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Lot 33
A Century Of Scientific Instrument Making 1853 - 1953, Book - A Century Of Scientific Instrument Making 1853 - 1953, written by Cecil J Allen, published in 1953, written to celebrate the centenary of the company, H. E. Heath's copy (Stanley Company Director) 64 pages. Images of theidolites, sextants, architects instruments and buildings, shop fronts etc..
Lot 260
* Fan. A Regency fortune-telling or puzzle fan, English, 1820s, paper brisé fan, with hand-coloured etchings to 7 of the 15 shaped sections, each depicting a lady or a gentleman, and various symbols, e.g. a bee skep, an artist's palette, wine, a globe, scientific instruments, cherubs, dressing-table and mirror, sacks of gold, gauntlets and swords, etc., the 8 alternating sections painted in pink and turquoise and with foliate fronds painted in gold, and a further section with hand-coloured floral decoration attached to front guard stick, each section backed with plain pink paper, mounted on bone sticks, toned and broken, with connecting ribbon lacking, upper section of front guardstick detached, one painted section and stick detached, one pictorial panel detached and lacking lower part of stick, latter panel and several others held together with adhesive, with some incorrect placings, 21cm (8.25ins)Qty: (1)NOTESA rare fan: not in the Schreiber Collection, and we have been unable to trace another. This fan has clearly been enjoyed, but nevertheless is very attractive and unusual, and would benefit from careful restoration.
Lot 245
Pete ConradTwo consecutive photographs of Alan Bean unpacking scientific instruments. Bean is trying to remove a radioactive fuel element from its cask at the LM Intrepid (second photograph)19 November 1969Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fibre-based paper, each 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), NASA numbers AS12-46-6786 and AS12-46-6787 printed in margins (NASA / USGSFootnotes:Working at the LM, Bean is using a lanyard (first photograph) and trying to remove a radioactive fuel element from its cask (second photograph). The Lunar Module - surely the clumsiest-looking flying machine ever built - consisted of a descent stage destined to remain on the Moon, and an ascent stage that later carried the crew and samples into lunar orbit.
Lot 311
James IrwinTwo views of the Command Module "Endeavour" during pitcharound in lunar orbit, nose-on and nose down views with Scientific Instruments Module (SIM) exposed26 July - 7 August 1971Two vintage chromogenic prints on resin-coated Kodak paper, 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in), ) [NASA photo numbers AS15-88-11959 and AS15-88-11972], with A KODAK PAPER watermarks on the verso, (NASA/North American Rockwell)Footnotes:Alone in 'Endeavour' Worden pitched the command ship nose down toward the Moon so that Scott and Irwin in the LM could inspect the exposed SIM bay where he would later retrieve the cassettes of the panoramic cameras during his deep space EVA.
Lot 312
Alfred Worden, James Irwin, or David ScottA pair of photographs, comprising:1) Lunar Module, ascent stage, EVA floodlight at the forefront2) Command and Service Module as seen from the Lunar Module; Scientific Instruments Module (SIM) bay clearly visible in the photograph26 July - 7 August 1971Two vintage chromogenic prints on fibre-based Kodak paper, 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in), RED NUMBERED NASA AS15-88-11968 and NASA AS15-96-13037 in top margin, with A KODAK PAPER watermarks on the verso, (NASA Manned Spacecraft Center)Footnotes:After three days of exploration, Scott and Irwin aboard the ascent stage of the LM Falcon are about to meet Worden in Endeavour for the trip back to Earth.'Flying the Lunar Module is a very demanding task. It's the toughest flying job, and I've flown a lot of stuff, the toughest flying job I ever had.' David ScottCondition Report: Three punch holes to the edge of the photo no NASA AS15-88-11978 Condition Report Disclaimer
Lot 341
* Water-Pump Broadside. By His Majesty's Royal Letters Patent. Mr. Benj. Martin humbly offers to the Public his new-invented Water-Pump..., no place, publisher or date, [London: Benjamin Martin, 1766?], a printed broadside promoting Martin's new invention which is designed to raise 'the largest Quantity of Water to a given Height, with the least Force, and in the shortest Time', and which will be particularly useful 'on board Ship, in a large or small Size; and to be worked with Hands from on Man to Ten ... This Pump may also be worked by Wind, Water, Horses, &c. for raising Water to any Heights for supplying Reservoirs &c. ... It is easy to see how much preferable these Pumps must be to the common Sort, in Breweries, Dye-houses, Tan-yards, &c. also for draining Fens, evacuating Ponds, and all such Purposes ... Orders will be received at his House in Fleet-Street, No. 171; or at his Pump-Manufactory in White-Hart Yard, Lower East-Smithfield, where a Pump at larges if fixed up to be always ready for Inspection and Trial', printed on laid paper, overall spotting, soiling and damp stains, split along lower half of vertical centrefold, 16 x 21 cmQty: (1)NOTESBenjamin Martin (1705-1782) was an English lexicographer, lecturer on science and maker of scientific instruments. Martin received the Royal Approval in June 1766 and a patent entitled The Hydraulic Engine in the Nature of a Pump for Raising Water was granted on 5 July and sealed on 1 November 1766. His tract The Principles of Pump-Work Illustrated... was also published in 1766. No other copies of this broadside have been located.
