Table-Top Variable Power Telescope by Plossl of Wien , ca. 1835
Stock Number: FG_22015
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This brass tabletop refractor telescope was made by Plössl of Wien, It has a round parallel barrel with a beveled objective lens cell, having a push-on cap. It has three draws, with a small handle covering a screw, fitted to the largest draw. The eyepiece has a thumbwheel used to select between four different eye lenses. The four lenses are labeled 1 through 4 and have different magnifications. It dates to around 1835.
Circa
1835
Maker
Plössl of Wien
Countries of manufacture
Other, Germany
Description
The Austrian maker Simon Georg Plössl made these Galilean telescopes before 1738. In many cases, they were signed “Plössl in Wien,” but there are some known examples, such as this one, of unsigned instruments. Similar telescopes signed by Plössl in Wien van be seen on the following links:
http://fp.optics.arizona.edu/antiques/telescope/Catalogue/T62/T62.htm
https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/1935319/
https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/115254-pl%C3%B6ssl-table-top-refractor/
The front lens is an achromatic doublet, and the four eyepieces on the revolver are negative focus singlets.
The telescope is generally in good condition with age scratches on the gilded brass. The blackened handle covering the screw (optionally used to attach the telescope to a wooden base) has a crack, but it is stable. One lens in the eyepiece revolver is damaged. These issues are shown in the photos in detail. The offering price considers these issues. This is a rare early telescope of a significant European instrument maker who later developed the Plössl ocular for telescopes, which is still used today.
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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.
