Dallmeyer Victoriaanse messing kaartloep - Gepersonaliseerd voor "Capt. Legh Phillipps, Torquay" - ca. 1880 Viewer
08
days
11
hours
21
minutes
33
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Edwin Molenaar
Over 30 years experience in photography and camera building.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 143216 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Victorian brass chart loupe personalized for Capt. Legh Phillipps, Torquay, circa 1880; tested and working, with a finely patinated housing and clear optics.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
An extremely rare, historic, and fully functional optical instrument from the late 19th century (circa 1880). It concerns a heavy, solid brass screw loupe (focusing loupe or chart magnifier) manufactured by the world-renowned British top optician J.H. Dallmeyer (London). This unique piece was specially tailored and engraved for a historically traceable person during the Victorian era. On the brass cylinder, in graceful, authentic lettering, the owner’s inscription is engraved: "Capt Legh Phillipps, Torquay".
Historical context: Captain Legh Phillipps was in the 1880s a very well-known captain and builder of high-performance racing yachts and scale models in the well-known British seaside town of Torquay. This type of screwable loupe was used by captains to lay flat on sea and navigation charts. Thanks to the fine screw thread at the bottom, the cylinder could be raised and lowered in a ring or holder. This allowed the lens to be precisely focused on the smallest depth figures and coastline details, with hands completely free for navigation instruments.
Condition and optics:
Case: Beautifully patinated Victorian brass with light, historically characteristic signs of age. The engraving is clearly legible.
Glass: The optical glass is in a strikingly fine, clear condition without deep scratches or notable degradation. The loupe still delivers its strong, razor-sharp magnification.
Mechanism: The fine thread on the underside is completely intact.
A magnificent and unique collectible that perfectly bridges the worlds of high-quality 19th-century optics (Dallmeyer) and Maritime British history.
An extremely rare, historic, and fully functional optical instrument from the late 19th century (circa 1880). It concerns a heavy, solid brass screw loupe (focusing loupe or chart magnifier) manufactured by the world-renowned British top optician J.H. Dallmeyer (London). This unique piece was specially tailored and engraved for a historically traceable person during the Victorian era. On the brass cylinder, in graceful, authentic lettering, the owner’s inscription is engraved: "Capt Legh Phillipps, Torquay".
Historical context: Captain Legh Phillipps was in the 1880s a very well-known captain and builder of high-performance racing yachts and scale models in the well-known British seaside town of Torquay. This type of screwable loupe was used by captains to lay flat on sea and navigation charts. Thanks to the fine screw thread at the bottom, the cylinder could be raised and lowered in a ring or holder. This allowed the lens to be precisely focused on the smallest depth figures and coastline details, with hands completely free for navigation instruments.
Condition and optics:
Case: Beautifully patinated Victorian brass with light, historically characteristic signs of age. The engraving is clearly legible.
Glass: The optical glass is in a strikingly fine, clear condition without deep scratches or notable degradation. The loupe still delivers its strong, razor-sharp magnification.
Mechanism: The fine thread on the underside is completely intact.
A magnificent and unique collectible that perfectly bridges the worlds of high-quality 19th-century optics (Dallmeyer) and Maritime British history.
Details
Era
1400-1900
Brand
Dallmeyer
Model/type nr
Victoriaanse messing kaartloep - Gepersonaliseerd voor "Capt. Legh Phillipps, Torquay" - ca. 1880
Physical condition
Very good
Functional condition
Tested and working
Estimated period
1880, 1850-1900
Sold by
