Antique Pocket Compasses For Sale


My goal is to offer unique, hard to find antique pocket compasses that are in excellent, working condition.
All of the compasses I sell are fully functional and they point strong to North. (I do not sell new,
fake, reproduction compasses. Every compass I offer is a functional, authentic, antique piece.)
If you are looking for a specific compass that you do not see on this page send me an email.

I ship compasses via USPS Priority Mail with delivery conformation for $7.00.
I accept Paypal, money orders and personal checks.
(I also ship to Canada and to the United Kingdom for $9.00 USD.)

Email me if you have any questions or if you would like to purchase a compass.

My book, Compass Chronicles is now available from Schiffer Publishing.
(The majority of the compass models you find on this page are represented in the book)


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Early 1900s, French, nickel sighting compass


 The nickel case is in good condition without any dents or dings, but it shows some
age spots and wear. The back of the case has " KES 392" scratched on it.


The dial is marked "France". The compass has English cardinal points.
This is an early 1900s sighting pocket compass. The sighting vane is still present.
The hinge is strong. The crystal is in excellent condition. The needle lock activator
is present and works well. Compass points strong to North.

 

This is a nice, quality pocket sighting compass in good condition,
showing steady, but gentle wear over the last 80+ years.

 

Price:  $70.00

 

 

  

 

 

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Circa 1920s, Taylor Meradial pocket compass

 

This is the Meradial compass model by Taylor. This compass was produced during the 1910's and 1920's.
The compass was sold to the general public. Scouts, outdoorsmen, etc. The Meradial and the open faced
Flodial models are some of Taylors hardest to find compass models from this era. The compass has a dry card
dial and a jeweled pivot. Nickel, hunter case is in great condition with one very small dent in the back of the
case. Excellent hinge and release mechanism. Compass points strong to North like it should. Excellent overall condition.

 

Price:  $90.00
 

 

   

 

 

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WWII Wittnauer pocket compass

 

Manufactured by Longines Wittnauer for the U.S. Air Force in 1941.
This example is not stamped with the letters U.S. on the top of the nickel case.


The case is in great condition with very minor surface scratches on the top
and two  very minor indentations on the back of the case.
The dial is signed: Wittnauer.  Flat blue, arrow shaped needle. 1.8" diameter.
Excellent hinge and release mechanism. Compass points strong to North.


The compass will shine up nicely from a polish if you wish to polish it up.

 

Price:  $90.00  Sold
 

 

 

 

 

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Circa 1880s, English wood cased compass

 

Very nice, good quality English wood cased compass from the late 1800s. The paper dial
displays an elegant compass rose. The paper dial has a crease on it by SSE. The slender, flat
blued needle has a brass pivot. The north side of the needle is marked with a gilt letter N.

 

The compass has an automatic needle lock, square shaped, brass hinges and a brass clasp.

The wood case is in excellent condition. The overall condition of this compass is great.
Compass points strong to North.

 

$130.00

  

 

 

 

 

 

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Smaller, late 1800s, English, dry card dial compass

 

Very nice, smaller brass cased compass with glossy paper dry card dial.
The compass card has a very precise and beautiful black and white dial design.
The compass is in excellent overall condition. The diameter is 37mm. The glass and
compass dial are in superb condition. The back of the case has one very minor dent.
 

Price:  $80.00

 

 

 

 

 

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Circa 1880s American brass cased pocket compass

 

This is a rare, early, American made compass. This example is included in my book

representing this category on page 28. The unusual dry card dial shows faint colors and is
signed "Stuckert" by the North cardinal point. Brass pivot. The case is in great condition without
any dents, with a rich dark patina. The dry card paper dial shows a bit of warping from age.
I would recommend this compass due to its rarity as a display item on a desk and not for daily use.
It shows its age a bit more compared to more rugged pocket compasses.
The compass points strong to North. Diameter of the case is 45 mm.

