Lot 395
A Rare American Engraved Copper Sundial, c. 1800, by Christopher Colles (New York, 1774-1816), engraved copper octagon, the center signed "Made by Chrisr. Colles/ No 42 Pearl S/New York", the inner circle with compass rose and "New York" and its latitude and longitude, followed by an "Equation Table for Regulating Clocks", and an outer ring engraved with Arabic numerals and various international cities, the top of the dial engraved Noli confidere noctum, "Do not trust the night", height 10 1/8 in., width 10 1/8 in., now mounted on a mahogany board using the original screw holes. Note: Lacking gnomon. Provenance: Descended in the family of James Archbald, one of the engineers of the Erie Canal. Note: Christopher Colles, born in Ireland in 1739, became known as the "Benjamin Franklin of New York". He designed the first water system for the City of New York, made America's first steam engine, first proposed inland waterways to the mid-west including the Erie Canal, and published the first book on America's roads: A Survey of the Roads of the United States of America, 1789. Despite all this, he could never capitalize on his ideas and died penniless in 1816.
Please Note: Starting Bid USD $3000
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