Han Dynasty. Witness the emblematic cap badge worn by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, symbolizing precision and navigation skills honed with compasses. Marvel at Johannes Kepler's genius as he employed these instruments to unravel astronomical mysteries during the 16th century. Embark on a maritime adventure with A Hansen, first officer on Knivsberg in 1898. His trusty compass guided him through uncharted waters. Delve into history as we uncover how China's Han Dynasty invented this indispensable tool that shaped exploration for centuries to come. Explore awe-inspiring manuscripts depicting allegories of Arithmetic and Geometry intertwined with meticulously drawn compass designs. Admire Olaus Magnus' remarkable Carta Marina map from 1572, showcasing navigational prowess aided by precise compass readings across vast seas. Immerse yourself in Crates' portrait as a master builder; his reliance on a trusty compass evident in every stroke of oil paint on canvas.