Ersatz Auctions has been instructed to auction without reserve the remaining holdings of the now defunct Witness Instrument & Survey Enterprises  (WISE). Founded by the eccentric surveyor and inventor Clara T. Witness, shortly after the First World War, WISE provided first-rate surveying and cartographic services in remote locations.

 

     WISE endured for over twenty-five years with an unusual all-female crew of surveyors specializing in redrawing ‘official’ boundaries.  Upon the unfortunate death of Clara T. Witness in a climbing incident in 1946, WISE ceased operations, liquidating the majority of their instruments with the exception of this small collection held by Clara’s son Frank Witness. Recently inherited by granddaughter Faye Witness, many of the fine instruments for auction are unique; invented and patented by Clara T. herself in response to the limitations of conventional measuring devices.