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*RARE* Victorian John B Dancer Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet Engraved Micro Slide
*RARE* Victorian John B Dancer Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet Engraved Micro Slide

*RARE* Victorian John B Dancer Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet Engraved Micro Slide

$ 52.77

Availability: 100 in stock
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    Description

    *RARE* Victorian John B Dancer Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet Engraved Micro Slide
    The first recorded ‘microform’ produced by
    John Benjamin Dancer
    (1812-1887), a British scientific instrument maker was a remarkable achievement, being made in the Autumn 1839, only months after the announcement of the invention of photography. His ‘microphotograph’ was on a daguerreotype plate at approximately 160x reduction. Early in 1852 Dancer improved his technique by using the collodion process, producing microphotographs containing a full picture occupying only 1/16th of an inch.
    Dancer did not commence making microphotograph slides in quantity until 1852
    Dancer did not have any mass production method for turning out his micro-photograph slides and though it must have been very time consuming he is reported as having made many thousands. The method employed was explained by Mr.J.F.Stirling writing in Watsons Microscope Record No.45, Oct.1938, p.16. A glass negative of the photograph to be reduced was placed in a lantern illuminated by a flame. The image of the photograph was projected through a microscope objective mounted horizontally on to the sensitized collodion film supported on a glass sheet. Dancer speeded up production slightly by duplicating the contraption with two lanterns placed back to back with one illuminating flame in the space between the two lanterns, the whole assembly being covered over with a canvas tent to keep out the light. The exceedingly small piece of collodion film containing the positive microphotograph image was mounted in balsam beneath a cover glass on a standard 3 x 1 slide.
    Dancer
    started to suffer from Glaucoma when he was only 58, and eight years later in 1878 because of failing sight coupled with business and family worries resulting in the decline of the business due to competition from other microscope makers, and a corresponding lessening demand for his products, he had to give up his work in the business. He lived another nine years until he was 75 in blindness, obscurity and near poverty.  His daughters continued the
    business under the name of E.E.Dancer & Co.
    See photos for condition details.