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A RARE AND FINE DOUBLE THEODOLITE BY MATTHEW BERGE, LONDON, FORMERLY OWNED BY THOMAS, FIRST BARON DUNDAS, GOVERNOR OF THE FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL COMPANY AND PROMOTOR OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON'S STEAM BOAT TRIALS, CIRCA 1805
constructed in lacquered brass with silvered scales, signed and inscribed on the main plate M. Berge, London / Lord Dundas, bubble levels, compass with jewelled pivot, telescope with blanking nut, lower telescope mounted on separate axis, secondary base with screw levelling and threaded removable tripod feet, contained within original fitted shaped wooden box of issue with two telescope tubes, adjusting instrument and key - 14½ x 11½ x 8¼in. (37 x 29x 21cm.)
Thomas, Lord Dundas (1741-1820) the educated and well-connected "nabob of the north" was a hugely significant figure in Scottish and Northern English politics and culture almost until the day he died. As a friend of the Prince of Wales, Lord Dundas enjoyed an active social life, being a member of Brooks's Club, the United Service Club, the Society of Dilettanti and the Society of Antiquaries. From 1793 to 1813 he was the effective commander of the Yorkshire militia, and was Lord Lieutenant and Vice-Admiral of Orkney and Shetland between 1794 and 1820. An enthusiastic agricultural improver, he spent his income from rents on draining and enclosing land, experimenting with new crops and breeds and building water- or horse-powered threshing mills. As governor of the Forth and Clyde Navigation Company (1786-1816), he presided over the canal's completion and the creation of Grangemouth and Port Dundas. He also persuaded the company to test the first practical steam-tug, the Charlotte Dundas - named for a daughter. Despite its early promise, concerns over bank erosion were not addressed and the project foundered. Matthew Berge succeeded Jesse Ramsden in 1800 and for a time signed his instruments "Berge, Late Ramsden". This example has a more flamboyant signature now obscured by a plate securing knob and had to be re-signed underneath, but was probably used by Dundas until he stepped down as Governor of the Canal in 1813
£6000-8000
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A THEODOLITE BY GILKERSON & CO. LONDON CIRCA 1820
signed on the bed-plate as per title, 2¾in. silvered compass dial, bubble level, rack-and-pinion arc adjustment, 1in. telescope with bubble level, contained within original fitted box of issue - 6 x 12in. (15 x 30.5cm.) overall
£400-600
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A FRENCH DOUBLE THEODOLITE, CIRCA 1840
unsigned, constructed in lacquered brass with silvered scales, inset compass with jewelled pivot needle and restrainer, bubble level and twin telescopes with rack and pinion focusing, contained within fitted wooden box - 12½ x 14¾in. (32 x 36cm.); together with associated wooden tripod
(2)
£800-1200
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A 18TH-CENTURY THEODOLITE BY GEORGE ADAMS, LONDON
the 8½in. telescope with bubble under, mounted on silvered arc with rack-and-pinion adjustment, 2½in. silvered compass, secondary levelling tube, signed near edge G. Adams London mounted on two stage platform with threaded adjustment, now on later ebonised base - 11in. (28cm.) high
£400-600
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AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY THEODOLITE BY W.S. JONES, LONDON
signed on the silvered dial as per title and inscribed 30 Holborn, London, constructed in lacquered brass, with telescope and leveling tube mounted over horseshoe arc, 9½in. (24cm.) high; together with a lacquered brass telescope sight and bubble by the same makers
(2)
£200-300
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A DUMPY LEVEL BY DANCER, MANCHESTER, 19TH-CENTURY
signed on the back-plate as per title and finished in oxidised brass and contained in fitted case, with trade label for Gregory Ltd, Westminster - 17½in. (44.5cm.) wide; together with a further four examples by Cartwright & Son, Preston; Gregory, Birmingham; R.W. Street, London and Hewitson, Newcastle on Tyne
(5)
£250-350
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A LACQUERED BRASS GRAPHOMETER BY PIERRE GOURDIN, PARIS, 1779
of typical form with arc signed and inscribed Gourdin au Paris, Quart Cercle, á Paris 1779, with 3½in. silvered compass with blued steel needle and foliate engraved supports - 12in. (30.5cm.) diam, mounted on later wooden stand
Working between 1775 and 1800 Gourdin was twice rejected as an Ingénieur du Roi possibly because of professional protectionism from Charles-Joseph Meurand (see lot 220) who made very similar instruments. His luck partially changed in 1794 when he was chosen to value mathematical instruments seized during the Revolution
£1000-1500
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A LACQUERED BRASS GRAPHOMETER ANTOINE JOSEPH MEURAND, PARIS CIRCA 1780
of typical form, signed above the arc Meurand á Paris, foliate engraved sighting arm and support frame, 2¼in. silvered compass dial with blued steel needle and hinged socle support under - 10in. (25.5cm.)
