Ellis Aquatic Microscope, Circa 1760-70

Aquatic microscope invented by John Ellis around 1755 and then marketed by John Cuff. Our model is not signed but is of English manufacture, around 1760-1770. This revolutionary model of simple microscope had the great advantage of offering a rapid horizontal and vertical movement of the objective holder. It was used by Ellis for the observation of aquatic objects and animals but is more generally used for natural history observations requiring low magnification. This example is complete with its mirror, its stage (formerly restored), its objective holder and two lenses of different magnification equipped with their silver Lieberkuhn mirror. The whole is stored in its transport box made of ray or shark skin lined with green velvet. Good working condition. The box measures 11x11 cm and the microscope approximately 16-17cm high.