Details
A rare mid 18th-Century brass simple microscope,
signed on a silver plate Geo' Lindsay Inv & Fec., riveted to the upper stage plate, with adjustable lower stage and slide holder, fitted with a blued-iron pointer to read against a scale engraved 1-7, fitted to the side of the main stage frame, with hinged slide holder, with shaped crank lever operating on the underside of the stage to adjust the stage so as the pointer can read against the graduated scale, set for corresponding numbered bead glass objectives mounted in a pair of sliders, with forceps, specimen tweezers, mirror, lieberkuhn with objective, a cased set of six sliders, each containing either four or five specimens, with folded paper list inscribed in ink, with ivory container for spare rings and mica discs, the body of the microscope mounting on a folding tripod and baluster-turned pillar stand, with folding upper support pierced and shaped, when dismantled all contained in the original plush-lined and fitted fishskin-covered case -- 3.1/8in. (8cm.) wide, the interior of the lid inscribed in pencil 90
See Colour Illustration and Detail
signed on a silver plate Geo' Lindsay Inv & Fec., riveted to the upper stage plate, with adjustable lower stage and slide holder, fitted with a blued-iron pointer to read against a scale engraved 1-7, fitted to the side of the main stage frame, with hinged slide holder, with shaped crank lever operating on the underside of the stage to adjust the stage so as the pointer can read against the graduated scale, set for corresponding numbered bead glass objectives mounted in a pair of sliders, with forceps, specimen tweezers, mirror, lieberkuhn with objective, a cased set of six sliders, each containing either four or five specimens, with folded paper list inscribed in ink, with ivory container for spare rings and mica discs, the body of the microscope mounting on a folding tripod and baluster-turned pillar stand, with folding upper support pierced and shaped, when dismantled all contained in the original plush-lined and fitted fishskin-covered case -- 3.1/8in. (8cm.) wide, the interior of the lid inscribed in pencil 90
See Colour Illustration and Detail
Literature
Turner, G.L'E. The Great Age of the Microscope, p. 261-262. Turner quotes the serial number 22 being stamped behind the eyepiece, and the date 1742 being stamped under the base plate. The pencilled number 90 on the inside of the lid of the case of this instrument corresponds to a stamped 90 under the upper stage plate on this instrument. No date has been found on this example. It is interesting to note that these instruments were called the "snuff box microscope".
Sale room notice
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