Equinoctial Sundial, Circa 1750.

A gilt brass pocket sundial, octagonal in shape, preserved in its original case and accompanied by its printed instruction booklet, signed Andreas Vogler, a scientific instrument maker active in Augsburg in the mid-18th century. The inner disc lists several European cities such as Lisbon, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Augsburg, and Paris, along with their latitudes, allowing the instrument to be adjusted according to the altitude of the pole in order to determine solar time accurately. This type of object, combining a sundial and a compass, was intended for travelers and scholars to measure time based on the sun's position. The set includes its bilingual instruction booklet in German and French explaining the use of the pendulum and the necessary adjustments according to latitude. Produced in one of the major European centers for the manufacture of scientific instruments, this instrument perfectly illustrates the spirit of the Enlightenment, where the measurement of time and space became accessible through portable and sophisticated devices. Dating from around 1750. Good overall condition, with wear and tear consistent with age, particularly on the case and the leaflet.