Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

Fine Apothecary/ Medical Cabinet – c1850- Godfrey & Cooke London [Established 1680]

Really special fine polished solid mahogany medical cabinet retailed by Godfrey & Cooke, London in the Victorian era. Campaign style brass handle and recess, working lock with original key [not to be lost]. Lovely red velvet padded interior, with two finely crafted lift out stacking trays. Individual compartments around the inside of the cabinet contain eleven glass medical bottles all with ground glass stoppers. The top tray contains period apothecary scales and a good set of weights [2,1 and ½ Drams; 2,1 Scruples and 6,5,4,3,2,1 and ½ Grains]. The lower larger tray contains a glass pestle and mortar, two lidded jars and three small ground glass stoppered bottles. Below this tray is a void containing a minute measuring cylinder [measure in “drops”] in a shagreen case and an old dropper.

The cabinet is unmarked, 26.5cm by 15cm by 14cm high; weighs approx. 3.5 kgs. The internal items are in as good a condition as you will get, one stopper with a chip the rest undamaged. Three stoppers fused in place – we are not going to force them.

The back story of this cabinet is worth a movie.

Ambrose Godfrey-Hanckwutz (1660-1741) was born in Kothen, Germany. At the age of nineteen, already married, he moved to London where he worked as an assistant to Robert Boyle founding member of The Royal Society, often described as the first chemist. He reduced his name to Ambrose Godfrey to assimilate. His primary task with Boyle was to discover the method of making phosphorous – which involves an intriguing story [too long for here]. He was eventually successful, and much money was made which allowed him to set up his own chemist’s business at the Sign of the Phoenix, Covent Garden. On his death in 1741 his sons took over the business and then in turn a nephew of the same name. On his death in 1797 the business was bought by Charles Gorman Cooke and became Godfrey & Cooke with activities on Conduit Street and then later The Royal Arcade, Bond Street. The name continued until 1910.

Fine 19thC London apothecary/ medical cabinet

$1,590.00

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Antique Direct Vision Spectroscope by Nachet of Paris c1900

A fully functioning direct vision spectroscope by Camille Nachet of Paris in its original shagreen tube style case. The scientific method is after a design by Browning of London with alternating 3 flint glass prisms with 2 crown glass prisms. This pocket-sized spectroscope was often used to detect the Rainband a spectral effect that can be seen before impending rain. Handy if you are off in the country without a brolly.

Camille Sebastien Nachet was a Parisian optician at the beginning of the 19th Century. He began producing lenses for the famous microscope manufacturer Chevalier but later set up his own small business at 16 Rue Serpente, Paris. He was succeeded by his son Jean Alfred 1831-1908. Nachet is included with Chevalier and Oberhauser as the three leading optical instrument makers in Paris at this time.

Special French Direct Vision Spectroscope

$240.00

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Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

An Ion Idriess classic which followed “Prospecting for Gold”. Experts regarded this book as a serious compendium. Includes chemical tests and sections on the use of the blowpipe.

Published by Angus and Robertson, a 1959 issue of the revised edition. Large octavo, 310 pages with some instructive illustrations. A very good copy in a super dust jacket.

Ion Idriess classic – makes your fortune in minerals – plenty have.

$60.00

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Field or Students Microscope [French Style] c1900

A late Victorian perhaps Edwardian student’s or field drum microscope. In fine working condition. Original wooden case. This variety would have been used by a naturalist in the field. French by manufacture.

Single brass objective, the body retains nearly all its original lacquer and is quite bright, swivel mirror unblemished. Mahogany fitted case in fine condition.

Practical antique scientific instrument

$190.00

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Antique French Microscope [Probably Nachet – see Billings Collection] – c1860

A nice mid 19thC microscope with original box. Likely by the French maker Nachet of Paris. Everything including the original lacquer in very good condition. Functioning well.

Similar if not identical to the Billings Collection Fig 125, page 67. Billings states makers unknown but suggests Nachet or Hartnack both of Paris and circa 1860’s. Also, see online “History of the Microscope” which shows three examples of which this is the larger of the three – they reference English maker J.H. steward as making something similar but recognise a French maker re this specific style.

The microscope arises from a painted green and gold-toned weighted foot via a ball and socket joint to the bottom of the pillar. A small knob on the foot adjusts the tension on the ball and socket joint to allow the user to lock the position of inclination. The single sided gimbaled mirror is attached to the pillar via a pin. Focusing of the main tube is by a knurled knob acting on the rack and pinion. On the tube a ring carries a two-jointed arm with a bullseye condenser. The objective “French” double button type; compounding. Beneath the stage is a revolving disc of diaphragms, above the stage a casing with a lyre-shaped stage clip. Stands circa eleven inches closed. The original box retains its original sections, has some cracks and age about it but authentic and has kept the microscope in very good condition.

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Camille Sebastien Nachet was a Parisian optician at the beginning of the 19th Century. He began producing lenses for the famous microscope manufacturer Chevalier but later set up his own small business at 16 Rue Serpente, Paris. He produced his first instruments based on the drum- type base models made previously by other manufacturers. He was succeeded by his son Jean Alfred 1831-1908. Nachet is included with Chevalier and Oberhauser as the three leading makers in Paris at this time.

Unusual French microscope over 150 years old

SORRY SOLD

$340.00

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Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China

No date or maker but this presentation was a specialty in the late Victorian / Edwardian era. Reference authority “Bracegirdle” shows a number of “outsized” examples but none quite like this.

In modern terms known as the spotted lantern fly. The insect is on the move and a potential threat in Australia – modelling has shown that it could survive well in western and north-western Victoria. When we say a threat, it was endemic to China and Vietnam but moved into South Korea in 2006, Japan in 2009 and the USA in 2014 … so the move is on.

Here the little blighter is beautifully preserved and presented in Canada Balsam … we know that CB was the mounters choice due its quality and the cursive narrative says so.

A microscopical rarity outsized mount of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

$180.00

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Fine Apothecary/ Medical Cabinet – c1850- Godfrey & Cooke London [Established 1680]

Antique Direct Vision Spectroscope by Nachet of Paris c1900

Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

Field or Students Microscope [French Style] c1900

Antique French Microscope [Probably Nachet – see Billings Collection] – c1860

Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China

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