Description

A fine and complete late 18th century Cary-type pocket microscope in flawless sharkskin case-unsigned. Petite.

One inch single sided mirror, perfect rack and pinion, live box insert and rare rotatable head with high and low power interchangeable objectives (can be used as a simple magnifier). 3 bone slides with specimens intact, bone handled pin probe and scalpel. stage and hand forceps. Original lacquer. Has seen little use. Sharkskin case is 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 3/4″ (10.5 x 8 x 2 cm). with brass ferrule to the lid and both eared C-hooks/hinges intact. Old hand written paper applied to inside of the lid. Early roped knurling of the brass with extremely fine tolerances/machining. It always amazes me how these early lathes/machinists were capable of these feats. The rotating head is a Robert Banks innovation (attribution?).