Flints Auctions Ltd
Lot 134
Historically important Edition of Richard Becks Treatise on Achromatic Microscopes, The book, titled 'A Treatise on the Construction, Proper Use and Capabilities of Smith, Beck & Beck's Achromatic Microscopes' by Richard Beck' published 'LONDON, printed or Smith, Beck & Beck, 31, Cornhill: published by John Van Voorst, Paternoster row, MDCCCLXV (1865)' green cloth, gilt lettering to spine, the book comes with a note that reads 'This is the copy which was the personal possesion of Richard Beck. He was suing it to produce a new edition at the time of his early death', the book if filled with pencil corrections and additions to the text. there are also a large number of cut out and glued in engravings of equipment, from the first plate the outer margins are cut out and numbered to form a quick-access indexed notebook of all the plates. the book was owned by Brian Bracegirdle, and the note possibly written by Bracegirdle. The Dr. Brian Bracegirdel Connection. Dr. Brian Bracegirdel was asked to write an article for the Quekett Microscope Club on 12 of his favorite works on microscopy where he stated ‘It has been said to me, when pestering others to write up their own favourites, that it is very difficult to choose just twelve titles, and so it has certainly proved. In my case this may be more acute than for some others, for my personal library on microscopy has been collected over fifty years [I started young on this, when stuff could still be got reasonably], and it is now quite extensive.’ Number 4 on his list was this book, of it he wrote ’My fourth choice is Beck’s work on the achromatic microscope. Richard Beck died soon after this was published in 1865, but I know that he had already started to think of a new edition. I know this because my own copy once belonged to him, and has been extensively written over with alterations in his own hand, with the illustrations from another copy cut up and pasted into different locations. The work is important because it gives full directions for using the microscopes and accessories made by Smith, Beck, & Beck, and thus an insight into the use of instruments made by others. The text is a model of clarity, but it is the plates which excel. The ones in my copy have had their outer margins cut out and numbered just like an indexed notebook, and all 28 of them are of the highest quality in engraving and printing. A few show the results of observations, included to show what was achieved by use of particular techniques: plate 14 shows darkground illumination of Polycystina from Barbados, and is unsurpassed for its stunning quality. Most show details of instruments, and are key for identifying the parts found in cases of accessories from the time. This is a super book, a pleasure to read and re-read for its clarity and even its beauty. Fortunately it has been reprinted, for originals are scarce and expensive'.
