Sledge compass with a brass body and leather case. The case has a pivoted cover with a viewing slot. The compass card is marked in points and degrees (0-360 by 5 degrees), with north indicated by a fleur-de-lys and crown. The needle is a single piece of dimaond-shaped seel. Two pieces of wax on the bottom of the card either side of the south pole of the needle have been put there to keep the card level. A lever at the side of ths compass allows one to imobilise the card during transport. Compasses of this sort were used on many Arctic and Antarctic expeditions in the 19th and early 20th centuries.