Powell & Lealand No1 Microscope dated 1862 Start Price USD 595.00 Current Price USD 10,888.99 Time Left - Bid Count 18 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 Location Norfolk See more about 'Powell & Lealand No1 Microscope dated 1862' Description phodds Store Payment Powell & Lealand No1 Microscope dated 1862 Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album  Of the three most revered London-based Victorian microscope makers, Powell & Lealand, Andrew Ross and James Smith, the former are generally regarded as those who created instruments reaching the peak of perfection for the period and the famous No1 stand represented the pinnacle of their achievements in the field and is probably the most famous of all microscopes. Constructed with remarkable attention to detail (towards the end of their production, it has been stated that it took a whole day just to perfect the helical screw controlling the lateral stage movement), it was an extremely expensive instrument to produce and was the microscope of choice for many of the most eminent nineteenth-century microscopists. Examples are found in many institutions, but one of the finest collection of Powell & Lealand's stands is that of the Royal Microscopical Society in Oxford, as catalogued by Gerard L'E Turner in The Great Age of the Microscope. Over the past decade those examples remaining in private hands have made infrequent appearances on the open market.The microscope offered here is dated 1862 (the date is engraved under the fine focus mechanism) and as such is one of the earliest stands that became commonly known as the "No1", a design that first appeared in 1861 and continued to 1869. The design is unique for the massive and impressive ring stage and substantial solid brass tripod foot.Condition reportThis microscope is offered without a case or any further accessories other than those illustrated. Condition of the optics and mechanics is consistently excellent, with all of the racks and pinions being damage-free and offering smooth movement. The lacquer is entirely original and is very good condition, just noting some loss to the back of the limb, near the fine focus (see photos) and to the rear tripod leg (no doubt due to it being grasped as it was shifted about on the worktop over the years). The microscope is complete and comes with an original Powell & Lealand signed lens (probably a 2inch) and a scarce Powell and Lealand Nelson-type condenser. Both are in excellent working order. The condition of the silvering on the large mirror is excellent, with no loss.Height, as seen in the photos, is approximately 50cms (20 inches).This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable of all nineteenth-century achromatic microscopes, indeed, one of the finest of any Victorian scientific instruments.Post, at cost will be $200 outside the UK, £25 within. Payment Back to Top       I accept the following forms of payment: ProPayPayPalMoney OrderPersonal Check Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album Click to View Image Album     FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.Make your listings stand out withFREE Vendio custom templates!  FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager. Place a Bid!