26th Apr, 2019 12:00

Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine

 
  Lot 37
 

A Swift & Son 'Research' Brass Compound Microscope with Tutankhamun Provenance

English, c.1900, signed to foot' J. SWIFT & SON, LONDON', standing on a tall black lacquered foot, body supported by trunnions to top, plano-concave mirror in gimbal, semi-mechanical focusing substage with condenser, mechanical stage with X-Y control course focusing via rack work with micrometer fine focusing, body tube with single drawer tube, with 3 P-A objectives and two eve pieces and other accessories, in original mahogany case Provenance: The microscope's vendor tells us that this microscope belonged to a relative who worked for George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon. On his leaving service he was given this microscope, which, according to the vendor was used to study the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun sent back to England by Carter. The microscope comes with a hand-written letter which reads 'Robert Taylor, Butler to Lord Carnaven, gave this microscope to my dad, Mr Oscar William Osborn. Used at Lord Carnaven’s home….to examine the finds from Tutankhamun’s Tomb. When I opened the microscope case in the front room of 48 Kynance Gardens, Stanmore, two very large (1.5”) black beetles flew out. The microscope case hadn’t been opened for years. I opened it during the evening while Doris was flower arranging at St Anselm’s Church Hall. Never found the beetles again. Later in the evening the Police called – man and woman – to say that my Dad had died.'

Sold for £504

Result plus buyers premium


 
English, c.1900, signed to foot' J. SWIFT & SON, LONDON', standing on a tall black lacquered foot, body supported by trunnions to top, plano-concave mirror in gimbal, semi-mechanical focusing substage with condenser, mechanical stage with X-Y control course focusing via rack work with micrometer fine focusing, body tube with single drawer tube, with 3 P-A objectives and two eve pieces and other accessories, in original mahogany case Provenance: The microscope's vendor tells us that this microscope belonged to a relative who worked for George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon. On his leaving service he was given this microscope, which, according to the vendor was used to study the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun sent back to England by Carter. The microscope comes with a hand-written letter which reads 'Robert Taylor, Butler to Lord Carnaven, gave this microscope to my dad, Mr Oscar William Osborn. Used at Lord Carnaven’s home….to examine the finds from Tutankhamun’s Tomb. When I opened the microscope case in the front room of 48 Kynance Gardens, Stanmore, two very large (1.5”) black beetles flew out. The microscope case hadn’t been opened for years. I opened it during the evening while Doris was flower arranging at St Anselm’s Church Hall. Never found the beetles again. Later in the evening the Police called – man and woman – to say that my Dad had died.'
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