Between the late 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, pocket-sized optical compendia gained popularity. Initially, around the second half of the 17th century, these included small Galilean telescopes, often made from bovine metatarsal bones and sometimes from wood. Archaeological excavations have uncovered such items, all dating to the 17th century and found in contexts from the mid-17th to early 18th centuries, primarily in Dutch or English settings. Many of these telescopes are linked to maritime
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