The Scope Vault
An interesting and rare collection of various 18th-19th century microscopes and telescopes.
18th Century
Gregorian Reflecting Telescope
Exceptional Gregorian Reflecting Telescope. Circa 1748-1760. Signed 'Nairne London 1.5/218= 505.' Edward Nairne, a notable early scientific instrument maker. Nairne constructed the first marine barometer, and supplied instruments for Harvard University at the personal request of Benjamin Franklin.
Featured in The University of Arizona .
Featured in The University of Cambridge .
19th Century
Cary-Gould Type Microscope
Fine 19th Century Cary-Gould Type Compound Microscope. English made, circa 1830. Unsigned. Great optics with powerful magnification; ideal for naturalists, minerologists, or botanists for use in field work.
Featured in the The University of Arizona .
Featured in The University of Berkeley.
18th Century
Boxed Gregorian Reflecting Telescope
Gregorian Travelers' Reflecting Telescope. brass tubular body, screw type focusing rod, mounted on a brass post which screws into the top of its wooden carrying case. Inner case is lined with blue velvet.
Featured in Harvard University (Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments).
Late 18th-Early 19th Century
Jones-Type Botanical Microscope
Georgian Chagrin-cased Jones-Type Botanical Microscope. Likely an unsigned model from Dollond London. Circa 1790-1810. Original, functional piece.
Featured in The Science Museum Group.
More Information: Dollond London 1820 Botanical Microscope.
Mid-19th Century
Cary-Gould Type Drum Microscope
Circa 1850. Unsigned Cary Gould-Type Drum Microscope. Original piece with superb optics and lovely patina.
Featured in the Science Museum Group
Featured in UNC Charlotte.
Featured in the National Museum of American History.
Featured in The University of Berkeley.
18th Century
Treen Live Box Insect Microscope
Antique Treen Live Box Insect Microscope with Removable lenses. English-made, circa 1720-1780. Unsigned. A handsomely-crafted, & unique scope; each end features a removable glass lens which screws into tho polished Treen tube. Intended to isolate and magnify insects for study in greater detail.
Late 19th-Early 20th century
Col. E.V. Whitby's Boxed Microscope
Edwardian Bacteriological Microscope by J.Swift & Son, London. Lister Limb Microscope Boxed Set, Circa 1898-1902. Designed for staff of the Medical Department of the War Office. Box marked 'E.V. Whitby'.
Formally issued to Col. E.V. Whitby, of the Royal Army Medical Corp. First Head of Radiology at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital. Awarded the 1937 Leishman Memorial Prize for the for outstanding merit in the Royal Medical Corps.
Late 19th Century
Early Hans Heele Spectroscope
Single Prism, Three-Arm Brass Spectroscope by Hans Heele. Scarce early model, circa 1893-1899. German made, signed 'Heele-Berlin'. Instrument is supported with weighted iron tripod base.
Featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Late 19th Century
Nörremberg-Type Polariscope
Antique Nörremberg-Type Micro-Polariscope. Circa 1890-1900. Greek origin. Unsigned. Incredible optics, a rare & highly superb custom-build. Marked '0π560'.
Polariscopes are instruments for measuring or exhibiting the polarization of light or for examining substances in polarized light, often to determine stress and strain in glass and other substances.
19th Century
Antique English Two-Draw Spyglass
Antique English Two-Draw Brass & Leather Spyglass/Telescope. Acaromatic lens, likely English made. Unsigned. Original maroon leather case, with braided edges. Circa 1820-1860. Complete with sun shield, brass material. Fantastic precision instrument, with handsome patina, and dyed bovine leather.
Late 18th Century
Octagonal Mahogany Spyglass
Octagonal Mahogany single draw spyglass. Circa 1780, European made. Unsigned. Drill holes indicate once library-mounted. Original & uncracked lenses. No sunshade, as this model was made before the invention of sun-shades.
19th Century
Sighting Spyglass by C. Duhamel
Sighting scope for accompanying astronomical telescope. Three-draw antique spyglass, incredible optics. Circa 1850.
Signed 'C. Duhamel, Optician; New Orleans'.
Similar Model Featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Mid-Late 18th Century
Sailors Spyglass
Single-draw sailors spyglass. Unsigned, circa 1770. Leather sheath, with macramed rope borders, features two loops used to hang by ships' line, brass body tube, original lenses.
Mid-19th Century
Antique C.G. Bush Kaleidoscope
Circa 1850. Made of liquid filled, colored glass beads. Created with a set of 4 mirrors, engaged by turning the ships wheel. Chagrin covered tube, mounted on Mahogany clawed base.
Leg stamped 'CG Patent November 17, 187 BUSH'