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SOLD – Ramsden four draw telescope

SOLD – With Flame mahogany barrel measuring: Closed ………… 9.5″ (24 cms). Open ………….. 35″ (89 cms). Main lens …….1.75″ (46 mm). Magnification ….. 26 x. The lenses are damage free and give an excellent clear image. Very thin surface hairline to the barrel (pictured). It has an additional eye-piece, engraved ‘Hazy’ (for poor weather conditions). In partial leather case. Read More...

~PRE-ACHROMATIC, LARGE COMPOUND/SIMPLE MICROSCOPE by DOLLOND/UNUSUAL~

An extremely early, rare and fine pre-achromatic Adams/Jones-type microscope by Dollond with many unusual features c.1760. Firstly, the ocular lens is a singlet, not an achromatic doublet that Dollond fought so hard to patent. Secondly, the brass work of the eyepiece and body tube mimics that of Adams (pleasing tapering shape). Thirdly, the folding feet are trapezoidal, not rectangular as seen on the Jones models c.1800. Signed “Dollond, London” in flowing script, not block style. Lastly, the “in between” substage condensing lens of Read More...

~ROTATING STAGE WHEEL OF SPECIMENS- LOFT~

Often missing rotating stage specimen holders for Loft and Scalett-Culpeper (SOLD) microscopes- 18th century. Specifications at the top of the photo. Loft has ALL but one cell,  Priced individually. Rare accessories. Verdegris to back side of Loft and it is numbered 1-10. Wheel of specimens. Fit in key way stage slot.   LOFT still available. Specifications in first photo. Read More...

Four Good Quality Rolling Rules

Ebony and brass rolling rule W. E. Archbutt 11 Bridge Street Westminster £100 Mahogany, Ebony and brass rolling rule by W. H Harling, 47 Finsbury Pavement, London £100 Joseph and Edmund Ratcliff’s Improved German Ruler £120 Mallett’s Patent boxwood and brass rolling rule £100 All in good working order Read More...

Portable set of beam scales for the County of Kent by W & T Avery

A portable set of beam scales made for the County of Kent by W & T Avery Ltd of London and Birmingham, circa 1898. Beam marked: CAPACITY 1 LB – KENT COUNTY COUNCIL – W&T. AVERY Ltd BIRMINGHAM Marked with indenture number: 2523 Verification stamps and royal ciphers: VR, GR, GVR, GVIR and EIIR Height: 19 inches – 48.5 cm. Case dimensions: Width 49 cm, Depth 27.5 cm, Height 16.5 cm. Case marked: COUNTY OF KENT W&T. AVERY Ltd. LONDON Read More...

The Natural History and Diseases of the Human Teeth in Two Parts with twenty three Copper Plates

A very distressed copy of this uncommon book-however the plates are complete-Author Joseph Fox, 1813. The condition of the plates is fair but some foxing at the edges and some water damage as shown. Read More...

Denis Henrion, the first French work on the proportional compass, 1618

HENRION, Denis (or Didier). Usage du compas du proportion. Paris: Michel Daniel, 1618. First edition, extremely rare, of Henrion’s treatise on the proportional compass, the work that introduced the instrument to France. The proportional compass, also known as the sector, geometric compass, or military compass, was an analogue calculating instrument used widely from the late 16th century until modern times. Its origins are uncertain, but it was first described in print by Thomas Hood in 1598, and developed at about Read More...

The war between Charles Babbage and Richard Sheepshanks

A probably unique collection of pamphlets, all first editions, documenting the decades-long dispute between Babbage (1791-1871) and his archenemy Sheepshanks (1794-1855), but also involving Sir James South (1785-1867) and Sir George Biddell Airy (1801-1892). “In a section [of Exposition of 1851] called ‘Intrigues of Science’ Babbage accused Airy of being part of a vendetta against him and influencing government against his engines through personal allegiance to Babbage’s enemies. The villain of the piece (according to Babbage) is the Reverend Richard Read More...

Report on Georg Scheutz’s difference engine, 1855

SCHEUTZ, Georg. Report of a Committee appointed by the Council to examine the Calculating Machine of M. Scheutz, pp. 499-509 in Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. 7, no. 15, June 21, 1855. First edition, complete journal issue in original printed wrappers. “Inspired in 1834 by Babbage’s work, Georg Scheutz (1785-1873) a Swedish printer, publisher, journalist, translator and inventor, set about building a difference engine of his own. . . . Georg, and his son Edvard (1822-1881) completed a working prototype Read More...

3 inch refracting telescope in case.

Unsigned, the barrel length is 37.5 inches with a 3″ main lens. Rack and pinion focussing and push / pull draw tube. Lenses are damage free. Small dint on the top (last picture). The brass has been polished at some time. Very good, clear image, approx 35 x. Read More...

~DELIGHTFUL DOMED POCKET COMPASS/SUNDIAL~

A good Regency period, small vest pocket compass/sundial in brass canister with domed glass/lid (gilded to the lid interior). Measuring 4 cm. in diameter and 2 cm. in thickness, this Regency period instrument has been well used but the brasswork and glass are near perfect (loss of lacquer but gilding to the exterior). May have had a stop at one time but the floating card, having compass points and hour ring, still points North within a few seconds with a Read More...

Robert Hooke’s principal work on astronomical instruments, 1674, including the clock-driven telescope and universal joint

Animadversions on the first part of the Machina Coelestis of the honourable, learned, and deservedly famous astronomer Johannes Hevelius Consul of Dantzick; together with an explication of some instruments made by Robert Hooke, Professor of Geometry in Gresham College, and Fellow of the Royal Society, 1674.   4to, pp. [viii], 78 with three folding engraved plates.     First edition, very rare, of Hooke’s most confident and outspoken treatise on instrumentation, Animadversions, which derived from a lecture delivered at Gresham College on 11 Read More...