Accession number
PML 352900
Published
London : Smith & Beck, [1858-1865]
Credit line
Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., 1987.
Notes
Microscope looks like Student's Best or Number 3 Stand with serial number 2241.
Housed in original blue velvet trimmed fitted mahogany box, also housed in a green felt lined wooden case by Hobbs & Co., London with "C.L.D. Glass with Care" stamped on front.
Engraved on multiple pieces: "Smith & Beck, 6, Coleman Street, London."
Engraved on objective 4/10: "R & J London & Philadelphia."
Includes: rack and pinion main and micrometer fine focus, a square stage with a manuel slide guide in 2 dovetailed runners, a sub-stage socket for plug-in accessories, plano-concave mirror on an articulated arm, all above a reversed black painted cast brass "Y" foot.
Accompanying accessories housed separately in two boxes: 2 tweezers, 3 darkwills (1 broken) and holder, side condensing-lens with stand (dismantled), stage forceps, live box, selenite mounted in plain brass plate, compressora, glass live chamber, 3 eyepieces of different magnifying powers, polarizer, 3 objectives in signed cans (1 of which is R & J), polished silver Lieberkuhn with dust cover, erecting tube, parabolic condenser, wollaston camera lucinda with lens to magnify pencil point, hand-colored micrometer slide with 100. 1000. in black ink (colored by Tenniel), over-the-eyepiece analyzer, and 3 other pieces.
According to Smith & Beck sales ledgers, this microscope, no. 2241, was sold to C.L. Dodgson in November 1859. It appears to be the Smaller Student's Microsope model, marked SS in an 1856 catalogue. One of the lens holders is signed "R. & J. Beck" with a London and Philadelphia address; thus it dates to not before 1865 when the company name changed.
Charles L. Dodgson gave this microscope to his nephew Bertram J. Collingwood, who later gave it to Frank G. Thomas, Esq. Arthur Houghton purchased it at the Thomas sale (Sotheby's July, 1932).
A letter from Collingwood authenticating the microscope has been transferred to LHMS dept. (MA 6358).
Housed in original blue velvet trimmed fitted mahogany box, also housed in a green felt lined wooden case by Hobbs & Co., London with "C.L.D. Glass with Care" stamped on front.
Engraved on multiple pieces: "Smith & Beck, 6, Coleman Street, London."
Engraved on objective 4/10: "R & J London & Philadelphia."
Includes: rack and pinion main and micrometer fine focus, a square stage with a manuel slide guide in 2 dovetailed runners, a sub-stage socket for plug-in accessories, plano-concave mirror on an articulated arm, all above a reversed black painted cast brass "Y" foot.
Accompanying accessories housed separately in two boxes: 2 tweezers, 3 darkwills (1 broken) and holder, side condensing-lens with stand (dismantled), stage forceps, live box, selenite mounted in plain brass plate, compressora, glass live chamber, 3 eyepieces of different magnifying powers, polarizer, 3 objectives in signed cans (1 of which is R & J), polished silver Lieberkuhn with dust cover, erecting tube, parabolic condenser, wollaston camera lucinda with lens to magnify pencil point, hand-colored micrometer slide with 100. 1000. in black ink (colored by Tenniel), over-the-eyepiece analyzer, and 3 other pieces.
According to Smith & Beck sales ledgers, this microscope, no. 2241, was sold to C.L. Dodgson in November 1859. It appears to be the Smaller Student's Microsope model, marked SS in an 1856 catalogue. One of the lens holders is signed "R. & J. Beck" with a London and Philadelphia address; thus it dates to not before 1865 when the company name changed.
Charles L. Dodgson gave this microscope to his nephew Bertram J. Collingwood, who later gave it to Frank G. Thomas, Esq. Arthur Houghton purchased it at the Thomas sale (Sotheby's July, 1932).
A letter from Collingwood authenticating the microscope has been transferred to LHMS dept. (MA 6358).
Description
1 microscope
Provenance
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson; Bertram J. Collingwood; Frank G. Thomas; from the Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., Lewis Carroll Collection.
Classification
Catalog link
Department