compass

The recipient was a brother of the geologist and inventor Robert Were Fox the Younger (1789-1877), whose magnetic dip compass, constructed in the previous year, is the 'instrument' referred to at the end of the letter. (Fox's compass was used by Sir James Clark Ross on his Antarctic expedition, and was later used to discover the position of the South magnetic pole.) 1p, 4to. In fair condition, aged and creased, with traces of paper mount adhering to one edge, and repair to a closed tear with archival tape. Several folds.

(Lord Kelvin) 19 leaves (printed one side only), 4to, not bound. A rare promotional brochure and price list for navigational instruments including the dry-card compass, the first modern compass. Thomson had invented the compass the previous year. The reports are accompanied by statistics and are from Captains of vessels experimenting with the new invention (White Star, P & O, etc.)