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A German ebony brass and card universal equinoctial sundial, made for George Philip & Son, London and Liverpool, early 20th century.For latitudes 0-76 degrees North with brass ring segment resting within a groove cut into an arc applied with paper latitude scale calibrated in degrees with every ten numbered, across the diameter of the ring is a steel wire gnomon which passes though the centre of the circular hour plate set perpendicular to the brass ring, the plate applied with paper Roman numeral twenty-four hour chapter ring reading I-XII twice with the lower section cut away allowing the hour scale to continue around the inner rim of the aperture, the central infill panel inscribed PHILIPS’ SUN-DIAL, FOR USE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, LONDON, GEORGE PHILIP & SON., 32 FLEET STREET. E. C.. LIVERPOOL: 45-51, S. CASTLE STREET., MADE IN GERMANY, raised on turned ebony ogee shaped foot over a square base inset with a small glazed compass annotated with an eight-point rose, the card box also forming a plinth onto which the instrument can stand printed with DIRECTIONS FOR USE to interior, the exterior with repeat maker’s title panel, a TABLE, FOR CORRECTING SOLAR TO CIVIL TIME, an image of the sundial, and an advert of PHILIPS’ REVOLVING PLANISPHERE, the box 10cm (4in) square. George Philip and Son opened their London premises at 32 Fleet Street, London, in 1856 from where they sold their geographical and educational publications. They would later also occupy the premises next door at numbers 31 and 30 Fleet Street. In 1859, the company took over an extensive pile known as Caxton Buildings in South John Street, Liverpool, which became the company's headquarters in the city. Through the use of new power-driven printing machinery George Philips and Son became largest publishers of cartography and geographical works in the Country, as well as specialising in producing globes and planispheres for educational use. Over the years George Philips and Son Ltd took over the production lines of other firms including Malby (active 1845-1860), Betts (active 1844-1875), Smith (active 1799-1888) and Johnston (1802-1871); and in 1984 celebrated their 150th year anniversary. The company was sold in 1989 and later became part of the Octopus Publishing Group.

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