Lot 177
Of horology interest a group of reference books on antique clocks and the keeping of time, to include two volumes of 'Time Measurement' Handbooks of the Science Museum 1937, 'Britten's Old Clocks & Watches and their makers', 'English Domestic Clocks', 'The Longcase Clock' by Tom Robinson and several Christie's and Sotheby's sales catalogues on the subject of important clocks, watches, wristwatches and barometers and scientific instruments (quantity)
Lot 465
* Moxon (J., publisher). Geometrical Playing Cards, London, 1697, 43 (of 52) copper engraved playing cards, comprising 4 suits of 13 (French suits), each with geometrical figures or scientific instruments, lacking: ace of spades; 3, 5, 10, and knave of hearts; 6 and 8 of diamonds; 3 and knave of clubs, some toning, dust-soiling, and marks, close-trimmed, often resulting in loss of line border and occasionally clipping image, 10 of diamonds with tip of lower right corner missing, plain versos, 89 x 59mm (3.5 x 2.25ins)Qty: (1)NOTESProvenance: Collection of Jack Webb (1923-2019), London. Tilley, p.78. Extremely rare. The only other deck we have traced is that held by The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University (11529500). Their complete deck is in an engraved wrapper and accompanies the book The Use of the Geometrical Playing-Cards, As also a Discourse of the Mechanick Powers. By Monsi. Des-Cartes. Translated from his own Manuscript Copy... Printed and Sold by J. Moxon at the Atlas in Warwick-Lane, 1697. The Moxon family produced several educational decks of playing cards, including the subjects of carving and astronomy. Sylvia Mann calls all of them "lamentably rare" (see All Cards on the Table, 258).
Lot 4
Caspar Netscher (Heidelberg 1639-1684 The Hague)Portrait of a gentleman scientist, probably Constantijn Huygens, half-length, standing beside a group of miscroscopes signed and dated 'CNetscher.Fec. 1680' (lower left, CN in ligature)oil on canvas48.6 x 39.2cm (19 1/8 x 15 7/16in).Footnotes:ProvenanceSale, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Palm Beach (Florida), 29 September, 2016, lot 9 (as Caspar Netscher of an unknown man), whence acquired by the current ownerThe composition of this important record of the 17th century Scientific Revolution can be related closely to another portrait by Caspar Netscher in the Musée du Louvre, which includes a similar group of microscopes on a stone plinth. The Louvre portrait is believed to depict Nicolaas Hartsoeker (1656-1725), who is best known for publishing the design for a simple screw-barrel microscope in 1694. He was fascinated by microscopes and visited Antoni van Leeuwenhoek at the age of sixteen and in 1678 he travelled to Paris as an assistant to Christiaan Huygens. Between 1684 and 1698 he lived there with his wife and sold lenses and microscopes.Since it is dated 1680 when Hartsoeker would have been only 24, it is suggested the artist must have used the composition of the present painting as the model for the Louvre portrait, and the obvious candidate for the present sitter would be either Nicolaas Hartsoeker's mentor in the design of microscopes, Christiaan Huygens (1629-95), or Christiaan's elder brother and collaborator, Constantijn Huygens (1628-1697). Christiaan had been earlier portrayed by Netscher in 1671 (Haags Historisch Museum, The Hague, on loan to the Boerhaave Museum, Leiden); but a drawing believed to be a self-portrait of Constantijn Huygens the Younger, which has been dated to 1685, shows a closer resemblance to the present portrait. Caspar Netscher was known to have also painted these two brothers' father, Constantijn Huygens the Elder and it would have been likely that he would have painted a portrait of his elder son, as well as that of his younger son, Christiaan. The Huygens family were part of an artistic circle: Constantijn Senior was a friend of Rembrandt and he had also had his portrait painted by Caspar Netscher, as well as by Jan Lievens, Michiel van Mierevelt, Thomas de Keyser and Adriaen Hanneman; while the younger Constantijn Huygens was a keen draughtsman himself and as a connoisseur of the arts served William III (to whom he followed his father in the role of private secretary) in setting up the gallery in Kensington Palace. A Dutch physicist, mathematician, astronomer and inventor, Christiaan Huygens is widely regarded as the most important scientist between Galileo and Isaac Newton. In physics, Huygens made ground-breaking contributions in optics and mechanics, while as an astronomer he is chiefly known for his studies of the rings of Saturn and the discovery of its moon, Titan. While Constantijn was also a diplomat and diarist who has been compared to his English contemporary, Samuel Pepys, he was known mostly for his work on scientific instruments. From the 1650s he assisted his brother in the construction of lenses and between 1683 and 1687 the two brothers continued to make larger and longer focal length telescopes, culminating in very large tubeless aerial telescopes. Constantijn presented a 19 cm diameter, 37.5 m long focal length aerial telescope objective to the Royal Society in 1690 that still bears his signature. Although dubbed the 'Galileo Microscope', the large microscope to the left with a brass body and scrolled legs was the late 17th century instrument that replaced Zacharias Janssen's original 16th century compound microscope and other subsequent microscopes. To the right of this instrument is shown an elegant silver device which appears to be based on the simple microscope designed by Christiaan Huygens, which would have operated in a manner similar to the innovative microscope invented by Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek, by placing the high-powered lens next to the eye. Christiaan sketched several designs for such a simple microscope in his notebooks and in letters to his brother in the course of the year 1678. Christiaan and Constantijn were remarkably close in their collaboration, personally grinding their lenses together and, as a mark of how ahead of their time they were they were even known to have discussed the possibility of extra-terrestrial life while at the telescope. An inferior version of the present composition, 48.5 x 39.5 cm., attributed to Constantine Netscher, is in the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 8
