
Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
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Sold for £12,750 inc. premium
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Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine

Head of Department
George Lindsay (fl. 1743-1776) was a leading instrument maker during the mid-18th century, his talent confirmed by his appointment in 1760 to the role of royal watch and clock maker to George III. Prior to this Lindsay circulated advertisements for G Lindsay Watch & Clockmaker to his Royal Highness ye Prince of Wales at ye Dial near Catherine Street in ye Strand. Inventor & Maker of ye Generally portable microscope.
The present microscope is an example of Lindsay's patented pocket microscopes, the first such design to receive a patent (No. 588) in 1742/3. Lindsay published a pamphlet in 1743, which championed the portability of his microscope as fitting into any case 'not exceeding six Cubic Inches'. As a result the instrument was affectionately called the 'snuff-box microscope'.
A comparable brass example of this instrument is in the collection of the Royal Microscopical Society, London. Lindsay also produced two silver models were produced, one of which is now in the Whipple Museum, Cambridge.
Literature
cf. Gerard L'E Turner, The Great Age of the Microscope, Bristol, pp. 261-262, No. 279.