Compass Study
Vintage compass on a vintage map.
My husband got me this lovely, palm-sized vintage compass at a ship salvage shop and antique dealer in Bangladesh.
The walnut-toned wood box has a metal label reading "Negretti & Zambra, as does the compass itself, both on the cover, and under the glass on the rose's face. The outside of the compass lid reads "Edward VII Compass King & Emporer 1908". The date, 1908, and the word, "London" is inscribed on the compass rose under the glass. The compass has a fob, as well as a sliding knob to lock the floating needle in place when not in use.
The poem, Robert Frost's "The Road Less Taken" has been engraved on brass-toned metal and appears to have been attached to the inside cover. This poem dates to 1915 and was not really considered a classic until the mid-1920s. I'm assuming that the inscription was added later, particularly because the font-styles are more modern.
My husband isn't sure if the compass actually dates to 1908. Negretti & Zambra manufactured compasses, telescopes, monocules, barameters and other scientific items during this time period, but I was unable to find a similar compass style during a fairly comprehensive Internet search.
If you know anything about vintage compasses, please leave a comment. No matter whether this is a reproduction or an actual antique, it is still a wonderful addition to my collection of cartography and geographic ephemera.
Comments and faves
Picture Books, Miguel Vera, carrolynlakowski, Rankin Miss, and 31 other people added this photo to their favorites.
LH - peaChic (17 months ago | reply)
Nice! Sorry I don't know anything about vintage compasses but, I think yours is lovely.
We've adapted your photo for use on our site and as an atricle illustration. Thank you! If you'd like to view it, here's the link: http://www.peachic.com/2011/01/feng-shui-for -beginners-tips-for-improving-wealth/
Calsidyrose (17 months ago | reply)
Thank you, LH-peaChic, for providing me a page link and a credit on the page!
Ben. (15 months ago | reply)
Thanks for the compass Calsidyrose : boussole.spip.org/
Calsidyrose (15 months ago | reply)
Ben.--Thank you for the link showing how you used this photo as a background. It looks lovely! I took a screen shot of it for my files!
Harry Lim Photography (15 months ago | reply)
Your image was used in an online article. This is acceptable use according to your creative commons license. Just wanted you to be aware. Great image, when I saw it in the article, I thought it was a stock image.
www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/sto ries/magneti...
Calsidyrose (15 months ago | reply)
Thanks Harry Lim, for providing the link to the article. I went and added a comment to let them know I saw it and appreciated the link I suppose I should consider licensing this image for greater control, because it's been a popular one. However, I'm a mixed media artist who appreciates the generosity of others who provide images and textures for artists to use, so I try to return the favor.
kyelikins (14 months ago | reply)
Hi! I used this shot in a post on my blog (non-commercial). Here's a link: connection-revolution.com/emerging-from-the-f ire-anew/
Thanks for the usage allowance! It's a beautiful picture.
Calsidyrose (14 months ago | reply)
Thanks for the notice, Kyelikins! I've enjoyed seeing this photo used in so many different ways. I love compass images!
Trishia Jacobs (13 months ago | reply)
Calsidyrose, I used your pic in a collage I made of my daughter that I posted on Facebook. I don't know how to link it here,but I did give you credit as the source of the awesome compass photo. I'll also be posting it in my flickr album.
thanks!!!
trishia
danielmoyle (11 months ago | reply)
Your image inspired a free eBook cover. Thanks for sharing! www.amerifirst.com/images/cover-amerifirst-ho mepath-buyer...
MattBrown839 (10 months ago | reply)
I've adapted your image for use on the "useful links" section of our study website. Link: psc.medgen.medschl.cam.ac.uk/ Thanks for sharing!
thewritingreader (10 months ago | reply)
Thank you for this lovely image. I used it in my blog here: www.thewritingreader.com/blog/2011/08/16/prom pt-64-where-...
darklord381 (10 months ago | reply)
I would like to use your image for a game I am making and would like to know how you would like to be attributed?
crushday (9 months ago | reply)
thank you for this great image. i've used it in a presentation about losing our way in a corporation and need to taking a new path. so the compass and the poem are perfect.
dudley.storey (6 months ago | reply)
Thank you very much for licensing your photographs under Creative Commons! I used this image as the background to an illustration for an article on stroking text in CSS3 on my web development blog.
sean1e100 (6 months ago | reply)
Hi, thanks so much for lisencing this photo. You can see it being used at muchclearer.com/about-us/index with a proper credit to you giving respect where its due :-) Great image. Sean
lotuseaterphotography (5 months ago | reply)
Thanks for providing such a great photo under the Creative Commons license. I have used the photo to illustrate a website about how to promote personal websites found here:
promote.simdif.com/google_places.html
Calsidyrose (5 months ago | reply)
Thanks to all who have left links and given credit for this photo! It is exciting to see how many creative ways the photo has been used! As always, I appreciate the courtesies extended by Flickr members!
dana keene (5 months ago | reply)
i love this so much its so cool :)!
PatarNoster (4 months ago | reply)
Real Nice love it !
Patar Nosters Art
DavidHart (2 months ago | reply)
Hi. Thanks so much for allowing this photo to be part of the Creative Commons. We've used it on our most recent blog post. I really appreciate you sharing your work.
magforwomen (6 weeks ago | reply)
We have used this nice photo on our post here How to Make a Life Plan? Thanks a lot.