EXPLORATION & SCIENCEAutograph letter signed ('Fridjof Nansen') to mountaineer and Arctic explorer Edward Whymper ('My dear Whymper'), asking his advice on equipment for the Fram expedition, thanking him for the aneroid barometer ('...This will certainly be a most valuable addition to our instrumental equipment which I dare say will be first rate...') and discussing other equipment he intends taking ('...I have previously three pocket aneroids... which I used across Greenland... we have three mercury barometers...& one selfregistring Barometer. If you think, however that the aluminium aneroid... will be a very good one and consequently of importance I shall be glad to get it... excuse great haste...'), 2 pages, creased with some small tears, 4to (250 x 200mm.), Lysaker, 28 March [18]93; with five autograph letters to Whymper from Richard Owen (making arrangements), two from John Tyndall ('...You are now among the mountains. I start tomorrow from Hindhead – not with a view of expending energy as you do, but in the hope of collecting it if I can...'), T.H. Huxley and W.H. Flower (thanking him for his book on the Andes), 7 pages, in an envelope docketed 'Autographs/ from C. Whymper/ Feb. 1933', creasing, some staining, 8vo, British Museum and elsewhere, 1866 to 1892 (6)Footnotes:'A VALUABLE ADDITION TO OUR INSTRUMENTAL EQUIPMENT': FRIDJOF NANSEN SEEKS ADVICE FROM FELLOW ARCTIC-EXPLORER EDWARD WHYMPER.Nansen writes in haste a month before leaving for the Fram Expedition of 1893-96, during which he reached a record 'farthest north' of 86°14′. In his account of the expedition, he writes of the importance of taking the correct scientific instruments: 'In addition to the collection of instruments I had used on my Greenland expedition, a great many new ones were provided, and no pains were spared to get them as good and complete as possible... Of special importance were a self-registering aneroid barometer (barograph) and a pair of self-registering thermometers (thermographs)... Altogether, our scientific equipment was especially excellent, thanks in great measure to the obliging assistance rendered me by many men of science' (Farthest North, 1897, chapter 2). One of the 'men of science' he consulted during his preparations was Edward Whymper, whose own expedition to Greenland in 1867 had opened up greater possibilities for Arctic exploration, and who had published a pamphlet, How to use the Aneroid Barometer, in 1891. Nansen's experiments with equipment and techniques were to influence polar explorers for years to come. These letters come from the collection of Sir George Buckston Browne (see lot 18).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 58
A fine second half of the 18th century brass-mounted mahogany stick barometer with hygrometer and thermometerGeorge Adams, No.60 Fleet Street, London. Instrument Maker to his MajestyThe arched case with adjustable wheatear hygrometer set above a hinged glazed hood door over a long trunk terminating in a hemispherical cistern cover, the centre of the trunk inset with an imposing mercury thermometer behind a hinged glazed door, the flat bulb measuring 3 inches in length and registering against a scale marked from 25 to 95 degrees, the lower numerals bracketed as 'WINTER', the upper bracketed as 'SUMMER', the signed silvered dial above reading from 28-31 inches and with manual vernier scale, with three weather predictions. 108cms (42 1/2ins) high (1)Footnotes:George Adams was arguably the best known and respected maker of scientific instruments in the latter half of the 18th century. King George III appointed Adams to be his Mathematical Instrument Maker in 1760, and about 20% of the Royal Collection emanated from his Fleet Street workshop. The firm passed to George's son, George Junior and then to Dudley. Perhaps his most iconic instrument is the silver 'New Universal' microscope formed in solid silver now on display at the Science Museum, dating to about the same time as the current lot, 1763.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TPTP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 60
A very rare first half of the 19th century Scottish burr maple bow-fronted stick barometer with sliding bar for relative day recordingsAdie & Son, EdinburghThe Biedermeier-style case with rectangular cornice over a brass plaque with sliding bar to alternately reveal 'Yesterday' or 'Today', the trunk with two ivory recording knobs and terminating in a plinth cistern cover with inset ivory float for zero-ing purposes, the signed silvered dial with twin scales and verniers reading from 26 to 31 inches. 109cms (42 1/2ins) high (1)Footnotes:The Adie family supplied laboratories and the thriving scientific community in Scotland in the first half of the 19th century with the best instruments that money could buy. Such was Alexander Adie's standing in the scientific community, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He took his son John into partnership in 1835 while based at 58 Princes Street. After 9 years they moved just four doors along the road. In 1857 Richard Adie took over the firm, although he continued to trade under the earlier name. In 1877 the firm moved to 37 Hanover Street. Their work is always of the highest quality. Alexander is probably best known for his invention of the sympiesometer in 1818.The pared-down elegance and use of light burr maple in the current lot is an echo of the Biedermeier style prevalent in Europe in the 1820-40 period, proving that the firm were well aware of the latest European fashions.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP Y ФTP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory. The United States Government has banned the import of ivory into the USA.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 61
