18th-Century Alcohol-type Early Fahrenheit Thermometer

This is an antique 18th century early-Fahrenheit alcohol-type (spirit) thermometer. The first alcohol-type thermometer was created by renowned natural philosopher, physicist, and inventor: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, in 1709. Dyed-spirit (alcohol) thermometers predate the mercury thermometer (also invented by Daniel Fahrenheit, in 1714).

In 1724, Daniel developed the Fahrenheit scale as we are all familiar today. To assist in conceptualizing temperature correlating to these fixed points, Fahrenheit used descriptive or visible reference points. These included the temperature of ice, the heat of your body, and moderations in local temperature from temperate spring/fall to a hot summer's day. 

The sealed glass thermometer utilizes a red-dyed spirit medium. Encased in Mahogany, with original glass, and hand-inscribed paper scale. This thermometer is appropriately marked at 0°F (freezing), 55°F (temperate), 76°F (summer heat), and 98°F (blood heat). Circa 1770-1790.

Blood Heat was first recorded as 96°F, later changed to 98°F after Daniel's death in 1736. The use of 'Sumr' for summer indicates this predates the engraving/printing innovations of 1795-1805. 

Scale is numbered 30-110 degrees. Numbered every 10 degrees, marked every 2 degrees.