Sliding Spike Pocket Microscope in Fitted Sharkskin Etui
Stock Number: FG_25002
£1000
This is a very early and very rare form of an idea, to be popularized at the end of the 18th century by George Adams Jr. and distributed by W. & S. Jones, of a "Common Flower or Insect Naturalist's Microscope". In this forerunner of the form, a brass spike is running along a rail for focusing in front of a folding holder of one of the two optional eye lenses.
Circa
Ca. 1740
Country of manufacture
UK and Ireland
Description
A Common Flower or Insect Microscope refers to a type of simple, portable microscope that was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. These microscopes were often designed to fold and could be easily carried by naturalists to examine specimens such as insects and flower parts. Typically, they featured either a single or dual eye lens and had spike-stand or folding designs.
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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.