A good late 18th century mahogany stick barometer with hygrometer and thermometerBenjamin Martin, LondonThe arched case surmounted by an engraved hygrometer scale read via a fancy blued steel hand, over carved decoration and canted front angles, the long trunk with visible tube framed by a moulded edge terminating in a hemispherical cistern cover, the signed silvered dial mounted with a mercury thermometer and manual vernier reading against a 27 to 31 inch scale, with seven weather predictions. 97cms (38ins) high (1)Footnotes:Benjamin Martin described this type of barometer as a 'Triple Weather Glass' or 'Aerometrum Magnum'. Perhaps it's finest attribute is the improved hygrometer which works by means of an extended gut line mounted at the rear of the case, one end is fixed and the other is held under tension via a spring loaded rack and pinion set-up. Martin (1704-1782) was a skilled scientific instrument maker, after establishing a school in Chichester during his late twenties, from 1738 onwards he went on to present lectures and demonstrations on experimental philosophy to audiences in Reading, Bristol, Bath and London. From 1756 he returned to London where he worked as an optician and made scientific instruments and globes. He was also an author covering topics such as natural philosophy, theology, mathematics, language and geography. On 14th January 1782, Joshua Lover Martin applied for a patent which was to produce a revolution in manufactuing: it was for the process of tude-drawing. Unfortunately by the time the patent was granted on 28th March, his father Benjamin, whose invention it was, had died - bankrupt.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TPTP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 477
MUSSCHENBROEK, Johann van (1660-1707). Beschreibung der doppelten und einfachen Luftpumpe nebst einer Sammlung von verschiedenen nuzlichen und lehrreichen Versuchen, welche man mit der Luftpumpe machen kan[sic]. Augsburg: Eberhard Klett, 1765. 8vo (170 x 102mm). Woodcut headpiece and ornament, typographical ornament at end of text, 6 folding engraved plates of scientific instruments (small marginal repair to title, some light browning). Modern marbled wrappers over boards. First German edition. Poggendorff II, 247.
Lot 543
Musik - - Athanasius Kircher. Kircherus Jesuita Germanus Germaniae redonatus: sive Artis Magnae de Consono & Dißono Ars Minor, das ist: Philosophischer Extract und Auszug, aus deß Welt-berühmten Teutschen Jesuitens Athanasii Kircheri von Fulda Musurgia Universali in sechs Bücher verfasset... Mit musikalischer Notation gedruckt im Text. Schwäbisch Hall, Johann Christoph Gräter, Hans Reinh. Laidig, 1662. 8 Bl., 375 S., 12 Bl. (Register). 8°. 18. Jh. marmorierter Ppbd. mit goldgeprägtem RTitel auf einem roten Maroquin-Rückenschild u. gesprenkeltem Rotschnitt (berieben, Deckel beschabt). Dünnhaupt S. 2332f, 8 - RISM B VI, 1, 449/450 - VD17 23:272434Q - Einzige Ausgabe in einer Volkssprache, herausgegeben und übersetzt von Andreas Hirsch (1632-1703), der den Text gekürzt hat. Ohne Illustrationen der Originalausgabe. Diese Ausgabe ist außerhalb Deutschlands selten. - Das Buch gehört zu den bahnbrechenden Werken der Musikwissenschaft und hatte großen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung der abendländischen Musik, insbesondere auf J. S. Bach und L. v. Beethoven. Athanasius Kircher war ein deutscher Jesuitengelehrter und veröffentlichte im Laufe seines Lebens über 40 Werke in sehr unterschiedlichen Bereichen wie Medizin, Optik, Geologie, Naturphilosophie und Musik. Musurgia Universalis ist eine Kombination aus einer wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung der Geschichte der Musik und der Musikinstrumente und dem Versuch einer wissenschaftlichen Erklärung der musikalischen Harmonie und der Klangtheorie zu geben. Kircher vertrat auch die Theorie, dass die Harmonie der Musik die göttlichen Proportionen des Universums widerspiegelt. Ein großer Teil der Musurgia ist der Beschreibung zeitgenössischer und historischer Musikinstrumente aus verschiedenen Ländern der Welt gewidmet. Schließlich beschreibt Kircher auch verschiedene Experimente mit akustischen Räumen und Klangtheorie. - Erstes und letztes Blatt stärker gebräunt, erste und letzte Blätter mit leichtem Wasserrand, Titel vielleicht aus einem anderen Exemplar. Insg. gutes und sauberes Exemplar. With printed musical annotations within text. - Only edition in a common language, edited and translated by Andreas Hirsch (1632-1703), who shortened the text and also the illustrations of the original edition are not reproduced. This edition in original is rarely seen outside Germany. - The book is one of the seminal works of musicology and was hugely influential in the development of Western music, in particular on J. S. Bach and L. v. Beethoven. Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit scholar and published over 40 works during is life in widely varying fields such as medicine, optics, geology, natural philosophy and music. Musurgia Universalis is a combination of a scholarly study of the history of music and musical instruments and an attempt at a scientific explanation of musical harmony and sound theory. Kircher also theorized that the harmony of music reflects the divine proportions of the Universe. Much of Musurgia is given over to the description of contemporary and historic musical instruments from various parts of the world. Lastly he also describes various experiments with acoustic spaces and sound theory. - Eighteenth century marbled boards with red morocco lettering piece and red edges (rubbed, boards shaved). - First and last page quite heavily browned, first and last pages with faint water-staining, title-page maybe from another copy, otherwise fine and clean.
