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Rare French Naval Telescope, an Officer’s "Cheat Sheet" – Rare French Spyglass with Original Signal Flag Chart. A truly rare survivor of the golden age of sail. This mid-19th-century French Naval Telescope is a specialised instrument featuring an original, integrated Flag Identification Panel printed by the renowned Imp. Romanet et Cie, Paris. Imprimerie Romanet & Co. were a prominent French printing house active in Paris during the mid-to-late 1800s. The telescope dates to approximately 1865 – 1885. The label being legible and intact makes this a very rare example, these were usually worn away by salt spray and handling.

The Context: During this period, the International Code of Signals was being standardised (around 1857). Telescopes with these panels were the cutting-edge "smart tech" of the day, ensuring a captain didn't misidentify a friendly merchant for a hostile vessel.

Designed for the "Officer of the Watch," the barrel is wrapped in a detailed lithographic chart of international signal flags and national ensigns, allowing for the rapid identification of vessels at sea. This was an essential tool during the period when maritime signalling was becoming globally standardised.

Specifications:

Type: Two-drawer (two-pull) terrestrial telescope.

Extended Length: 77cm (approx. 30 inches).

Markings: "Imp. Romanet et Cie" to the corner of the signal panel.

Era: Napoleon III / Victorian (c. 1870).

Condition:
The telescope is in excellent antique condition with a beautiful, unpolished brass patina. The flag panel is remarkably well-preserved, showing clear details of the historical ensigns. The two-draw action is smooth and firm, the telescope is in working order.