Astronomical Compendium by Humfrey Cole
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1575
This gilt brass astronomical compendium, signed by Humfrey Cole and dated 1575, is a portable instrument measuring 55 x 23 mm when closed. It features a hinged universal equatorial sundial, a magnetic compass, a nocturnal, a latitude list, and a perpetual calendar.
The exterior of the upper leaf functions as a nocturnal with two circular scales and two volvelles, while the interior lists European town latitudes. The lower leaf contains a painted compass card featuring thirty-two points, with the exterior functioning as a calendar for saints' days, Dominical letters, and lunar cycles. The instrument includes a suspension ring and is accompanied by an original brown leather case.
The maker's signature and date are engraved on the hour ring of the sundial. This object is held in the collections of the British Museum and was bequeathed by Octavius Morgan in 1888.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1575
- Type
- English astronomical compendium
- Maker
- Humfrey Cole
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Dimensions
- 55 x 23 mm closed
- Provenance
- Octavius Morgan
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Humfrey Cole
Design
- Visible features
- • Universal equatorial sundial includes a skeletonised latitude quadrant with a degree scale • Compass card features fleur-de-lis, cross, arrow and spade symbols at cardinal points • Rim engraved with two distinct moralistic English verses • Suspension assembly comprises a sphere with two scrolls and a loose ring
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is constructed from gilt brass and measures 55 x 23 mm when closed. It features a circular, hinged format that incorporates multiple components, including a nocturnal, a perpetual calendar, a magnetic compass, and a universal equatorial sundial. The exterior is finished with an engraved rope-twist design along the rim, which carries inscriptions related to the passage of time. For portability, the compendium is equipped with a suspension system consisting of a sphere, two decorative scrolls, and a loose ring, allowing for attachment to a chain or belt. The instrument includes an original fitted brown leather case with red velvet lining, which has been preserved with the object since its acquisition.
- Signature and Documentation
- The maker's name and the year of manufacture are engraved on the hour ring of the equatorial sundial. The instrument is registered in the British Museum under accession number MLA 1888,12-1.293, having been bequeathed to the institution by Octavius Morgan in 1888. It has been the subject of several academic publications concerning Elizabethan scientific instruments. The object is associated with a similar compendium by the same maker held in the collections of the National Museums in Edinburgh, which also dates to 1575. Documentation and physical analysis of the piece have been published in studies by R. T. Gunther, F. A. B. Ward, and Silke Ackermann.
- Timekeeping and Astronomical Components
- The nocturnal, located on the outside of the upper leaf, utilizes two volvelles and two circular scales, with the central disc marked 'THE POLE STERRE'. The interior of the same leaf contains a list of latitudes for various European towns arranged in concentric rings. The equatorial sundial, hinged between the leaves, is supported by a crescent-shaped mount and includes a sliding latitude quadrant calibrated from 0 to 90 degrees. The lower leaf houses a magnetic compass with a multicoloured card showing thirty-two points. The exterior of this leaf functions as a perpetual calendar, titled to begin in 1572, and includes details for saints' days, Dominical letters, Golden numbers, and Epacts. A plumb bob, originally attached to the apex of the latitude quadrant, is no longer present.
Identification
- Reference
- MLA 1888,12-1.293
- Inventory Number
- MLA 1888,12-1.293
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Plumb bob originally intended for the quadrant is now missing
- Research required: Specific interpretations of the calendar tables are historical in nature