English, dated 1843, signed to the rear of the limb in script 'Powell & Lealand Makers, London' the microscope on a tripod base with pad feet lined to the underside with cork, the body held on trunnions at the top of the stand, plano-concave mirror on a single armed gimbal, substage aperture with recess for luggs, Turrel-type mechanical stage with interchangeable small and large stage, rack and pinion focus to triangular bar, limb with early side mounted screw fine focus, supports to body tube, with case of accessories to include:

2" objective with silver Leiberkuhn in a can.
1" objective with silver Leiberkuhn in a can.
1/2" objective with in a can engraved Powell & Lealand London.
1/4" objective with silver Leiberkuhn in a can.
1/8" objective with in a can.
Low power eyepiece.
Medium power eyepiece.
Achromatic substage condenser.
Set of dark wells.
Wheel of stops.
Live box

and in the case

Large stage.
Table bullseye.
Frog/Fish plate.
Poleriser

the original fitted French polished mahogany case with label to inside of door reads 'Powell & Lealand Opticians 24 Clarendon Street, Somers Town', case 36cm high

Footnote: The inception of the "New Microscope" in 1843 marked a significant milestone in the history of microscope design, serving as the precursor to the renowned Powell & Lealand microscopes: the No.1, No.2 and No.3 models.

Hugh Powell, known for producing larger model microscope stands, had previously built the massive stand commissioned by the Royal Microscopical Society in 1840. However, it was the 'No 1 Model,' a direct evolution of Powell & Lealand's 'New Microscope' from 1843, that laid the foundation for the subsequent iconic series of microscopes – the 'Powell & Lealand Number 1,' 'Number 2,' and 'Number 3.' The microscope introduced in 1843 is often mistaken for the later Number 3 stand due to their striking similarities. Initially described in the November 1843 issue of The London Physiological Journal as 'Powell & Lealand’s New Microscope,' this groundbreaking instrument featured a tripod design as its stand – a revolutionary departure from previous designs.

The tripod, a lightweight yet robust design, supported the microscope body on trunnions and featured a limb housing a long lever connected to the nosepiece. In its early incarnation, the fine-focus screw, operating on a wedge, was situated on the right side of the arm. However, a modification in 1844 replaced the wedge with an L-shaped piece. Subsequently, in 1848 and 1849, the mechanism underwent another transformation, moving to the familiar vertical position on the top of the arm. During these transitional years, some microscopes retained side fine adjustments. However, by 1850, the fine adjustment was exclusively located on the top of the arm. This period also saw diagonal stabilizing struts supporting the microscope tube, extending from the back of the arm to the upper third of the tube. Interestingly, these stabilizers were eventually abandoned in the early 1860s.

While Hugh Powell had crafted various microscope styles before 1843, it was the 'New Microscope' that served as the prototype, guiding the development of all subsequent models throughout the remainder of the century. Notably, the only deviation from this design was observed in the company's student models or ‘Iron Stand’. Thus, the legacy of Powell & Lealand's "New Microscope" of 1843 endures as a pivotal moment in the progression of microscope design.

According to Great age of the microcope, Powell & Lealand were at 24 Clarendon Street from 1842 - 1846.