Unspecified / Date unspecified
Microscope
Microscope
The Smithsonian catalogs Microscope as microscope in its Science & Scientific Instruments records.
WHY IT’S INTERESTING
Simple microscopes came into use in the seventeenth century and, being less expensive than compound instruments, and often showing more details as well, remained popular for quite some time. This example is brass, with an ivory handle and iron forceps to hold the specimen. Historians refer to this form as a “compass” microscope, presumably reflecting its resemblance to a drawing compass. Many simi