Tiensch and Stancliff, Louisville Kentucky brass surveyor's transit level compass on stand, steel dial with engraved name "Tiensch & Stancliff Louisville Ky", engraved fleur-de-lis at North, and engraved foliate decoration at center with two intact leveling vials, and a vernier scale to outer circumference. 16 1/2" H x 9" dia. Circa 1859. Note: An excerpt from the March 29, 1856 Louisville Courier states, "And speaking of compasses reminds us of a visit we made yesterday to the mathematical establishment of Messrs. Tiensch & Standcliffe, on Third Street, nearly opposite the post office. There we saw a complete Instrumental outfit for a party of engineers who about starting out to survey the Branch Railroad to Memphis…..More elegant work could not be found in any city, nor any made with greater precision and more attention to the necessary scientific details." Additional note – Adolph Tiensch was born in 1820 in Germany and immigrated to America, setting up shop in Ohio first. He later moved to Louisville, Kentucky in the 1850s, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 1860. He died in 1897 in Memphis. Lot also includes a surveying book belonging to E. D. Hicks titled "Gibson's Surveying: The Theory and Practice of Surveying: contains all the instructions requisite for the skillful practice of this art" by Robert Gibson, published in New York, 1821 and tripod stand (54" L). Provenance: estate of Sarah Hunter Hicks Green, HIstoric Devon Farm, Nashville, believed to have been used by Edward Dickson Hicks II, who tried his hand at his grandfather, John Davis's 1770-1853) trade of surveying for a brief period in the mid 19th century. CONDITION: Compass and levels functional. General wear and oxidation to brass. Book cover with wear and losses to leather cover, light scattered spotting and browning to some interior pages. Tripod stand with expected general wear.