A facsimile edition of Robert Hooke’s most profound work, Micrographia includes minutely detailed descriptions, philosophical queries, and beautiful engraved illustrations. The book was authorized on November 23, 1664 by the Council of the Royal Society of London for the Improving of Natural Knowledge.In the dedication “TO THE KING” the author pays homage to a monarch who, by power and right, ruled over all aspects of society – both individual and collective. Hooke acknowledges that “philosophy and experimental learning have prospered under royal patronage,” yet places them in perspective with the “nobler matters: the improvement of manufactures and agriculture, the increase of commerce, and the advantage of navigation.”

These impressive works review the state-of-the-art in eighteenth century microscopes. Baker wrote to those who “desire to search into the wonders of the Minute Creation, tho’ they are not acquainted with optics.” He includes complete directions on “how to prepare, apply, examine and preserve all sorts of objects: and proper cautions to be observed in viewing them.” In first presenting he book to the Royal Society of London on October 28, 1742, Baker wrote that his goal was to “attempt to excite in mankind a general desire of searching into the wonders of Nature.” Baker’s descriptions of many microscopic objects must certainly have left some readers of the time in disbelief.

This book describes Pritchard’s studies of the biology and anatomy of minute organisms. Is also includes a stimulating account of the author’s experiments with precious jewel lens systems in his attempt to perfect and color correct the optics of the microscope.  In the preface, Pritchard provides an excellent summary of the book. “While almost every part of nature has within the last few years been explored, and our knowledge augmented, the living objects described in this work, have been nearly overlooked by naturalists, and such representations as we possess of them are delineated in the most incorrect and grotesque manner that can well be conceived; for these reasons the Author has presumed to call the attention of the public to this interesting branch of natural history.”

Quekett provides an authoritative history of the microscope from ancient times to the perfection of the achromatic lens… This book is a classic of the mid-19th century and a model for contemporary text design. In the Preface, he acknowledges the importance of the microscope as an instrument second only to the telescope. He also expresses the need for a generalized book of instruction applicable to any instrument. Finally, he attributes the extensive sections on microscopical specimen preparation to his own experience and expertise. The book opens with a 46-page history of the microscope that perhaps is one of the most accurate and detailed ever written.

The author of this treatise writes in great detail on the construction, proper operation, and capabilities of Smith, Beck, and Beck’s achromatic microscopes and accessories. It is a rare description and detailed instruction on the use of an advanced design achromatic microscope and numerous special accessories. He begins with a description: “A Compound Achromatic Microscope consists essentially of two parts, an object-glass and an eyepiece – so called because they are respectively near the object and the eye when the instrument is in use.

Lee presents an organized collection of 660 tested reagents and procedures for fixing, staining processing, mounting and demonstrating all manners of biological and histotechnological material as known up to the publication date of 1885. As Lee points out in the preface, the book provides “a concise but complete account of all the methods of preparation.” The introduction explains the purpose of the book, which is to provide zoological scientists with a collection of microscopical methods to participate in a wide list of needs. It is intended to reveal additional information from the images of nature viewed or enhanced for study through the microscope.

As Bracegirdle explains in the preface, “This book sets down the main facts of the evolution of the microtome and of the development and of the development of histological methods. The basis of the work was a comprehensive survey of the large literature and full documentation has been provided in over a thousand references…” In addition, more than 40,000 microscopical preparations have been inspected and evaluated as a check on written accounts, as have some 55 microtomes: some of these were used to cut sections as they would have been when first introduced.”

This book concentrates on a significant period in the evolution of the microscope. As expressed in the Preface, “It is not the author’s intention to offer yet another charge of the brigade to form a comprehensive history of the microscope, but rather to dwell in the middle period of its evolution, when both simple and compound instruments were influenced by many novel mechanical designs; all attempting to stabilize the image and improve resolution.”

This book is important in understanding the assembly and function of many accessories or attachments to evolving microscopes.

The History of the Microscope library set of books was prepared to make the philosophical and technological heritage of microscopy easily accessible.  The set consists of a collection of eight books – six rare facsimile editions of classic science literature and two recent works concerning the development of histotechnology and microscopy.  The bound books are presented in an attractive slipcase.

After years of searching, the Directors of Science Heritage Ltd. assembled this collection of twenty rare microscopes (c. 1675 to c. 1840). Each instrument has been selected with great care to demonstrate the development of knowledge and technology during the important phase in the evolution of science. The collection has been reproduced in limited editions for collectors and museums in all parts of the world.

The book, Notes on Nursing by Florence Nightingale, English nurse and founder of modern nursing, was first published in 1860.  Treasured by nurses, this practical and witty guide to the healing arts is an exact replica of the first 1860 edition, hand-bound and gold embossed.  Certainly of historical importance, these “notes” remain relevant to the healing arts as they are practiced today.

The Microscopic Photographs  of J.B. Dancer features 265 of the 277 listed titles in the Dancer 1873 catalogue and a total of 388 from the combined Dancer-Suter lists.  The 288 page, 9×12 inch deluxe bound volume of photographic art, is of special importance to those who are interested in photography, science, and social history.  Each of the J.B. Dancer atlas pictures is accompanied by informative notes that form a fascinating portrait of the taste and interests of the 19th Century.