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'Cary Gould-type' Pocket Microscope by Cary, London, C.1830
Harrington Antiques
for sale €696     $756
£595
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques

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'Cary Gould-type' Pocket Microscope by Cary, London, C.1830

19th century
Description

A 'Cary-Gould Type' pocket microscope, London, c.1830. Engraved 'Cary, London' to the limb.

This type of pocket microscope attained enormous popularity in the 1820-1850s. William Cary was a noted instrument maker and an apprentice of Jesse Ramsden. Charles Gould who worked for Cary designed this microscope specifically for the amateur naturalist to meet popular demand, ingeniously using the case as its stand. It became widely used and was copied by other leading makers.

This instrument is a miniature pocket example, with the tube measuring just 7.5cm high. The whole dismantles quickly to fit into its tiny case. There is a slightly concave mirror which has a dink to the glass (please see photographs) but remains intact. Accessories include a slide, extra lenses, spear etc. The tapering tube is of the type common at the time to larger microscopes. Everything fits neatly in the small mahogany case lined with blue velvet.

DIMENSIONS

Box:-

Width: 9.5cm

Depth: 8cm

Height: 3cm

Microscope Tube:-

Height: 7.5cm

Diameter of eye piece: 2cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Declaration

Harrington Antiques has dated this Antique Brass Pocket Microscope to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1224507
Dealers Internal Reference
8002
Dealers Notes

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RETURNS

We are sure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Nonetheless, to ensure you have complete peace of mind, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee.

The purchased item may be returned, in its original condition, within 14 days from receipt. Return carriage costs are the responsibility of the buyer. For larger pieces requiring a specialist courier service, we will arrange your return for you with the cost being deducted from the refund (this cost will never exceed the original charge paid).

We ask that a trackable signature method of shipping is used for the return of smaller items as we cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit.

Should you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Description
A 'Cary-Gould Type' pocket microscope, London, c.1830. Engraved 'Cary, London' to the limb.

This type of pocket microscope attained enormous popularity in the 1820-1850s. William Cary was a noted instrument maker and an apprentice of Jesse Ramsden.

Charles Gould who worked for Cary designed this microscope specifically for the amateur naturalist to meet popular demand, ingeniously using the case as its stand.
Harrington Antiques

It became widely used and was copied by other leading makers.

fig 1. A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box.
fig 1. 'Cary Gould-type' Pocket Microscope by Cary, London, C.1830

This instrument is a miniature pocket example, with the tube measuring just 7.5cm high. The whole dismantles quickly to fit into its tiny case. There is a slightly concave mirror which has a dink to the glass (please see photographs) but remains intact. Accessories include a slide, extra lenses, spear etc. The tapering tube is of the type common at the time to larger microscopes. Everything fits neatly in the small mahogany case lined with blue velvet.

DIMENSIONS

Box:-

Width: 9.5cm

Depth: 8cm

Height: 3cm

Microscope Tube:-

Height: 7.5cm

Diameter of eye piece: 2cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Date of Manufacture

Harrington Antiques has dated this Antique Brass Pocket Microscope to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1224507
Dealers Internal Ref
8002
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2021

Antiques & decorative interior pieces.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Harrington Antiques Profile Page

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A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box.
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Archive I A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box.

'Cary Gould-Type' Pocket Microscope by Cary, London, c.1830

Archive II A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View II
Archive III A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View III
Archive IV A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View IV
Archive V A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View V
Archive VI A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View VI
Archive VII A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View VII
Archive VIII A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View VIII
Archive IX A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View IX
Archive X A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View X
Archive XI A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View XI
Archive XII A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View XII
Archive XIII A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 07552 767190
Location
Devon
United Kingdom
Verified Since Mar 2021
Items For Sale 87
Items Sold 801
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Verified
Mar 2021
For Sale
87
Sold
801
A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box.
'Cary Gould-Type' Pocket Microscope by Cary, London, c.1830
Ref: SA1224507
A small early 19th-century lacquered brass pocket microscope mounted onto the rim of its fitted mahogany storage box.
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Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Designed in the early 19th century, the Cary Gould-type microscope is a compact, portable compound microscope engineered to screw directly into its mahogany fitted case for stability during field research.

These instruments were predominantly constructed from lacquered brass with precision optical glass lenses, housed within velvet-lined mahogany transit cases that served as the base platform.

Authentic examples feature precision screw-thread mountings on the wooden case edge, rack-and-pinion focusing mechanisms, fine brass casting, and often bear maker engravings such as Cary, London.

A compact scientific instrument functions effectively as a curio display piece on an office desk, curated shelf, or styled alongside leather-bound books in a study.

Preserve the original lacquer and patina by dusting gently with a soft microfibre cloth, avoiding abrasive metal polishes, chemical solvents, or excessive humidity exposure.
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