Lot 792
A VICTORIAN SEXTANT BY J. COOMBES, PROBABLY THE PROPERTY OF RM CAPTAIN DEAN. A sextant of six inch radius divided on silver and reading to 10", the scale signed J. Coombes, Optician & Admiralty Agent Devonport, in a fitted case with inset disc for Coombes and paper label for Henry Hughes and Son Marine Opticians, 59 Fenchurch Street, London, te lid with an examination label from the Kew Observatory dated July 1889. Engraved and highlighted in gilt W.P.N.Dean, the lid with a conforming tablet 'W.P.N. Dean R.N.' W.P.N Dean appears to be Royal Marine Captain William Percy Nelson Dean. Born 21/10/1901, enlisted 1/1/19 and reaching the rank of Captain by 1/1/1930. The sextant possibly originally the property of his Father Frederic William Dean who was also a Naval Officer who served in South Africa amongst other places. Possibly the sextant was presented by Father to son at the time of his receiving his commission in 1919. Sold with extensive research.
