Chevalier's Universal Microscope, C. 1840

A spectacular universal achromatic microscope by Charles Chevalier, signed "Microscope Achromatique Universel de Charles Chevalier Ingénieur Opticien Breveté Palais Royal 163 à Paris," dating from the late 1830s or circa 1840, but no later than 1849. This particular example is especially interesting for its numerous accessories, including two Nicol prisms used for polarization. This device, which allows the Chevalier microscope to be transformed into a polarizing microscope for the study of minerals, is particularly rare on this model and quite early for its time. The preserved accessories are: - the condensing lens, - the Turrell micrometer stage, - a variable magnification pancratic objective used for dissection, - a Plossl electrodischarge stage for observation in water, - two camera lucidas, - a large Lieberkühn objective, - two doublets, signed Charles Chevalier, for use as a simple microscope, - two original eyepieces, - an objective with numerous lenses of varying magnifications, including one with tinted glass, - the two Nicol prisms in perfect condition, - three boxes of microscope preparations, including ten double slides of opaque mineral specimens. All the microscope accessories can be stored in the mahogany carrying case. Rare with so many accessories and for mineralogical use.