A collection of optical books,

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THE WILLIAM L. CAMP Jr SPECTACLE COLLECTION In the early 1970s Mr William L. Camp Jr combined forces with his brother, an optician, and developed a business in retail opticians eventually owning twenty-nine outlets across America. During business trips Camp took the opportunity to visit many antique shops and began to collect antique spectacles. In 1987 Mr Camp acquired the comprehensive and impressive collection of Dr Edward Charles Bull (1871-1931). In 1890 Bull had travelled from his native Canada to Paris where he learnt the optometric profession under the tutelage of his eldest brother, the renowned ophthalmologist and inventor of optical instruments, Dr. George Joseph Bull. During his career, Edward Bull worked with optometrists in America and England, including C.M. Dixey, Optician to the King in London. In 1912 he received his degree of Doctor of Ophthalmology and Optometry from the Acadamy of Optometry and Ophthalmology in Los Angeles. Throughout his career and studies Bull was an avid collector of coins, stamps, objects of art and Indian relics. However, it was his collection of spectacles that was most prolific, and he published many articles on this subject. Whilst he worked in Europe and later in America he continually collected spectacles and eyewear, in all over 40 years worth! These were exhibited for a number of years at the Museum of Natural History at Exposition Park in Los Angeles where Bull ended his years as a curator. Mr Camp not only was lucky enough to obtain the Bull spectacle collection to add to his own but in the same year acquired a number of pieces from D.L. Bronson, the author of Early American Specs - An exciting collectible (offered in Lot 500); some of the author's pieces pictured in his book are offered in this sale. Moreover, he also acquired the remaining collection of Mr Eric Muth, a Master Optician, whom Mr Camp regards as his mentor. Mr Camp's collection can really be seen as the amagalmation of four passionate spectacle collectors' endeavours. The collection is broad in its scope, encompassing all the varieties of eyewear both fashionable and functional that have been developed over a number of centuries and on different continents.

Details

A collection of optical books,
including:
Acerenza, F. Spectacles (Milan:1988) [English and Italian]
Alberoni, F. & others Occhiali Italiani (Palma:1986)
Bronson, L.D. Early American Specs - An exciting collectible (Glendale:1974). Signed in ink Lots of luck L.D. Bronson 8/3/87
Corson, R. Fashions in Eyeglasses (Chester Springs:1967)
Marly, P. Spectacles & Spyglasses (Poitiers:1988). No.785 of limited edition of 1000 cloth-bound copies numbered from 1 to 1,000, printed specially for Pierre Marly. Signed in ink by the author For William L. Camp Jr Bien cordialement a vous
Poulet, W. Atlas on the History of Spectacles (Bonn:1978)
Poulet, W The Arts and Spectacles over Five Centuries (Bonn:1980) Volume Two
Roiter, F. A Far-Sighted Man: The story of a public figure who'd rather be a private person and the small workshop that became a multinational (Verona:1991) (7)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

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