Lot 103
An impressive and rare Benjamin Martin tellarium / planetarium, English, circa 1765-70,boldly signed A New PLANETARIUM by B.MARTIN LONDON, probably an experimental model, the drum containing double-cone gear-work for operating both the tellarium and planetarium, top-plate engraved with zodiac degree and calendar scales centred by stylised sun motif, the circumference cut with 274 teeth and mechanism operated by winding handle at the side. When set up as a tellarium complete with brass sphere representing the sun and a James Ferguson 3 inch terrestrial globe mounted within silver meridian with pointer indicating the sun's rays and pointer and dial indicating the hours as the earth orbits the sun, the globe mounted above geared mechanism. When set up as a planetarium with plastic models representing Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The Earth, Jupiter and Saturn have subsidiary arms representing the moons. The whole raised on turned brass column and folding tripod base, 18 in (46cm) high Footnotes:Benjamin Martin (bap. 1705, d. 1782) distinguished in the history of scientific instruments and optics, for his contributions to not only the production and sale of scientific instruments, but also through popularising such skills and knowledge through his numerous published texts as well as a dedicated career in lecturing.A successful businessman of his time, he controversially used hard marketing and repeated advertising of his products, a tactic uncommon and regarded as suspicious by his contemporaries, although latterly becoming common practice. Martin's broad education led him to open a school in Chichester in his late twenties, which is where he began to start writing the first of many publications. His first text, published in 1735, 'The Philosophical Grammar', focusing on natural philosophy, was inexpensive and accessible to the common person. Over the following five years he continued to lecture and write extensively, leading to a volume published in 1740 on the topic of Optics. This theme sparked great interest in Martin, creating a portable compound microscope with a micrometer a couple of years previously. Instruments of this formation were reproduced into the Victorian era.At this stage, however, Martin's instruments made of wood and cardboard were crude in comparison to those being manufactured in London at the time. He continued to lecture and write across the country, in Berkshire, Bristol and Bath.In 1746 and throughout the following decade, Martin travelled across the Midlands and southern England. Whilst continuing his lectures on experimental philosophy, he branched out his writings into the field of linguistics, publishing 'Lingua Britannica reformata' or 'A New English Dictionary' in 1749.Although orreries were already on the market at this time with other instrument makers, they were expensive and hence their uses not accessible to the majority. Martin wrote in the 1740's that he wished for a planetarium that any gentleman could have made inexpensively. It wasn't until 1756 that Martin settled in Fleet Street, London, where he began to trade as an optician and instrument maker. Short lists of his products for sale at this time indicate he had begun to sell his own orreries. A particular model of Martin's was the basic 'double cone planetarium', which could have attachments such as 'the lunarium', where Earth and Moon balls could be added, and 'the telluriam' arm, which indicated the Earth's annual and diurnal motions.As a result of his own need for spectacles in his later years, it was a natural progression for Martin to further develop optical instruments, including his invention 'Visual Glasses', which became his shop sign. The apertures were partly covered with an annulus of horn, with green or violet tinted glass lenses.After obtaining the globe plates and tools of the late John Senex FRS, the following year, Martin expanded into the retail and wholesale of globes. Following a fire at Harvard College, Massachusetts, Martin received commissions for two orreries, a planetarium with tellurian and lunarium attachments and a grand orrery, to replace their collection of scientific instruments in 1764.Sadly, he was declared bankrupt in 1782, which likely triggered his death the same year. Although his son Joshua Lover Martin had been apprenticed to his father and for a short time from 1778, they had traded as 'Benjamin Martin & Son', he closed the business and all his father's effects were sold at auction.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 91
An Andrew ROSS Wenham's Binocular Compound Microscope, circa 1865signed Ross London 5167, with dual adjustment to the eyepieces, rack and pinion course focusing and fine focusing by lever and screw, rotating circular stage with sub-stage below, on tripod base, in mahogany case with recessed brass carrying handles and with three drawers of accessories including five oculars, live box, polariser, four objectives and bench condenser, 20in (51cm) high Footnotes:Provenance: Ex-Lot 75, Important Clocks, Watches, Wristwatches, Barometers and Scientific Instruments, Sotheby's London, 3 October 1991.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 239
A marine chronometer, Frodsham & Keen, Liverpool, circa 1860, with 4'' silvered and engraved dial signed Frodsham & Keen, 17 South Castle St, Liverpool, 2733, subsidiary seconds and up/down indicator, mounted in a brass bowl gimbal fitted to a three-tier figured walnut case with brass fitments, case width 21cm.Footnote: Henry Frodsham and Robert John Keen at 17 South Castle Street, Liverpool from 1856 making and selling marine chronometers and nautical and scientific instruments. Henry Frodsham was the older brother of Charles Frodsham (1810-71), the celebrated chronometer, clock and watchmaker based in London. Upon Henry's death in 1858, his widow, Frances Luisa, made an agreement with Keen to maintain the name until 1878.
