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BOXWOOD NOCTURNAL WITH RARE STAR VOLVELLE. image 1
BOXWOOD NOCTURNAL WITH RARE STAR VOLVELLE. image 2
Lot 5

BOXWOOD NOCTURNAL WITH RARE STAR VOLVELLE.

21 September 2015, 13:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$6,875 inc. premium

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BOXWOOD NOCTURNAL WITH RARE STAR VOLVELLE.

English, fourth quarter 17th century, 11 3/4" overall. Obverse marked "Both Bears" and mounted with a later plain long pointer arm, plus a twice-12 hour volvelle with indices for "GB" and "LB," calendar/Zodiacal scale divided by days of the months as well as days of the Zodiacal sign. Reverse side with calendar, hour and degree scales, plus rare star volvelle with index, labelled for numerous circumpolar stars such as "Dog Thigh," "Buls Eie," and "Wails Tail."

Most nocturnals relied on the observations of the Big and Little Bear constellations to determine the time at night; this particular nocturnal also permitted observation of any of the other bright stars surrounding the North Pole for calculation of time, latitude, Moons' age, tide, times, etc. Nocturnals with star volvelles are extremely rare, and seem to have been only made during the fourth quarter of the seventeenth century.

See Sturmy The Mariner's Magazine.... London: Anne Godbid for William Fisher, 1679, pp 64-67 (illustration and description of a similar construction).

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