Antique French Lerebours Solar Microscope. France, Circa 1790-1810

Antique French Lerebours solar microscope made in France circa 1790-1810, in its original case and more than two centuries old. One of the microscopes component parts, the biggest one, bears an engraved inscription reading LEREBOUR A PARIS. It stands for Nöel-Jean Lerebours, a French optician dead in 1840 and father of the prestigious editor and optician Nöel Marie Paymal Lerebours. Solar microscopes are quite similar to magic lanterns: the sunlight is captured by a mirror which sends it to the sample and lens so it is projected on a wall or a screen. The one that we can see in the images, dismantled, is not complete but it is otherwise a great and very rare exhibition piece. The glass and some accessories are missing, so this item is sold as a non-functional exhibition object. The set includes 6 lenses in apparent good condition and many component parts. All of them are stored in a greatly-preserved antique case. This antique French Lerebours solar microscope is an exclusive and rare piece, of great value for any collector. Cases Dimensions: Width: 10.43 in / 26.5 cm. Depth: 8.07 in / 20.5 cm.