Microscope Slides - Antique Prepared Collectable | Archive

Antique Microscope Slide – Exhibition Standard – Arranged Diatoms with Spicules of Syncyota Holothuriale [Sea Cucumber] – W. A Firth – c1890.

A circle arrangement of numerous diatom types along with spicules from the cucumber – these spicules forming part of the sea cucumber’s skeletal structure.

William Allott Firth [1853-1923] was a professional mounter specialising is diatoms. Born in Barnsley, England he moved as a child with his family to Belfast where he remained for the rest of his life. His slides are regarded as of the highest quality, and this is an unusual example. His name label is supported by his characteristic handwriting which never varied.

The slide is difficult to precisely date partly because of the consistency of Firth’s handwriting noted above. The labelling arrangement is identical with Bracegirdle’s example Plat 17/K but no date is given. Bracegirdle does show a slide dated 1877 but we think this one is later – probably circa 1890. The pricing noted is a later reseller.

Good condition given age albeit crack across cover slip not affecting the view.

Complex arrangement of diatom types and spicules by expert Firth.

$120.00

Updating cart…

19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

A terrific slide of historical importance to Tasmania.

Prepared by Norma of London carrying the Norma monogrammed label and the familiar Norma cursive writing.

John Norman (1814-1893) was maybe the most prolific preparer of specimen microscope slides for the London scientific gentry. He operated most of the time out of various places in City Road, London. He won prize medals for mounts at the 1862 Expedition. Super quality and variety. He was joined by his sons Alfred and Edwin who continued his business after his death. There are many entries in the authority Bracegirdle showing numerous images of Norman examples.

This fine condition slide is from soundings taken [as stated at 240 fathoms] in Storm Bay on the way into the Derwent, Hobart, Tasmania. The soundings could well have been made by HMS Dart which was at one time conduction a survey of Australasia. The ship has an unusual history – well worth some research.

The soundings show remains of foraminifera [forams for short] set into a deep beautifully preserved mount – a quality typical of Norman.

Scientific dredgings from a deep part of Storm Bay, Tasmania. Top maker well over 130 year old and still in perfect condition.

$120.00

Updating cart…

Thirty Diatom Species – Mounted Microscope Slide and Catalogued by Bernard Hartley

Bernard Hartley was diatom royalty. He was born in 1917 and lived most of his life at Yoevil in Somerset. He was a civil engineer and began to make prepared microscope mounts of diatoms in 1957. He worked with fellow diatom expert R I Firth and together they identified and systemised the cataloguing of British diatom species. His other close colleague was the undisputed King of diatoms Klaus Kemp who must have had the steadiest hand known to man.

If you know little about diatoms how about this for a start. These tiny marine organisms [phytoplankton] contribute around 50 % of the marine oxygen production. In the right conditions they reproduce rapidly dividing every twenty four hours – but they only live six days. There are 12,000 known species and an estimated possibility of 200,000. The Amazon basin is fertilised by diatoms remains whipped up into the wind currents from the Sahara – an estimated 27 million tonnes per annum. They take two forms one radially symmetric and the other bilaterally symmetric. Lots more look them up – oh and they are very small and it takes great talent to handle them.

Here we have a slide by Hartley with a carefully placed row of thirty varying diatom types and, almost impossible to find, his original list of species types.

50% of the marine generated oxygen – better save them then! Special scientific collectable – with the list!

$190.00

Updating cart…

South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Ernest Hinton worked as a professional microscope slide preparer from 1864 to the end of the 19th Century. His mounts are identifiable by his standard slide labels and small distinctive and very neat handwriting. See example in authority Bracegirdle Plate 21 and page 52. This slide we believe circa 1875.

Hinton became a member of The Quekett Microscopical Club in 1872 [as an aside if you want to know more about the Q.M.C. contact Voyager Bill]. He spent his first 20 years working for Edmund Wheeler, some think he produced all of Wheeler’s slides from 1870. He worked in his own name from Holloway, London. His slides are considered to be of the highest quality.

Here we have an interesting Australian subject a marine lacy bryozoan from the waters off South Australia where they particularly occur. They are actually colonies of small marine animals [or zoids] fused together. Millions can form a colony, and South Australia has over 500 species.

Fine Australian specimen from top London maker circa 150 years old

$70.00

Updating cart…

Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Three fascinating early microscope slides by preparer Johann Diedrich Moller (1844-1907). The most talented and famous preparer of diatom slides of all time.

Three slides carrying a relatively early version of his distinctive slide labels.

His makers label announcing – Gold Medal St Petersburg & Altona 1869 J.D. Moller Wedel in Holstein [Germany].

The slide subjects being Diatomaceae and further labelled.

Fossils – South Australia
Fossils – South Yarra
Aqua Marina – Carpentaria Gulf Australia.

Fine examples of historical significance, likely harvested during one of the scientific and surveying voyages of the second half of the 19thC.

Price $190.00 the group – if you would like an individual one they will be $80.00 each. Send us a message through our enquiry page.

Postage costs likely to be reduced on final billing.

A trifecta of rather unique 19thC slides top maker and Australian subjects.

$180.00

Updating cart…

Victorian Microscope Slide – Horse Ant … Whole Insect Specimen – Mounted and dated 1880.

Nice condition, quality mount of a whole insect specimen of the Horse Ant, also known as the Red Wood and Southern Wood Ant. Classified by Linnaeus in 1761. Earlier, in 1648 the English Chemist John Ray distilled thousands of these ants to discover formic acid.

Mounted in gum arabic, with minimal oxidation a super example dated 1880.

Horse Ant in all its glory over 140 years old.

$40.00

Updating cart…

Microscope Slides – Antique Prepared Collectable

Antique Microscope Slide – Exhibition Standard – Arranged Diatoms with Spicules of Syncyota Holothuriale [Sea Cucumber] – W. A Firth – c1890.

19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

Thirty Diatom Species – Mounted Microscope Slide and Catalogued by Bernard Hartley

South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Victorian Microscope Slide – Horse Ant … Whole Insect Specimen – Mounted and dated 1880.

Product Categories