F8718-003

Portable telescope Long Caption: This barrel of this non-achromatic telescope is covered in black rayskin, while the four draw tubes are made of green leather and decorated with gold tooling. The lens holders and other fittings are made of ivory, but all the lenses and eyepiece fitting are missing. Black rings around the draw tubes indicate the optimum length in use. A handwritten inscription around the base of one of the draw tubes names 'George Willdey', an optical instrument maker working in London in the early 18th century. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gabb Collection Object: NAV1522 Artist: George Willdey Date: circa 1710 Medium: rayskin (shagreen); vellum; ivory Size: 365 mm (closed); 1228 mm (open to stop lines); Diameter: 49 mm (barrel) Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.