 

Price:  $120.00

 

 

 

 

 

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Circa 1915 Short & Mason Taylor Flodial compass

This is the Flodial compass model by Taylor. This model was one of four open faced
designs that the company offered during the 1910's and 1920's. The compass was
sold to the general public. Scouts, outdoorsmen, etc.

The dial reads: "Flodial, Short & Mason, Taylor Rochester New York, Pat Apr 20 1915".

The manual needle lock works well.The nickel case is in excellent condition free of dents.
A few minor age spots are visible. The glass crystal is clear. The floating dial is in excellent
condition. The compass points strong to North. Diameter of the case is 43 mm.

 

Price:  $70.00

 

 

 

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Circa 1920 rare, Keuffel & Esser open faced compass

This is a rare open faced compass model by Keuffel & Esser. This model was offered
around the 1920's. The compass was sold to the general public. Scouts, outdoorsmen, etc.

The dial is marked: Keuffel & Esser Co. New York.
 The compass has a very nice, slender blue arrow shaped needle.

The manual needle lock works well. The nickel case is in excellent condition free of dents.
The compass points strong to North. Diameter of the case is 43 mm.

Price:  $60.00

 
 

 

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Late 1800s, English, dry card dial compass

 

This is a very nice example of a late 1800s dry card compass. The compass has a jeweled pivot
and a beautiful black and white dial design. The compass is in excellent overall condition.
North is marked by an elegant Fleur De Lys symbol.


The slightly domed glass and the paper compass dial are in superb condition. The brass case
is in great condition with minor surface scuffs from age and a beautiful, dark rich patina.
 Compass works well and points strong to North. Diameter of the case is 48mm.

 

Price:  $110.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Early 1900s, pre WWI British compass

 

This style is very similar to the previous example. I am offering this
example from my collection. These compasses are housed in a well made, sturdy snap cover case.
 

These cases are not spring loaded as the large majority of pocket watch style compasses,
but they open by manually pulling up the top cover. (Due to this design they are harder to
open than the standard spring loaded, pocket watch style compasses as their cover automatically
opens once you press the release button. For this reason this example would be a better gift to a
military collector compared to someone who would use a compass on a daily basis.) This example
is housed in a large, oxidized brass case which is 58 mm diameter. The compass has a needle lock,
bar needle and  jeweled pivot.

 

The compass is superb overall condition. The case has no dents or dings. The glass crystal is intact.
The dial is clear and in superb condition as well. The compass points strong to North.

 

This example represents this model in my book on page 68. Barker & Son offered
this compass as the "Improved Colonial Compass".

 

Price:  $140.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WWI military compass w/case 5th Middlesex Regiment

 

It is very unusual for us to know today who these wonderful antique compasses originally belonged to.
This is a WWI era British military compass which is engraved with the owners name and regiment.
The original leather pouch has his initials, regiment and the year 1915 hand written in ink on the inside
of the cover flap. (W.H.M., 1st Reg, 1915)

 

Both the compass and the pouch are in superb condition. The compass has its original black painting.
The top of the compass is very nicely engraved: "W. H. Morgan, 5th Middlesex Regt". (The pouch seems
to have 1st Reg written in it not 5th) The back of the compass is stamped "Prov. Pat".

The case has no dents or dings. The glass in the cover is present  and great condition.
The original crystal is in great condition as well. The compass is pristine. The compass
works well, points strong to North and it has a manual needle lock on the outside of the case.

I did a basic search online for Mr. Morgan and his regiment, but I could not find out more about him.

 

Price:  $220.00

 

     

 

 

 

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Early 1900s, pre WWI British compass

 

I rarely offer this compass style for sale as they are very rare and hard to find. This compass is housed
in a well made, sturdy snap cover case. These cases are not spring loaded as the large majority of
pocket watch style compasses, but they open by manually pulling up the top cover. (Due to this
design they are harder to open than the standard spring loaded, pocket watch style compasses as
their cover automatically opens once you press the release button. For this reason this example would
be a better gift to a military collector compared to someone who would use a compass on a daily basis.)

