RARE – 18th century Revolutionary War Magnifying glass, as in books and museums (SOLD)

Being offered is a piece you rarely come across, it is an 18^th century Magnifying Glass. It measures 4” x 2” with a metal frame. In the 18th century, people used magnifying glasses primarily for close-up reading, scientific observation, and as a fashionable accessory. They were also used for correcting vision, as glasses began to be more commonly worn. There is an example of one of these glasses in the American Academy of Ophthalmology Museum of Vision (see pictures).    

During that period, vision was viewed as a complex process, and eye health was a significant concern. Physicians and scholars explored the anatomy and function of the eye, describing it as a delicate and wondrous instrument. Although glasses were available, their designs and use were not as widespread as they would later become.

There is one of these magnifying glasses shown in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by Neumann & Kravic (see pictures). This is one of those items you rarely see available for purchase, in fact many museums do not have one. It comes in the glass-top display case pictured.