Meurand was active between 1750 and 1805 from several address in Paris and specialised in graphometers, panotgraphs and sundials
£800-1000
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A FINE 'CAPTAIN KATER' PATTERN sighting COMPASS BY THOMAS JONES, LONDON, CIRCA 1815
the 5in. mica card with arsenic green scale, signed in manuscript Thomas Jones No. 62 Charing Cross, steel needle, removable inclined lens assembly (later) and folding sight with lens - 5¼in. (13.3cm.) wide
This pattern was invented by Captain Kater in 1811. A small inclined mirror and lens eyepiece assembly allows simultaneous viewing of the scale and the distant object via the opposite vertical folding sight. Kater's design pre-dates Schmalcalder's use of a prism but was not patented and became superseded by it
Literature: Scientific Instrument Society, Bulletin No. 127 (December 2015) p.36
£200-300
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A GROUP OF 19TH-CENTURY SURVEYOR'S LEVELS
comprising a boxed miner's dial by Edward Wrench, London; a boxed sighting compass by Elliott Bros., London; a boxed miner's dial by Casartelli; an unsigned sighting compass, a level and an alidade
(6)
£250-350
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A SIMPLE SURVEYING LEVEL BY WILLIAM WILTON, ST. DAY, CORNWALL
signed on the cross bar W. Wilton, St. Day, Cornwall, pin hole sight with cross hair, scale divided from '0' at centre to 40° either side, the reverse with mounting cap for a ?telescope - 5in. (12.5cm.) diameter
Wm. Wilton worked from St. Day in Cornwall between 1830 and 1851. It is uncertain at present what the mounting cap is for, but seems likely that it was to attach the tripod mounted telescope to survey as a primitive level
£100-150
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Ø A EXCEPTIONALLY FINE AND RARE ½IN. SINGLE DRAW SPYGLASS ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS RIBRIGHT, LONDON CIRCA 1750
unsigned, the tortoiseshell main tube with intricate silver wirework and rococo silver end pieces conjoined with a fluted spiral twist, eyepiece and main lens with dust slide - 5½in. (14cm.) closed
Literature: Louwman & Zuidervaart: A Certain Instrument for Seeing Far, Wassenarr 2013, pp166-168 where similar instruments are displayed
£4000-6000
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Ø A 1½IN. IVORY MONOCULAR BY JOHN BLEULER, LONDON, CIRCA 1800
signed on the gilt draw tube Bleuler London, and contained within plush-lined wood and leather case of issue - 2½in. (6.5cm.) high
£100-150
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A 1¼IN. LEATHER AND SHAGREEN GALILEAN MONOCULAR SPY GLASS BY BENJAMIN MARTIN, LONDON
signed on the embossed draw tube B: Martin / London, dust slide to eye piece, green shagreen main tube with stained ivory dividers - 3in. (7.5cm.) closed
£250-350
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A 1½IN. GILT BRASS POCKET SPY GLASS BY WATKINS & HILL, CHARING CROSS, LONDON
signed around the eye piece as per title, eight draws and embossed body tube - 1½in. (4cm.) closed
£80-120
See illustration on page 79
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A FINE EARLY 19TH-CENTURY 1¼IN. GILT BRASS THREE-DRAW TELESCOPE BY GILBERT
with engine-turned and fluted main tube and eye piece, signed on the back GILBERT LONDON - 23¼ / 8in. (59 / 20.2cm.) open / closed
£400-600
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A RARE 1¼IN. POCKET TRIPOD GALILEAN SINGLE DRAW TELESCOPE BY DOLLOND, LONDON
signed on the draw tube as per title, four eye-pieces with numbered selector side wheel, draw tube with counter-numbered focus lines, threaded objective cap, folding cabriole legs mounted on slide to fit inside main tube, assembled - 7 x 4¾in. (18 x 12cm.) closed
£400-600
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A 1¼IN. SILVERED MONOCULAR BY GILBERT & WRIGHT, LONDON, CIRCA 1805
