A Cary/Gould-type lacquered brass portable compound microscope, Cary, London, circa 1825.The part-tapered tube screw-fitting at the objective end into a threaded collar positioned at the top of a square section upright cut with teeth for the rack and pinion up/down adjustment of the stage and engraved Cary, London, the platform fitted with sprung brass object retaining plate with pivoted plano-concave mirror applied beneath, the whole mounted via a threaded recessed collar into the clasp area of the open mahogany box containing accessories including forceps, Lieberkühn and condenser lens complete with dismantlable post, the case 9.5cm (3.75ins) wide. The current lot was probably made by William Cary who is recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as born circa 1759 and apprenticed to Jesse Ramsden. Cary worked from 272 Strand, London 1789-90 then 182 Strand 1794-1822, he died in 1825. The firm was continued by his successors trading from 181 Strand until 1891. The design of the current lot was devised by Cary during the early 1820's and was subsequently published by his former apprentice, Charles Gould, in his 1827 publication THE COMPANION TO THE MICROSCOPE. A very similar instrument to the current lot also by Cary was sold in these rooms on 15th September 2015 (lot 8) for £320 hammer.