14th-century English quadrant astrolabe to auction

A 14th Century scientific instrument uncovered during building work has been given an auction guide price of between £60,000 and £100,000.

The astrolabe quadrant - described as the "pocket calculator" of its age - was found in Canterbury, Kent, in 2005.

Made in England and dated back to 1388, the device was used for telling the time, mapping the stars and making height and depth measurements.

It is due to be sold at Bonhams in London on 21 March.

The auction house said it was one of only eight known examples in the world today.

From the BBC. More on the quadrant astrolabe (or astrolabe quadrant) here and here. There is another example in the British Museum. The Bonhams press release is here. An article on a yet earlier European quadrant astrolabe in a private collection appeared in 1995 in the Annals of Science (abstract here).

Posted by David on February 15, 2007 10:20 AM