signed on the eyepiece as per title, with 1 / 2 power switch, draw tube with corresponding 1 / 2 lines, contained within original simulated red leather covered wooden case of issue - 4in. (10cm.) high
£200-400
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A RARE 2IN. FOUR-DRAW TELESCOPE BY STEINBERG, LONDON, CIRCA 1830
signed on the draw tube Steinberg, 44 Cirencester Place, Fitzroy Square, London, main tube covered in stained baleen, dust slide and lens cap - 12in. (30.5cm.) closed
Literature: Scientific Instrument Society, Bulletin 91, November 2006 p.18-21 where Steinberg's process is examined.
£800-1200
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A 1IN. THREE DRAW CARD AND FISH SKIN TELESCOPE, ENGLISH CIRCA 1760
unsigned, the green card sections with focus lines, horn stage dividers, lignum vitæ lens assembly, dust slide and lens cap - 12½in. (31.5cm.) closed
£200-300
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A LEATHER AND CARD 1 1/8IN. THREE DRAW TELESCOPE TUBE, PROBABLY ITALIAN, 18TH-CENTURY
unsigned, the draws with impressed focus lines, with ivory stage dividers and lenses (later) - 15½in. (39.5cm.) closed overall
£200-400
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A 1½IN. THREE DRAW WOOD AND BRASS TELESCOPE BY RAMSDEN, LONDON, CIRCA 1790
signed by the eyepiece Je Ramsden London, satinwood main tube, lens cap and dust slide - 9¾in. (25cm.) closed
£250-350
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A LATE 18TH-CENTURY 1¼IN. THREE-DRAW MAHOGANY AND BRASS TELESCOPE BY RAMSDEN
with shade and dust slides, signed by the tapering eye-piece Ramsden LONDON - 39 / 12in. (99 / 30.5cm.) open / closed
£250-350
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A 2IN. FIVE-DRAW MAHOGANY AND BRASS TELESCOPE BY JESSE RAMSDEN, CIRCA 1790
signed by the eyepiece Je. Ramfden, London, with dust slide to eyepiece - 10¼in. (26cm.) closed; together with a 1½in. three draw example signed Berge London late Ramsden, with leather covered tube, dust slide, lens cap and splash cup - 9½in. (24cm.) closed
(2)
£300-400
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A 1IN. SINGLE DRAW MAHOGANY AND BRASS REVERSE TAPER CAMPAIGN TELESCOPE BY DOLLOND, LONDON, CIRCA 1780
signed on the main lens dust slide Dollond London, main tube divided with substantial brass thread, tapered eyepiece with dust slide - 26¼in. (66.5cm.) closed
£250-350
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THREE 19TH-CENTURY POCKET TELESCOPES
comprising 1¼in. three-draw by Dollond, in wood and brass, and a 1½in. four-draw signed and inscribed Brooks, Floodgate Street, London from Dollonds and a 1½in. two-draw signed Troughton & Simms, London with tapering leather covered main tube
(3)
£200-300
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FOUR 19TH-CENTURY POCKET TELESCOPES
comprising 1¼in. three-draw wood and brass example signed Wm. Harris & Co, 50 Holborn, London, with lens cap - 6in. (15.2cm.) closed; together with three unsigned leather covered examples of similar type
(4)
£100-150
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A ½IN. SINGLE DRAW WOOD AND BRASS DECAGONAL MARINE TELESCOPE BY SPENCER, BROWNING & RUST, LONDON, CIRCA 1790
the signature stamped on the tube as per title by bulbous eyepiece with dust slide, main lens assembly with dust slide, - 13½in. (34.5cm.) closed
£300-500
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A 1½in. single draw mahogany and brass marine telescope by Spencer, Browning & Rust, london, 19th-century
signed by the eyepiece as per title and inscribed Day or Night, - 20¾in. (52.5cm.) closed; together with an associated brass tripod and stand
(2)
£100-150
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A 3IN. LIBRARY REFLECTING TELESCOPE, ENGLISH, 19TH-CENTURY
unsigned, the 18in. tube with speculum mirrors, rack-and pinion focusing, eyepiece with tinted cap, objective cover, mounted in a folding tripod base - 16 x 22in. (40.5 x 56cm.)