Lot 606
A rare George III single draw brass and mahogany telescope by Alexander Wellington, probably Naval, c.1780's, scientific instrument maker of Crown Court, Soho, London, signed - Wellington, Crown Court, Soho ~~ London, 31½in. (80cm.) when extended. * Examples of scientific instruments by Wellington in History of Science Museum.
Lot 293
A COLLECTION OF EARLY ELECTRICAL WOOD AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS including galvanometers, amp meters, voltmeters, wet cells, mostly contained in wooden boxes with brass fittings and with makers including W.G. Pye & Co., Cambridge Scientific Co. dated 1887, Muirhead & Co., and Becker, etc. (Approx. 13, a lot)Condition report: Sold as seen.
Lot 1
English, dated from the Beck records as purchased on 2nd September 1853 by F. H. Wenham, signed to the foot ‘Smith & Beck 6 Coleman St. London 759, the microscope is recorded by the Beck records as the ‘Improved Large’, standing on three feet with a circular central disk supporting the twin tapered columns, at the top of the columns are trunnions supporting the limb with a friction lock, At the base is a triangular bar on which slides a collar supporting the large plano-concave mirror on a gimbaled arm, above this is a later fitted ( possibly by Wenham) mechanical substage collar with rack and pinion focusing and screw X-Y control, large square mechanical stage with X-Y control with screw lock to rear, limb with later fitted fine focus control, binocular arrangement adapted from a monocular tube with interocular adjustment via rackwork and slot above objective thread for prism drawer, in a fitted mahogany case with two fitted mahogany cases of accessories, eyepieces and objectives, the microscope 47cm high. The original French polished mahogany microscope case is now fitted with an extensive collection of accessories and objectives, the being case made redundant by the size of the binocular tubes, the accessories include:Large microscope case: A pair of high power eyepieces. A 1/4in objective to Wenham’s design. A 1/4in objective to Wenham’s design A 1/10in objective & can A 1/25th in objective signed Wenham and dated 1st June 1856Main Microscope Case: A3in objective engraved ROSS LONDON & Can. A 1in objective & can. A 1in objective engraved Swift & Sons & can. A 11/2in objective can. A 2/3in objective engraved Smith & Beck 6 Coleman St & Can A 1/2in objective & can. A 4/10in objective & can engraved Smith & Beck 6 Coleman St. A 1/4in objective & can. A 1/4in objective engraved Swift & Son London & can. A 1/4in objective scratched W. A 1/5in objective & can engraved Smith & Beck 6 Coleman St. A 1/6in objective engraved Swift & Son London & can. A 1/8in objective engraved Swift & Son London & can. A spot lens in a can engraved ‘Spot Lense’. A condenser in a can engraved ‘Condenser’. An Aplanatic Condenser N.A..95 engraved AL. E. CONRADY, LONDON & can. Various polarisers & analysers. A substage prism. Various substage condensers A dark well holder and 3 dark wells, along with many other items.Small case 1: A 3in Lieberkühn with end cap and cover. A 1 1/2in Lieberkühn with end cap and cover. A 1in Lieberkühn with end cap and cover. A 2/3in Lieberkühn with end cap and cover. A 4/10 Lieberkühn with end cap and cover. Lieberkühn collars. A side reflector on an arm. A parabolic side reflector on an arm. Small case 2 A pair of low power binocular eyepieces. A pair of medium power eyepieces. A monocular tube with erector lens. An eyepiece lucida.The Wenham Connection: Wenham, Francis Herbert (1824, Kensington – 1908) was a British marine engineer who studied the problem of human flight and later became involved in optics and the improvement of the microscope. He is credited with inventing the ‘Wenham binocular’ microscope, a binocular arrangement copied by almost all 19th century microscope makers. He joined Ross & Co. as an adviser following the death of Thomas Ross in 1870 where he designed his magnus opus - the Ross-Wenham Radial microscope, the largest binocular microscope of the Victorian era.This instrument, as previously mentioned, was originally bought (according to the Beck records by F. H. Wenham) on 2nd September 1853. According to the letter that accompanies the microscope this is Wenham’s prototype binocular microscope which was first exhibited at a meeting of the Microscopical Society of London on the 12th of December 1860 (i). The handwritten letter written and signed by Wenham states: This is the original Wenham’s Binocular arrangement made by F. H. Wenham and fitted by him to his large Smith & Beck microscope, these parts being necessarily detachable having been the first ever adapted. Also a prism for including the full aperture of high power objectives. This letter is further accompanied with an extract from the “Intellectual Observer” (1866) titled ‘Mr. Wenham's New Binocular’ which appears to discuss in detail the high power prism that comes with this instrument. Wenham’s high-power prism was also the subject of a detailed report in the transactions of the Microscopical Society of London in 1866 (ii). The accessory set has a 1/25inch objective in