Microscopes, 17th Century, Hooke,s Hooke Microscope, c 1675

Microscopes, 17th Century, Hooke,s Hooke Microscope, c 1675. Microscope associated with Robert Hooke (1635-1703), shown with a copy of the illuminating system used. This microscope, among the scientific instruments collected together by George III, is described in the catalogue of that collection as 'Dr Hooke's Microscope'. The main body is made of cardboard covered with dark red leather, ornamented with gold stampings. A bi-convex eye-lens is enclosed in a wooden lens holder which has a dust-cap to house spare objectives. A plano-convex field-lens is mounted inside the body of the tube. The illumination system used a liquid-filled globe to project the flame of an oil lamp onto the specimen. ©SSPL/Science Museum