£800-1000
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A FINE 2IN. REFRACTING LIBRARY TELESCOPE BY STEINBECK, MUNICH, CIRCA 1840
the 19½in. parallel wooden tube signed and numbered on the main lens assembly Steinbeck in München No. 684, complete with star finder, single draw with rack and pinion adjustment, mounted on calibrated counterweighted stand attached to turned wooden base, assembled - 14 x 32in. (35.5 x 81cm.) closed, contained within fitted yellow pine box complete with accessories - box 25½in. diameter
£1000-1500
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A 3IN. REFLECTING TELESCOPE COMPENDIUM, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1820
unsigned, the 8in. tube with refracting star sight with crosshairs, rack and pinion secondary mirror adjustment, sprung-loaded speculum main mirror, interchangeable secondary mirrors scratch inscribed 100 135 175; 45 66 86, tube cap, threaded folding tripod feet, three eyepieces, sprung-loaded quick release tripod support, contained within fitted wooden box of issue - 9¾in. (24.7cm.) wide
£1000-1500
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A REFRACTING TELESCOPE COMPENDIUM BY W. & S. JONES, LONDON, CIRCA 1825
comprising 2¼in. five-draw patinated leather covered brass telescope, signed by the eyepiece W & S Jones, 30 Holborn, London, contained within fitted wooden case of issue, with folding tripod stand and alternate power eyepiece, with maker's label inside lid dated for 1825 - 13¼ x 7in. (33 x 18cm.)
£600-800
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A 1½IN. EIGHT-DRAW POCKET TELESCOPE BY GEORGE ADAMS, FLEET STREET, LONDON, CIRCA 1800
signed as per title, the main tube with red leather covering (later) - 5½in. (14cm.) closed
£80-120
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A FINE SOLAR MICROSCOPE BY ROBERT HUNTLY, LONDON, CIRCA 1820
constructed in lacquered brass, signed on the back plate Huntly LONDON, comprising a two-part tube and accessories comprising brass and bone slides, varied strength lens slide, platform pincers, tweezers etc., contained within fitted box of issue - 11 x 8in. (28 x 20cm.)
Robert Huntly was an optician working between 1811 and 1840 from several addresses between High Holborn and Burlington Arcade
£800-1200
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Ø A FINE MICROSCOPE COMPENDIUM, PROBABLY ENGLISH, CIRCA 1740
unsigned, comprising a lacquered brass solar microscope, contained in felt-lined mahogany fitted case, with rococo lock plate and drop handle to lid, further containing a shagreen box with compartments for screw barrel microscope and accessories, including six numbered nosepieces, two monoculars, shagreen sliding case containing one brass 4-aperture slide, glass tubes and other accessories - 5½ x 8¾ x 5¼in. (14 x 22 x 13.5cm.)
£1000-1500
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AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY LACQUERED BRASS MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE BY CARY, LONDON
of botonist-type, signed on the pillar as per title, with 5¼in. main tube contained in plush-lined tray of accessories including mirror, four nose-pieces, large and small Lieberkuhn mirrors, four bone four-aperture slides with some samples, platform, forceps, magnifer, tweezers, scalpel etc., the box - 3½ x 10 x 7½in. (9 x 25.5 x 19cm.)
