Miniature folding pocket compass microscope, early-mid-18th century.
Stock Number: FG_23011
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A nice and rare miniature folding compass microscope with two Lieberkühn lenses in a pocket-sized case.
Circa
1750
Country of manufacture
UK and Ireland
Description
A nice and rare (only two more examples are known so far) miniature folding compass microscope set in a pocket-sized sharkskin-costed small etui. The box may be adopted from a tiny screw-barrel microscope, though it fits very well with this microscope. There are two Lieberkühn lenses having different magnifications, the usual tweezers/pin holder and an optional black/white circular tray that may be an addition (as the tweezers cannot be screwed off their pin). In all, a very rare and nice early naturalist’s pocket aid.
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Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh is a mythological hero from the ancient cultures of West Asia, who embarked on a journey in search of youth and eternal life. Fleaglass Gilgamesh is located in Israel. As an Emeritus Professor of archaeology, I have spent over four decades researching the material culture of the distant past, utilizing the microscope as a powerful research tool. For the past thirty years, I have collected microscopes from the first 300 years of this remarkable instrument's history and have studied the cultural context of their use.
What started as a passion has turned into an obsession, and I now cultivate a nearly unique collection of historical microscopes from West Asia. From time to time, I offer surplus or particularly interesting items from my collection for sale. I am happy to provide free advice to any interested collector. If you would like to receive photos, information, and bibliographic references, or if you wish to discuss the details of the items I have for sale, please feel free to reach out.
