Attractive and well preserved Dutch dry card whaling compass from the early 1700s made by Leendert Valk, compass and sail maker, living at the Fransepad in Amsterdam. With hand-painted 32-point rose in black and white. North with fleur de lis, East – direction Jerusalem – with simple mark. On the rose, on either side of the North direction, the initials of the maker are indicated with LV. The compass is at that time delivered with removable bottom but without a cover.
On the inside of the binnacle is written in pencil, Steven Valk 1727. It is not clear who wrote this down and when. It may be a reference to Stephanus Valk, Leendert’s brother. Steven Valk is also a compass maker in the first half of the 18th century. He lived at the Haringpakkerij in Amsterdam.

Catalogue: NM.7-11
Date: 1712-1754
H: 7.5 cm
D binnacle: 13,5 cm
Signed: LV
Origin: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Condition: in good condition, slight damage to the rose due to corrosion