 

I have seen these compasses engraved by English soldiers who fought in the Boer War in
1900 and I believe this example to be from this period. This compass is housed in a
brass case which has a 45 mm diameter.


The compass has a very unique see through, mica dry card dial and jeweled pivot.
The brass case has a beautiful patina and it is in excellent condition. (No dents or dings)
Compass works well and points strong to North.

 

Price:  $120.00

 

 

  
 

 

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25. Early 1900s, French, very small, brass, open faced pocket compass

 

This is a very nice and small open faced French pocket compass.

The dial is marked "Made in France". The compass has English cardinal points.

Manual needle lock is located on the edge of the case which was customary for

these French compasses.

 

The brass case is in excellent condition without any dents or dings.

The compass points strong to North.

 

Price:  $60.00

 

 
 

 

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WWII Wittnauer U.S. stamped compass with original paper box


Manufactured by Longines Wittnauer during WWII. The U.S. stamped nickel
case is in excellent condition. 1.8" diameter. The dial is signed: Wittnauer.

This example has the less common Wittnauer dial design.


Excellent hinge and release mechanism. Compass points strong to North.
The compass has its original paper box. (The original cloth pouch is no longer present)

 

 Price:  $145.00 Sold

 

 

 

 

 

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Late 1700s, early 1800s authentic, large pocket compass


This is a very early and large pocket compass. The diameter of the case is an unusual 85 mm.
Cardinal points are marked in English. I believe the compass was manufactured in
England based on the design.

 

The cover is threaded and it screws onto the case as opposed to being press fit which is often
seen on late 1800s, smaller pocket compasses.


The inside of the cover has a beautiful paper compass rose design glued into it.
The needle is unusually long and well balanced. It is blued with a t cross bar representing the North tip.

The brass pivot is a high quality, early “Viking” cap design.
The beautiful compass rose dial beneath the needle has one small tear in it by North East.


The paper dial in the cover has a small piece missing by WSW. (Please see photos)
The compass does not seem to be signed and the paper has darkened from age.


Compass does not have its original glass crystal. Brass case is in excellent condition with no dents or dings.
The edge of the cover has one tiny flaw. (See photos) The delicate, well balanced needle points strong to
North I think the compass is from the early 1800s. It could be a bit earlier or from the mid 1800s the latest.
(It is an antique, authentic example.)
 

Price:  $270.00

 

Link to photograph  (Additional photos coming soon)
 

 

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Four compass rose print by John Oakes New York (1848 to 1896)

 

This is a very rare and unusual, early print displaying four compass roses on one sheet.
The sheet measures 14" by 14". The individual compass roses have a 6" 1/2 diameter.
The print was manufactured between 1848 and 1896 when John Oakes worked in New York.


Notice how east is also marked with a "Decorated East" pattern. The sheet is in excellent condition
 without any tears. The page shows many, brown foxing spots throughout and it has been folded
at some point. A couple of small, minor stains. The compass rose on the lower left corner is very
close to the edge of the paper. (Please see photos)
 

I believe these sheets were originally cut up in four pieces and the compass roses were affixed
to a marine compass. (This print survived without being divided and used as a compass dial)

The compass dial has an elegant and elaborate black and white pattern in the style of dry
card compass dials of the era. North shows a beautiful and very detailed Fleur De Lys.

 

Personally I would like for this print to remain as is in one piece and not be cut it up
into four pieces. (It has survived like this for 150 or so years, lets try to preserve it as it is.)

This sheet would look great matted and framed.
 

I found the following information on John Oakes courtesy of http://www.surveyhistory.org/

"He was born at Bloomfield, New Jersey November 22, 1818 and died at Glen Ridge,
New Jersey March 5, 1910. He is listed in the New York City directories from 1848 to 1896
as a dealer in charts and a manufacturer of nautical instruments. He retired about 1896."

 

Price: $90.00

 

  
 

 

 

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