a can engraved Wenham and dated 1856. This very lens appears to have been the subject of praise in the 1857 Microscopical Society of London’s President’s address by the then president, George Shadbolt. It appears to be at the time the most powerful objective ever made.Provenance:1993 - Sold at Christie's South Kensington, Engineering and Scientific Works of Art, Instruments and Models, 6th May 1993, Lot 183 and formed part of the ‘Jacob Collection - an Important Swiss Collector’.1939 – Private sale between Charles A Smith and Mr Alan Connelly in whose collection it remained until his death.1911 - The microscope was sold by Dollond & Co in 1911 just three years after Wenham’s death in 1908. And bought by C. A. Smith1853 – Bought from Messer’s Smith & Beck, 6 Coleman St. London by Francis H WenhamReferences i, Wenham, Francis H., 12th December 1860, On a new Combined Binocular and Single Microscope, London, Transactions of the Microscopical Society of London, 5 pages.ii, Wenham, Francis H., 9th May 1866, On a Binocular microscope for High Powers, Transactions of the Microscopical Society of London,
Lot 51
Ɵ Safi al-Din Abd' al-Mu'min ibn Yusuf ibn al-Fakhir al-Urmawi al-Baghdadi, known as 'al-Urmawi', Kitab al-Adwar (Book of Cycles, a treatise on the theory of music), in Ottoman Turkish, illuminated manuscript on paper [Ottoman territories, dated 1131 AH (1718 AD)]single volume, complete, 32 leaves plus a contemporary endleaf at each end, single column, 15 lines black stylised naskh script with muhaqqaq influences, some headings and vocalisation in red, gilt head-piece opening the text, numerous diagrams throughout the text heightened in gilt, catchwords throughout, leaves ruled in gilt, a few annotations to the margins in a slightly later hand, some faint water-staining to upper edges of leaves (rarely affecting text), overall a very bright and attractive copy, 205 by 155 mm.; nineteenth-century calf-backed boards with flap, decorative medallion stamped to covers in blind, extremities and spine ends a little rubbedThis treatise is, perhaps, the earliest known text dedicated entirely to the theory and practice of music in the medieval Islamic world. It was compiled by the author al-Urmawi (d. 1294) in the thirteenth century, and explores musical divisions, scales, modes and also describes the workings of practical instruments including the five string lute. The treatise offers a scientific explanation to these theories and is comparable in style to the teachings of Avicenna on the same subject in his Danishnama'i Ala'i (a treatise on logic, metaphysics, music theory and other sciences).Little is known about the author's early life, but he is thought to have been born in Urmina, given his surname, in the modern-day Azari region of north-west Iran in the year 1216 AD. He travelled to Baghdad in his early life where his skills in calligraphy granted him the role of copyist in the famous library of al-Musta'sim of the Abbasid caliphate (the final Abbasid Caliph, d. 1258 AD). Towards the end of al-Musta'sim's reign al-Urmawi had become a famous musician and thus survived the fall of the Abbasid caliphate, and was supported through the patronage of private families including influential Juvayni family. The Kitab al-Adwar is one of two notable musical treatises compiled by the author during his lifetime. The second of is the Risalah al-Sharafiyyah fi l'nisbah al-ta'lifiyyah, compiled around 665 AH (1267 AD) and dedicated to his patron in later life Sharaf al-Din Harun Juvayni, focusing on musical intervals. These works have remained integral to the study of music in the Islamic world and have been used consistently since the thirteenth century.
Lot 73
A Celestial Globe, engraved in brass by "Iskandrani", depicting zodiac signs and stellar constellations [probably Safavid Persia, dated 1128 AH (1716 AD)] single brass sphere, engraved with signs of the zodiac, individual stars and stellar constellations, inscribed throughout with jagged inscriptions carved into the brass by hand, latitudinal and longitudinal lines present, brass a little darkened, some oxidisation to sections of engravings, a few small areas of rubbing and light surface scratches, c. 200 mm. in diameter Celestial globes of this nature were used by astrologers, astronomers, Islamic scholars and scientists alike. They were popularised in the Timurid period by patrons who extended their support for the arts into the sciences as well, and fine examples of these scientific and astrological instruments including astrolabes and other astrological globes from this period are predominantly from the Eastern Ilkhanate regions of Samarkand and Herat. Celestial globes of this nature portray stars and constellations as if viewed from above, and were often used as astronomical instruments to guide the viewer and serve as a map of the heavens. The exact proportions and presence of lines also gave these objects a religious purpose as they could be used to tell prayer times and also establish the location of Mecca. A similar example, dated 1197 AH (1782-83 AD) was sold in Sotheby's, 25th April 2012, lot 584, realising £38,450.
