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Right-Side-Up Viewing by Nachet | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
Double-Specimen Sliders, 5" long | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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Rare Miniature Outfit | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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THE SWIFT / BROWN MINIATURE POCKET MICROSCOPE WITH STAND, English, c. 1880, signed "J. Swift, 43 University St., London W.C." This exquisite little compound microscope outfit is contained in the original 4-3/8" and 4-1/8" (11 and 10 cm) long matching wood cases bound in red Morocco leather and lined in purple silk. The instrument is made of clear lacquered brass and assembles with three horizontal rods as legs, and vertical pillar with hinged head and dovetail fitting supporting the microscope proper. Twin drawtubes provide coarse focus and fine focus, a particularly convenient system. The optical system uses a choice of two two-element oculars, plus objective. The stage has a spring-loaded clamp plate activated by twin projecting pins. A rear tube accommodates a sliding rod with adjustable yoke-mounted concave substage mirror. There is a paper-bound prepared slide but no other accessories. Condition is very fine throughout. This charming little instrument was described in the 1883 Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society: "Messrs. Swift and Son have added a stand to their (Brown's) Pocket Microscope, which is one of the smallest Microscopes made having any pretensions to be a serviceable instrument and not a mere toy." Describing one in the R.M.S. collection, Turner (in Great Age of the Microscope) attributes its design to G.T. Brown, that example having been made for Sir Frank Crisp. It is quite a rare miniature pocket microscope, this the first we have had. (9123) $4250. |
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Victorian Gold(!) | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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PURE GOLD NUGGETS ON A MICROSCOPE SLIDE, English, c. 1860. This Victorian microscope slide is beautifully bound in green and red papers, with the printed label of Smith, Beck & Beck, 31 Cornhill, London. It measures 1˛ x 3˛ (25 x 76 mm) overall, and displays a cluster of small nuggets of gold, as found in nature. The preparers (the famous microscope manufacturers, James Smith, Richard Beck and brother Joseph Beck) were in triple partnership only from 1857 (when Richard joined) until 1865 (when Smith retired), giving a rather precise dating to this very rare preparation for the microscope. (9103) $325. |
Culpeper's Classic Design | Click on any image for a larger
view. Scroll to view more items. |
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Classic French Student Microscope, c. 1900 | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
Pre-Television Entertainment | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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MICROSCOPIC ART -- A MASTERFUL ARRANGEMENT OF 300 INSECT SCALES, DIATOMS, ETC., English, c. first quarter 20th century, signed "Clarke & Page, Preparers, London." This standard 1" x 3" glass slide presents, within a 3/16" diameter field, and mounted under glass, a scene of a complex floral display with a hovering butterfly. The arrangement is composed of single diatoms, single platelets from butterfly wings, etc., all individually laid down by hand. Labeled "Entomology; Design in Insect Scales, Diatoms, &c.; Opaque; Containing about 300 pieces in the Design," the slide is in near mint condition in its original carrying case. These London makers were in partnership from c. 1907 until c. 1925 (see Bracegirdle). Quite expensive at the time, this slide is a prime example of entertainment designed for the "salon circle" of the Victorian drawing room. (8109) $950. | ||
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Pillar/Drum Stand with Ypelaar-Type Preparations | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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Candle Light Shade for Microscopy | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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The "Microscope Achromatique Simplifie" | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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FINE ACHROMATIC MICROSCOPE OUTFIT, French, c. 1840's, signed on the oculars "Lerebours a Paris." Contained in its original 11" x 4" x 4" (28 x 10 x 10 cm) beautifully grained fitted wood case, this is an example of the "Microscope Achromatique Simplifie" of N.-P. Lerebours, first published in 1838 and described in detail in his book. The lacquered brass microscope itself is similar in design to that known as the "Oberhauser drum;" it is based on vertical cylinders, the lower cylinder with a cutout for light to reach the rotatable double mirror, with a slot for the wheel of stops, and with a cutout for the specimen stage. The next cylinder carries the triple-jointed arm for the stage condenser, plus the rack and pinion focus to the final cylinder, the optical tube itself. The outfit is complete with two oculars, triple button achromatic objective, opaque ebony / ivory stage disk, a live box / compressor, and specimen forceps. The microscope and all the accessories are described in detail in Lerebours' book. This beautiful example of his top-of-the-line drum model is in very fine condition throughout. (9132) $1450. (SOLD) |
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An Uncommon Case-Mounted Microscope | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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Portable Microtome | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
Calipers for Microscopy | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
Close-focusing Prismatic Viewer | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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