Nauticalia

This classic four drawer, 12x magnification telescope is typical of those used by 18th century naval officers. The Admiralty, having experimented with higher magnifications, had decided that this was about the optimum for use at sea - so concentrated instead on developing practical features such as the slide-out hood for reducing glare when the sun was high.

It is made from solid brass tubing bound with stitched leather, protected in a brass-buckled leather case, and would have been a highly prized posession. 35mm object lens, length fully extended 18" (closed 7").