Description (Physical description)
Accession Register: 'Mariner's compass with gnomon.'
Event Date 1919
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Related Documents)
Jean Somerville (21 November 2005) noted that the Hughes collection has 'not been entered in the Accession Register for 1919, nor do they appear in the Annual Report for the year. The only reference to them is in the Annual Report for 1920 which mentions a number of miscellaneous objects from the late Professor Hughes' collection [presumably Prof Thomas McKenny Hughes], which were presented to the Museum by his son, G.R. Hughes M.A.' Whilst this may be true more broadly for the Hughes collection, this object does appear in the Annual Report for the year 1919 (under the heading list of accessions for the year 1920) as AR 1919.61 and appears in the Accession Register under 1919.61.
Event Date 1919
Author: Rachel Hand

Description (Labels & Markings)
Adhered paper label on rear notes '1919. 61/ Mariner's Compass/ Early XVIIIth Cent.y/ Hughs Coll.n/ George Hughes M.A.'
Event Date 1919
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (Related Documents)
Annual Report, p. 8: '1919.59-61. Three astronomical instruments, viz.: a universal ring-dial (d. 4".1), inscribed "Hen Sutton fecit 1660", of bronze; a brass ring-dial of the seventeenth century; and a mariner's compass with gnomon, of the early eighteenth century (Hughes Collection). George Hughes, M.A.'
Event Date 1920
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Mariner's compass with gnomen.
Event Date 3/4/1992
Author: maa

Context (Display)
Exhibited alongside 1921.63.72 and 1921.63.75, with the following label, 'Marine navigation was transformed during the eighteenth century, and Cook’s voyages contributed vital information to the attempts to measure longitude. Among the instruments Cook and his contemporaries relied upon was the mariner’s compass with its magnetic needles that enabled accurate directional readings. '
Event Date 2012
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (Display)
Exhibited: Maudslay Hall, Introductory Case (case 5) in the Voyages section, from April 2012
Event Date 4/2012
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (CMS Description)
Circular cased brass compass, with lid. The face printed with red and black, and yellow navigational points, and black degree numbers and direction. Roman numerals inscribed on brass edge to cover, with movable compass arm.
Event Date 12/4/2012
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
Although the Accession Register does not have a Place recorded for this object, it is recorded under the British Archaeology section of the Annual Report and so the Place field includes 'British Isles'. The record originally also gave 'England', but it is unclear whether this is based on information about the make of the compass or whether it was a mistake. It has therefore been made tentative.
Event Date 17/6/2020
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)