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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
467
(unassigned maker; flower microscope; 19th century)
This small
folding instrument has been referred to as a botanical, flower, insect or entomological microscope, depending on the
authors or makers (Figure 1). These instruments were very popular in the 18th
and 19th centuries and were first described in 1798 in George
Adam's ‘Essays on the Microscope" (published by W. and S. Jones).
Most 19th century instrument makers sold microscopes like these
for many years up to at least 1890 and perhaps into the early 20th
century. Among these instrument makers or retailers, we can find R&J
Beck, B. Pike, W. McAllister, J. Queen, Negretti
and Zambra and Palmer. The original specimen holder
of this instrument is missing.
Figure 1. Flower microscope as engraved in the
catalogues of Negretti & Zambra
from 1859 (A) and R & J Beck from 1882 (B). |
