pocket telescope
Datecirca 1760
Inventory NumberDW0975
ClassificationTelescope
Subject
Maker
George Adams (I)
1709 - 1772
Owner
George III
1738 - 1820
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions4.3 × 4.3 × 4.3 × 9.8 cm (1 11/16 × 1 11/16 × 1 11/16 × 3 7/8 in.)
Overall - Storage: 10 x 2.5 x 5 cm (3 15/16 x 1 x 1 15/16 in.)
Overall - Storage: 10 x 2.5 x 5 cm (3 15/16 x 1 x 1 15/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionSilver pocket telescope (or monocular opera glass). It is ornamented in low relief with the coat of arms of the Prince of Wales.
SignedEngraved on the end of the draw tube: "Adams / Fleet Strt / London
Curatorial RemarksBlack lacquer on outer draw tube is flaking off. Needs attention
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Harrold E. Gillingham, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1949. Donated to CHSI 1985.
Historical AttributesThis pocket telescope or opera glass was owned by George III when he was the Prince of Wales. Since he ascended the throne in 1760, and this was the same year that George Adams received a royal appointment to him as the Prince of Wales, this telescope likely dates from about that time.
George Adams (I)
Date: 1760-1795
Accessories: second telescope - 0056b
Object number: 0056
George Adams (I)
Date: 1766-1795
Accessories: 2 eyepieces, solar filter, dust cover, case, key.
Object number: 2018-1-0002
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1766
Accessories: original case
Object number: DW0955
George Adams (II)
Date: 1789
Accessories: 3 magnifiers attached on arms; 1 Lieberkühn (lens missing); 1 high power lens; Insect box with 2 glass covers; stage forceps; 2 ivory slides; box.
Object number: 1001
George Adams (I)
Date: 1750-1772
Accessories: carrying case; cover plate (missing)
Object number: DW0687
George Adams (I)
Date: 1766-1787
Accessories: 8 objectives; Lieberkühn; substage black cone; brass wet cell preparation slide; frog plate; live box; spring stage for slider; stage forceps; horizontal box.
Object number: 1310
George Adams (I)
Date: 1770-1785
Accessories: 1 Objective marked: 5; no case.
Object number: 1374
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1766
Accessories: 6 ivory slides; 2 wooden slides
Object number: 1109
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1770
Accessories: objective (8); objective (3) with Lieberkühns; eyepiece (2); eye shade; lens to make the stand a simple aquatic microscope; hand lens; insert (7) for stage; insect box; spring clamp (2); narrow ivory slider (11); narrow ebony slider (9); wide wooden slider (6); ivory box (2) for mica covers; specialized tweezer (4); ivory handled dissection tool (3); flexible arm for holding a magnifying lens; small articulated bull's eye to fit on stage; special four-position slider for quick mounting of small specimens; lens of ~45 mm diameter
Object number: 2002-1-0047
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1765
Accessories: brass ball and fitting on top of the lightning conductor
Object number: 0017