Withering-type botanical microscope, 1780
The “Withering-type Microscope” is named for its inventor, Dr. William Withering (1741-1799), an English physician and botanist who graduated with a degree in medicine 1766 in Edinburgh. Inspired by the taxonomical work and systematic classification of Carl Linnæus (1707-1778), Withering (1776) applied the Linnaean taxonomical system of classification to British plants in a seminal, two volume work, A Botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in the British Isles. The earliest reference to a small botanical microscope of Withering’s design appeared in the first edition of this book. There, Withering indicated this microscope was developed for field dissections of flowers and other plant parts. While there is no surviving example of this exact design, close relatives of this type do exist, made either completely of brass or of ivory with brass pillars. Ivory models can be tentatively dated to 1776-1785, as by 1787 a newer model with a hollowed stage in an all-brass configuration already predominated. In turn, it was preceded by the brief appearance of a transitional brass model but with solid stage of ivory or horn (seen here). This version is extremely rare and must have been produced in very small numbers. By 1787 all these varieties were not recorded anymore in the literature.
Withering-type botanical microscope, 1780
The “Withering-type Microscope” is named for its inventor, Dr. William Withering (1741-1799), an English physician and botanist who graduated with a degree in medicine 1766 in Edinburgh. Inspired by the taxonomical work and systematic classification of Carl Linnæus (1707-1778), Withering (1776) applied the Linnaean taxonomical system of classification to British plants in a seminal, two volume work, A Botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in the British Isles. The earliest reference to a small botanical microscope of Withering’s design appeared in the first edition of this book. There, Withering indicated this microscope was developed for field dissections of flowers and other plant parts. While there is no surviving example of this exact design, close relatives of this type do exist, made either completely of brass or of ivory with brass pillars. Ivory models can be tentatively dated to 1776-1785, as by 1787 a newer model with a hollowed stage in an all-brass configuration already predominated. In turn, it was preceded by the brief appearance of a transitional brass model but with solid stage of ivory or horn (seen here). This version is extremely rare and must have been produced in very small numbers. By 1787 all these varieties were not recorded anymore in the literature.
References: SML: A242712; Goren 2014.
References: SML: A242712; Goren 2014.
Prof. Yuval Goren's Collection of the History of the Microscope
This early type transitional microscope by Andrew Pritchard (1804-1882) is signed on the tube and foot Andrew Pritchard 263 Strand London, with pinion focusing to the racked column of triangular section, mounted in a trunnion above the adjustable column and shaped tripod base, in a mahogany case with ocular, mechanical stage, objective, Lieberkühn, and live box -- 20in. (51cm.) high.
An optical set was added, which includes:
1/10 inch objective with original can, signed A. Pritchard, 162 Fleet Street London, and dating from the period 1839 - 1859.
'B' 1/4 inch objective with original can, signed A. Pritchard, 263 Strand London and dating from the period 1836 - 1839.
'C' objective; focal length not marked. With original can, signed A. Pritchard, 263 Strand London, and dating from the period 1836 - 1839.
'A' 1/2 inch Leiberkuhn objective with original can, signed A. Pritchard, 263 Strand London, and dating from the period 1836 - 1839.
'A' 1 (presumably 1 inch) Leiberkuhn objective with original can, signed A. Pritchard, 263 Strand London, and dating from the period 1836 - 1839.
Micrometer Drawing Eyepiece with an internal diamond engraved square grid scale.
Plain and unsigned eyepiece.
References: MHS 52037,
Andrew Pritchard's Achromatic Engiscope, or Microscope, 1836-8
