Presented is an extraordinarily rare mid-19th mariner’s sextant/quintant with ebony frame, ivory
graduated arc and vernier, and bronze fittings. This instrument is a rare one by David Filby who was a predecessor to C. Plath.    On the ivory nameplate in the center of the crossbar is the Filby trademark inscribed “D. Filby. Hamburg.”

This
beautifully made instrument has a brass index arm measuring 10 inches. The arc measures from – 5 to
140 degrees.

Note the ivory vernier scale, reading from right to left from 0 to 20 arc
minutes, with a magnifier and three sunshades for the index
mirror and two for the horizon mirror.  All of its features indicate the
instrument to be from the middle of the 19th century, likely Ca
1860s.

Back View

The Company, located at 6 Commercial Place, Leith, is listed in Webster’s Registry of Instrument Makers as making octants, compasses, and barometers during the 1860s.

The aged pleasantly finished fan-shaped case has a crack on top and two hook latches.