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Various Properties
Lot 58

A rare John Cuff mahogany and brass solar microscope,
English, mid 18th century,

15 September 2021, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £19,000 inc. premium

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A rare John Cuff mahogany and brass solar microscope, English, mid 18th century,

signed John Cuff Londini Fecit, the square mahogany window shutter plate measuring 8 x 8 in, mounted with adjustable reflector on one side and microscope body tube on the other, one section bound in fish-skin and a brass screw-barrel type tube with rack and pinion focusing, the screw-barrel attachment in velvet lined and fish-skin covered case with six objectives and three bone mounted specimen slides, all housed in fitted mahogany carrying case,
8 3/4in (22.5cm) wide in case

Footnotes

Provenance:
Ex-Lot 84, Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 19 March 2008.

John Cuff (1708-1772) was a specialist instrument maker whose output focused primarily on microscopes. Cuff is known for producing new microscope types beyond the well established examples (the Culpeper-type and the pocket type), in particular the solar microscope and 'Mr. Cuff's new-constructed double microscope'. Despite his expertise and popular innovations, Cuff went bankrupt by 1750 and sold the entirety of his stock. One possible cause of this misfortune was a fierce competitor, Benjamin Martin (1704-1782), moving his workshop next door to Cuff's on Fleet Street.

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