WILLIAM CARY (1759-1825) and CHARLES GOULD... - Lot 110 - Euvrard & Fabre

Lot 110
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Estimation :
500 - 700 EUR
WILLIAM CARY (1759-1825) and CHARLES GOULD... - Lot 110 - Euvrard & Fabre
WILLIAM CARY (1759-1825) and CHARLES GOULD (1786-1849) Model of a botanist's or naturalist's microscope of the 19th century composed of an oak box lined with blue velvet for the microscope and its accessories. The microscope bears the signature " CARY LONDON ". Circa 1829-1840 To note the lack of two rectangular glass slides, a rod, an objective, and two observation slides. Dim. box : 9 x 7 cm Biography: William Cary (1759-1825), an apprentice of Ramsden, founded his company in 1785. He produced instruments for the whole of Europe and notably for Bonaparte in 1812. Joined by his brother John, the company moved to St.James Street in London. Charles Gould, an apprentice at Cary's, invented a new type of portable microscope with a box which was produced from 1820. After Cary's death in 1825, Gould took over the company's affairs and later became its director. Thus, the signature "Cary London" will last for about ten years. In 1849, the company passed to Gould's successors and was closed in 1902 upon the death of Henry Porter. Note: In 1826, the book "The Companion to the Microscope and a Description of C.Gould's Improved Pocket Compound Microscope" mentions for the first time the model designed by Charles Gould. This type of compact microscope was named Cary-Gould in homage to the two creators of the model. Very popular, it was a real success in all Europe with many variations according to the times and manufacturers and was used by the greatest scientists like Darwin. Gould developed three sizes of pocket microscopes produced by Cary. The model presented here is the smallest with a dimension of 9 x 7 cm. In this model the microscope attaches to a notch in the lock of the box and not to the top. The 1829 edition of Gould's book "The Companion To The Microscope ..." describes with great precision our model and the improvements of the microscope (new lenses, addition of a safety screw, three glass plates, a rod for water, a movable part...). At that time the condensation magnifier for the microscope was optional (it was only on the 1926 model and was later removed from the catalog). Thus, our microscope is quite complete with its mirror, its pillar, its moving part, its objective and eyepiece, its live-box with a circular glass in addition, two slides, an observation forceps and dissection knives. This model is a "two in one" microscope with an observation microscope and a simple pocket microscope (when combining the weapon and the forceps). Around 1828, Gould modified his slide holder which will be later of circular shape with a bar to carry the forceps and eventually a condenser. Many models of microscopes similar to ours can be found in prestigious collections such as the one at Berkeley and the London Science Museum.
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