A Rare and Seemingly Unique Brass Microdot Viewing Device c.1870s

By L. Casella of 23 Hatton Garden, a brass monocular microscope viewer, similar in design to the maker's Garden microscope, with a unique circular rotating glass stage, with 12 individual microdot images around the peripherie of the stage, on a screw in mahogany base with single illuminating mirror. Height, 280mm. Microdot subjects include a portrait photograph of a gentleman, Various classical art studies, a copy of the Lord's prayer, a picture of a monument, perhaps the Victoria and Albert monument in Hyde Park, a drawing of a black gentleman with a white woman on his lap, a church interior, another drawing of a group of gentlemen, probably engineers studying plans in front of a bridge, a study of St Pauls Cathedral from the Thames, a copy of legal tender for £20 dated 22nd March 1859, and finally a photograph of three Victorian children and a dog

Provenance: London Private Collection