A diptych sundial/compass produced in Germany in the late eighteenth century. The German makers were the first to appreciate that pocket sundials could be produced using a solid wood base and a printed paper face, rather than engraved metal and ivory that the earlier makers were restricted to using. The drastic reduction in costs led to cheaper instruments and an expansion of the market. The paper faces and dials were printed in black ink and coloured by hand. Sold to travellers throughout Europe, the gnomen (the string that casts the shadow that indicates the time), was adjustable to the latitude of the city where the traveller happened to be.
There is provision for the gnomen to be adjusted for cities between 40N degrees and 56N degrees. A pasted paper list on the lid (very worn) gives the latitude of the major cities.
Rare.
c1790.