![Medicine - Petit [(Jean-Louis)], A Treatise of the Diseases of the Bones; Containing an Exact and Compleat (sic) Account of t](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/0502a1f8-5efd-4ab7-8a81-ac4d00ef7203/df9a4b33-b8c0-42fa-a761-ac5d00d5830d/468x382.jpg)
Lot 5853A
Medicine - Petit [(Jean-Louis)], A Treatise of the Diseases of the Bones; Containing an Exact and Compleat (sic) Account of the Nature, Signs, Causes and Cures thereof, in all their various Kinds, with Many new and curious Observations concerning the Venereal and other Distempers; with the newest and best Methods of Practice, in each respective Case, As Also The Figures representing the several Dressings, Machines and Instruments here described, Translated from the French [...], first English edition, London: Printed for T. Woodward [...], 1726, pp: [4] (binder's blanks), xvi, 490, [6] (contents and advert), [2] (blank), in-text illustrations generally of medical and scientific instruments, a few anatomical and skeletal, contemporary calf, the covers with a gilt double-fillet, six-compartment spine of raised bands, fragmentary gilt-lettered red morocco piece within the second, the remaining five gilt-tooled with foliage, red-speckled edges, 8vo, [1] Provenance: 1) John Couraud 17*0-1, ink MS ownership inscription on title-page, probably the clerk of the same name in the Northern Department during the early 18th century and, later, who died in 1751 while clerk of the Navy Office in the then British colony of Virginia, USA; 2) Thomas Sherry's Book 1794 (and sometimes 1795), various ink MS ownership inscriptions to pastedown, endpapers, etc.
Lot 3217
Sotheby's hardback catalogue, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, including Watches, Clocks and Scientific Instruments, New York, Thursday December 2nd, 1999; also A.J. Turner - Catalogue of the collection of The Time Museum, published Rockford 1984 and David G. Vulliamy - The Vulliamy Clockmakers, published by The AHS, 2002; also Tardy - La Pendule Francaise, Parties 1, 2 & 3 (all at fault) and Tardy - Dictionnaire des Horlogers Francaise (4)
Lot 1073
KUGLE (J SPEARS) - THE ART OF THE CELESTIAL MECHANIC, ILLUSTRATED, DUST JACKET, 2002, M SNELL - CLOCKS AND CLOCKMAKER'S OF SAILSBURY, M MATTHEWS - ENGINE TURNING 1680-1980 THE TOOLS AND TECHNIQUE, HENRY C KING - GEARED TO THE STARS: THE EVOLUTION OF PLANETARIUMS, ORRERIES AND ASTRONOMICAL CLOCKS AND ABOUT FORTY OTHERS, CLOCKS, WATCHES AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INCLUIDNG SEVERAL CATALOGES AND BOOKLETSCondition report
Lot 543
VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGIST'S NOTEBOOK: mid-19thc commonplace book with calligraphic ownership of one B Adshead, various entries including some 20pp of neatly arranged and close written text on entomology, including substantial sections on collecting specimens, setting and arranging the cabinet, preservation, transporting, 3pp section on instruments including several fine pencil drawings, tabulated lists of moth and butterfly genera with their scientific name, references, foods of larvae, time of transforming into chrysalis and general remarks, other intermittent unrelated entries to include some loosely inserted pencil sketches, large 8vo commonplace book of period, half black morocco over patterned boards, scuffed with loss to spine, contents generally sound. (1)
Lot 523
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Crosby Steam Engine Indicator kit complete with springs and associated parts stored within it's original mahogany box. The kit consists of two indicators plus a third indicator separate as a spare unit. The instruments would be used to measure the steam efficiency within each loco cylinder and worked by bolting the indicator onto the end of the cylinder. Instruments such as these were exclusively used by the CME and the information would be used the improve loco efficiency and design. This particular unit was recovered from Derby Works by the Vendor's elderly Father who worked there. A scientific instrument not to be missed.
Lot 1572
ANTIQUE BRASS SUNDIAL - AYSCOUGH, LONDON probably mid 18thc, an interesting brass sundial engraved with a sunburst shape in the centre and with roman numerals, marked Ayscough, London. Mounted in a wooden base, missing its gnomen. Dial 20cms diameter *James Ayscough was an English Optician and maker of scientific instruments in the 18thc. He is best known for producing high quality microscopes.
Lot 554
A collection of small scientific instruments to include a boxed Watkins Bee Meter, a pocket speedometer, (Compensated for Temperature, Ross, 13/14 Gt Castle St, London), a boxed Negretti & Zambra pocket barometer, another similar (later) example, a boxed H & G Micro-Telescope, and another pocket barometer (6).
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