Rare Four-Draw Refracting Telescope by George Adams Senior, 1752
With ¾-inch diameter objective lens, polished shagreen-covered body tube, vellum-covered pasteboard draw tubes with gold tooling, the outer tube embossed “G. Adams, Fleet Street, London", the inner two with ink scales calibrated 0–30, the smallest with manuscript paper label signed and monogrammed “Geo. Adams", “No. 98" and dated “Jan. 25, 1752", with lacquered brass mounts and sprung sliding dust-covers, length closed 9 ½ in. (24 cm), missing eyepiece lens, otherwise excellent original condition. – Provenance: Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Works of Art, Christie's South Kensington, 8 April 2004, Lot 11. – References: Auction Team Breker, 24 May 2014, Lot 118, a similar manuscript label on an Adams sea quadrant of 1751 (now in the collection of the Mariner's Museum and Park, Virginia). – Silvio Bedini quoted in “From Earth-Bound to Satellite, Telescopes, Skills and Networks". Ed. Georgio Strano, p. 68. – Bedini characterises the construction of early hand-held telescopes as having pasteboard draw tubes covered in leather or parchment and decorated with gold tooling similar to the work found on book bindings from the 12th century onwards. This mid-18th century example presents finely-tooled decoration and a rare manuscript label.

Seltenes Refraktor-Teleskop von George Adams Senior, 1752
England, 4 Auszüge, Frontlinse Ø 2 cm, mit poliertem Chagrinleder bezogener Tubus, Auszüge aus Karton-Hülsen, mit Gold-geprägtem Pergamentpapier bezogen, der äußere Auszug geprägt mit "G. Adams, Fleet Street, London", mit Tinte gezeichnete Skalen auf den beiden inneren Auszügen, kalibriert 0–30, der kleinste Auszug mit handgeschriebenem Papier-Etikett, signiert und monogrammiert "Geo. Adams", "No. 98" und datiert “Jan. 25, 1752", mit zaponierten Messing-Fassungen und gefederten und verschiebbaren Staubschutzkappen, Länge geschlossen 24 cm, ohne Okular-Linse, ansonsten in exzellentem Originalzustand. – Herkunft: Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Works of Art, Christie's South Kensington, 8. April 2004, Lot 11. – Referenz: Auction Team Breker, 24. Mai 2014, Lot 118, ein ähnliches Etikett auf George Adams' Marinequadrant von 1751 (nun in der Sammlung des Mariner's Museum und Park, Virginia, USA).

Start Price: € 2800

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