F4495-001

Portable telescope Long Caption: This achromatic telescope has a mahogany barrel and four brass draw tubes. The brass fittings include a pivoted eyepiece cover, but the objective lens cap is now missing. According to an inscription on the largest draw tube, the telescope was 'The esteemed / gift / of / SIR EDWD. PELLEW / to / A. WHITSON'. Edward Pellew (1757-1833) became Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy and had been made Viscount Exmouth by the time of his death. Pellew gave this telescope to Alex Whitson, a surgeon, with whom he was friends. Two letters from Pellew to Whitson are also held by the National Maritime Museum. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: NAV1636 Artist: Bate Date: circa 1800 Medium: wood; brass; glass Size: length: 288 mm (closed), 1035 mm (fully emm xtended); diameter: 56 mm (barrel), 60 mm (mamm x.) Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.