A Cary Presentation Brass Box Sextant, English, circa 1860,
signed Cary, London, Brass body with sliding shutter sight and dark lens, wheeled rack drive to index arm reading from 0 to 150 degrees on the silvered scale, with magnifying lens to vernier, with separate telescope, the lid engraved Royal Military College. Presented to Gentleman Cadet William S. Cooke for Attention to and Progress in Military Surveying, June, 1860, in baize lined mahogany case with maker's label reading Cary Optician 181 Strand, London and instruction pamphlet,
sextant 3in (7 1/2cm) diameter
case 4 3/4in x 2 1/2in x 4in (12cm x 5cm x 10cm)
Footnotes:
Provenance:
According to the 3rd July 1860 edition of The London Gazette, Gentleman Cadet William Smith Cooke from the Royal Military College was appointed to the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards in the Summer of that year. This Cary box sextant would likely have been a presentation gift to commemorate this occasion.

The lining to the base of the case lacking.
The lid to case with veneer lifting and edge lining missing. Instrument in
very good overall condition.