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Welcome to our selection of antique sextants.
Welcome to our selection of antique sextants.
We specialise in genuine antique Sextant's and offer a large selection of top quality examples, prices range from £300 to over £1000 depending on age, maker, quality, condition and provenance.
If you would like any help or advice choosing an antique Sextant, please get in touch.
The antique sextant is a very desirable maritime navigational instrument, they are a symbol of seafarers who have navigated the worlds oceans by using only the Sun, stars and Moon for fixing a position. The primary use of a sextant is to determine the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation. The angle and time can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical chart. A common use of the sextant includes sighting the sun at solar noon to determine latitude.
The Sextant was invented by Admiral John Campbell in 1757 after he discovered that the Octant was unable to measure angles large enough for Lunar distances ( Distance between Moon, Sun or Stars ) so he increased the 90 degree angle of the Octant to 120 degrees which formed the Sextant. He then engaged the nautical instrument maker John Bird to construct the first Sextant in 1759.
The Sextant gets its name from the Latin word for 'a sixth' because it is a sixth of a circle (60 degrees) and can measures angles of up to 120 degrees.
Below is our selection of antique navigation sextants.
Click on the images below to view more photos and information.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.55
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.55
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.15
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.15
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
Antique sextant by Wilson & Gillie Bruce & Sons. SOLD.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.52
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.52
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.25
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.25
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
Antique Quintant / Sextant Rare & traceable Royal Navy SOLD
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
Antique sextant by Cary, London. SOLD.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
Antique sextant by Wilson & Gillie Bruce & Sons. SOLD.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT.
Antique sextant by Heath & Co Ltd. SOLD.
ANTIQUE QUINTANT / SEXTANT.
ANTIQUE QUINTANT / SEXTANT.
A rare antique Quintant / Sextant made by E. Smith from Whitbread's, London.
A Quintant is similar to the more common and better known sextant and used in the same way.
A fine late 19th century navigators Quintant, engraved on the arc E. Smith from Whitbread's, London. The silver scale reads from -5 degrees to 165 degrees and is divided into 10 minute increments. The index arm has swinging scale magnifier and the silver vernier scale reads from 0 to 10 seconds of arc. 6 inch radius.
EXCEPTIONAL ANTIQUE QUINTANT.
A rare and traceable British Royal Naval officers Quintant.
A Quintant is similar to the more common and better known sextant and used in the same way.
A fine mid 19th century navigators Quintant, engraved on the arc C.H. Adair from E. Herrick. RN. The silver scale reads from -5 degrees to 175 degrees and is divided into 10 minute increments. The index arm has swinging scale magnifier and the silver vernier scale reads from 0 to 10 seconds of arc. 6 inch radius.
SORRY THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
This Quintant was presented to Charles Henry Adair as a gift from Captain Edward Herrick RN.
C.H.Adair was born in July 1851 and joined the Royal Navy as a CADET aged 13 , he was promoted to SUB LIEUTENANT at the age of 19, promoted to LIEUTENANT aged 23, promoted to COMMANDER aged 35, promoted to CAPTAIN aged 42, promoted to REAR ADMIRAL aged 54, promoted to VICE ADMIRAL aged 58, promoted to ADMIRAL aged 62. Died at the age of 69. We haven’t researched which Naval battles he was involved in, but he had very distinguished career with the Royal Navy.
This antique Quintant / Sextant is in superb condition and is contained within its original keyhole shaped hardwood box. It comes complete with all its accessories - Three telescopes, telescope sun filter and adjusting tools.
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