Description

A large single draw, taper barrel brass telescope signed, ‘Lineas Telegraphicas, Garcia Optico, Madrid’. The telescope measures 163 cms fully extended with the ray shade in place. It has a main lens diameter of 2.75″ (70mm) which gives a magnification of 50 x, with a fine sharp image.

The Spanish Optical Telegraph system was built between 1844 – 1850. Three major civil optical telegraph lines were built during this time and were only in service for just over a decade before the electric telegraph lines replaced them.

The telescope would have been used to read semaphor type signals from a series of towers built for the purpose. The towers were strongly constructed to resist assault as there was considerable civil unrest in Spain at this time.

It comes with a later wooden display stand.