Description

MINIATURE GREGORIAN TELESCOPE, English, c. third quarter 18th century. Measuring 7-1/4“ (18 cm) overall, complete with turned brass end cap, the instrument has bright speculum metal mirrors, two-element erecting eyepiece system, and external screw focussing to the secondary mirror. Craftsmanship is excellent, and it gives superb images even in daytime. The telescope is contained in its wonderful original shaped case of wood lined with green velvet and covered in black fishskin. Condition is very fine throughout, noting a bit of rubbing to the original lacquer finish on the brass, and loss of one small semicircular end to the case. The miniature Gregorian telescope is known in very few examples; we have had one by Stedman of London (Tesseract Catalogue 52 Item 7), and one unsigned (Catalogue 40 Item 6). A splendid example.