£500-800
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A CARY TYPE BOTANIST'S PORTABLE MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1840
unsigned, constructed in lacquered brass with 5in. main tube, thread-mounted to sprung platform, with rack and pinion focus, contained in fitted tray with accessories including three nosepieces, mirror, tweezes etc. - 6½in. (16.5cm.) diameter
£200-300
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A CARY TYPE PORTABLE BOTANIST'S MICROSCOPE, CIRCA 1840
unsigned, the 5in. main tube of typical lacquered brass construction, threaded pillar with sprung slide stage and rack-and-pinion adjustment, contained within fitted box with four nosepieces and three four-sample slides with samples - 6½ x 4½in. (16.5 x 11.5cm.)
£250-350
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A CARY TYPE BOTANIST'S POCKET MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1830
unsigned, of typical lacquered brass construction, with 3½in. main tube, threaded to rack and pinion mount, contained within fitted removable tray of accessories including three nosepieces, mirror etc., contained within red leather morocco case with plush lining - 5in. (12.5cm.) diameter; together with late 19th-Century student's binocular microscope, unsigned, uncased
(2)
£150-250
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A 19TH-CENTURY SIMPLE MICROSCOPE
unsigned, threaded column with platform mirror, contained in fitted case with accessories including two eyepieces, platform pincers, light disc etc. - 5in. (12.5cm.) diameter; together with an unsigned student's microscope in box; and a spectrometer by John Browning, London, in box
(3)
£150-250
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A SIMPLE MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1740
unsigned, constructed in lacquered brass, folding stand with sliding shaft to lid mount, threaded platform focusing, three numbered eyepieces, platform pincers, tweezers, turned ivory handle, three 4-aperture bone slides with insect wing samples and associated mirror contained within plush-lined shagreen box of issue - 4in. (10cm.) diameter
£300-500
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A FINE SIMPLE MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1740
unsigned, contained within fitted shagreen box of issue, complete with accessories including three nosepieces, three eyepieces, platform, bull's eye mirror platform and pincers, and other accessories - 5½in. (14cm.) diameter
£600-800
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A SCREW BARREL MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH, CIRCA 1740
unsigned, contained within fitted shagreen case, with accessories including two eyepieces, three bone triple-aperture slides with samples, one brass slide - 4in. (10cm.) diameter
£300-400
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A SIMPLE BOTANIST'S MICROSCOPE, CIRCA 1820
unsigned, with folding eyepiece and handle, slotted bar with slider for forceps/pin sample holder, contained within original red leather covered case - 3½in. (9cm.) wide
This type of microscope was introduced by W. & S. Jones in 1798 and remained popular for several decades.
£100-150
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A SIMPLE MICROSCOPE, ENGLISH 18TH-CENTURY
unsigned, with folding turned ivory handle, lens and turned sample clamp/tweezer, contained within leatherette box of issue - 2½in. (6cm.) high
£100-150
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AN ENTOMOLOGICAL MICROSCOPE BY WITHERING, CIRCA 1820
unsigned, constructed in lacquered brass with alternate power eye-pieces flanking a sliding platform on two-pillar frame - 2¾in. (7cm.) high
£80-120
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TWO DRUM MICROSCOPES, ENGLISH 19TH-CENTURY
unsigned, contained within fitted boxes of issue, complete with accessories and bone slides - 10.5in. (26.5cm.)
(2)
£300-500
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TWO DRUM MICROSCOPES, ENGLISH 19TH-CENTURY
unsigned, contained within fitted boxes of issue, complete with accessories and bone slides - 10.5in. (26.5cm.)
(2)
£300-500
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A JONES-TYPE MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, CIRCA 1830
unsigned, tapering barrel threaded to folding rack and pinion support with rotating nose pieces, mechanical platform with light diffuser and concave/convex mirror - assembled height 18½in. (47cm.)
£300-500
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