Overview
A vintage French military sighting compass in a hinged wooden box, made to the design of General Peigné. The dial is printed "Système du Général Peigné" with his signature, along with "Delagrave Edr Paris" and "Julien P. Friez & Sons". The scale is marked in millièmes (military mils) with French compass points, and the printing is reversed so it reads correctly in the mirror in the lid. The lid holds a sighting mirror with a slot, and a black metal sighting vane folds out from the box. The outside of the lid carries a printed chart, "Angles de Pentes en Millièmes" and "Calcul des cotes", for working out slopes. The edges are marked with a centimeter ruler from 0 to 16, and the box closes with two brass hooks.
Background
Sighting compasses of this type, called a boussole-alidade in French, let an officer take a bearing and work out slopes in the field. The design is credited to Paul Peigné, a French army officer who rose to general, and his system was published by Delagrave of Paris. Julien P. Friez & Sons was an American instrument maker. This one is wood, brass, steel and glass and weighs about 6 oz.
Condition
Good vintage condition. The needle swings freely and settles, the compass glass has no cracks, and the sighting vane folds out and back. The mirror has heavy silvering loss, there is verdigris on the hinge screws, and the wood has small chips and wear, including around the window on the back and the sockets in the lid. The lid chart is toned with some edge loss, and only a torn piece of the original label remains on the back. The black stand in the photos is not included. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
Closed, it is 3.5 inches high, 3.5 inches wide and 1.3 inches deep (H x W x D). It weighs about 6 oz.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
