A rare 18th-century French lacquered-brass compound monocular microscope, signed on the shaped stage F. Villette Opticien du Prince a Liege, the eye-piece with primary lens, the extension tube with lens (cracked), the outer body-tube profusely engraved with scrolls and foliage, mounted on a pillar support with five-screw focusing adjustment, the pillar secured to the shaped stage similarly engraved and fixed to a pair of scroll and quadrant limbs with cross-stretcher incorporating a mirror (one glass missing) arranged so as to incline to the horizontal, the stage axis on pair of scroll supports with two friction screws to clamp the inclined quadrants, mounted on a stepped octagonal-rectangular plinth base with accessory drawer containing five numbered objectives, with point specimen carrier and other items the base decorated with flowers and foliage on a green gruond with gilt decoration, in pyramid-shaped stained wood carrying case 17in. ( cm) high

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A rare 18th-century French lacquered-brass compound monocular microscope, signed on the shaped stage F. Villette Opticien du Prince a Liege, the eye-piece with primary lens, the extension tube with lens (cracked), the outer body-tube profusely engraved with scrolls and foliage, mounted on a pillar support with five-screw focusing adjustment, the pillar secured to the shaped stage similarly engraved and fixed to a pair of scroll and quadrant limbs with cross-stretcher incorporating a mirror (one glass missing) arranged so as to incline to the horizontal, the stage axis on pair of scroll supports with two friction screws to clamp the inclined quadrants, mounted on a stepped octagonal-rectangular plinth base with accessory drawer containing five numbered objectives, with point specimen carrier and other items the base decorated with flowers and foliage on a green gruond with gilt decoration, in pyramid-shaped stained wood carrying case 17in. ( cm) high
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Lot Essay

Cf: Collection Nachet, Editions Alain Brieux p29 plate VI No45, for a similar instrument signed Magny fecit Parisus ammo 1754 No13
A similar instrument to the one alone is recorder, in a red painted plinth base, signed:

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