Very large binocular microscope in case with accessories.
£4,850
Possibly previously owned by Joseph Bancroft Reade, founder and president of the Microscopical Society.
Circa
1865
Country of manufacture
UK and Ireland
Description
A substantial lacquered brass microscope, unsigned but almost certainly by Ross, the microscope foot finely engraved with the previous owners initials in a circular cartouche ‘J.B.R’, the cartouche design replicated on the objective canister lids.
The microscope stand is a large ‘Y’ shaped base with a ‘machine finish’ below the golden lacquer, with 2 large uprights supporting the main microscope body on large trunnions, large (84mm diameter) articulated plano-concave mirror on sliding collar, octagonal substage collar mount with X-Y screw control, with crown and pinion gearing for rotation, with rack and pinion focusing, with Ross-Type Gillette’s condenser with engraved German silver spring to front, stage with X-Y control via rack and screw, with rotating slide holder finished in filigree work below the golden lacquer, large wheels to focus the course rack and pinion acting on trapezoidal cross-sectioned bar, Wenham prism in slide in/out drawer, binocular tubes with inter-ocular adjustment via rack and pinion at top. The microscope comes with the following accessories:
1 inch objective & can.
½ inch objective engraved J. B. RAPKIN LONDON & can.
¼ inch objective engraved J. B. RAPKIN LONDON & can.
1/6 inch objective engraved J. B. RAPKIN LONDON & can.
Objective collar side reflector.
Pair of low power binocular eyepieces.
Pair of medium power binocular eyepieces.
High power eyepiece.
Gillette Condenser.
Spot lens condenser
Wheel of stops.
Large live box.
Large substage polariser with Nicol prism and selenite disks.
Objective analyser
Stage side reflector.
Large table condenser.
Contained within a substantial French polished wooden case, plinth base, with drop handles, panelled door with lock and key, with fitted drawer of accessories behind a lift off glass lid, microscope height (working height) 58cm, cabinet 81 x 47 x 46 cms.
The microscope is accompanied by a small archive of documents detailing research into its potential provenance. As three of the objectives are engraved ‘J.B. Rapkin’ the documentation explains a search at Companies House and the Post Office London Directories for such a person without result, but this from the internet:
John Benjamin Rapkin — Engraver on Brass Microscope
John Benjamin Rapkin (1837–1914) was the eldest son of the 19th‑century English mapmaker and engraver John Rapkin (1813–1899). The Rapkin family were well‑known instrument makers of the Victorian era, with the firm Pastorelli & Rapkin specialising in barometers and barographs, and also producing microscopes.
Family and Professional Background
John Rapkin (father) worked for James Wyld and John Tallis, engraving decorative and detailed maps for the Illustrated Atlas of the World (1849–53). John Benjamin Rapkin inherited the family’s engraving skills and, like his brothers Alfred Thomas, Joseph Clarke, and Frederick William, became an engraver.
The Brass Microscope
A notable example of his work is a substantial Victorian binocular microscope (c.1880) whose foot is finely engraved with the owner’s initials “J.B.R” inside a cartouche, replicated on the objective cans, and with the objectives engraved “J. B. RAPKIN LONDON”. This confirms John Benjamin Rapkin’s direct involvement in the microscope’s production.
Key Features of the Microscope
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Maker’s marks: “J. B. RAPKIN LONDON” on objectives and cans.
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Design: Ross‑type binocular microscope with filigree work, golden lacquer finish, and large plano‑concave mirror.
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Optics: Multiple objectives (1″, ½”, ¼”, 1/6″) engraved by J.B. Rapkin; various eyepieces; Gillette condenser; Wenham prism; Nicol prism analyser.
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Accessories: Stage forceps, condenser, substage poleriser, large wooden case with lock and key.
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Dimensions: Working height 58 cm; cabinet 81 cm tall.
- Provenance: Evidence suggests a connection to a member of the Rapkin family, consistent with the family’s instrument‑making tradition.
Significance
This microscope is both a scientific instrument and a collectible engraving, illustrating the Rapkin family’s dual expertise in cartography and precision instrument making. The engraved brass work is a hallmark of Victorian scientific apparatus, and the “J.B. Rapkin” signature links it directly to John Benjamin Rapkin’s artistic and technical skill.
In summary: John Benjamin Rapkin was a Victorian engraver and instrument maker, and the brass microscope in question bears his name and signature, making it a rare example of his applied artistry in scientific equipment.
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A very clean and handsome instrument. Post to U.S.A. would be in the region of £450. U.K. post £35 or ideally I could deliver / meet potential buyers.
