The Microscope; Theory and Practice

London: R. & J. Beck, Ltd, 1938. Hardcover. Near fine. Octavo size, 264 pp. Richard and Joseph Beck were founders of R and J Beck (est. 1843), the firm which manufactured and sold optical instruments such as microscopes and, later, cameras. They were nephews of the famed Joseph Jackson Lister (1786-1869) who developed the achromatic lenses for use in microscopes which, for the first time, allowed resolution detailed enough to adequately reveal plant and animal cell structure.

Conrad Beck, presumably part of the family (we could find little information on him online), published several books intended to instruct the average person on their use.

This book is the third (per the Preface) by this author on the topic of the microscope, this containing "the information given in the writer's two previous books...with a considerable amount of fresh matter." Mr. Beck has geared this book towards the user of the microscopic instrument, rather than the designer of such. He explains "it is the endeavor of this book to explain the theory and use of the instrument without reference to mathematics and without the scientific details that, although necessary for the designer, are not required for its use" (n.b., both quotes from the Preface).

Chapters include: "The Geometric Optics of the Microscope","Aperture and Resolution", "The Photometry of the Microscope", "Notes on Illumination and Technique", Microscopes, Typical and for Special Purposes", "Notes on Testing Microscope Object-Glasses", and "Polarised Light as Applied to the Microscope".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full aubergine cloth, narrow blind ruled border on the front, gilt lettering on front and spine, ivory endpapers, the book replete with black-and-white charts, mathematical equations, diagrams, etc.; octavo size (8 3/8" by 5 3/4"), pagination: [1-4] 5-264.

___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards, straight corners with minimal rubbing, a strong text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and other than a vintage pencilled price of "3.00" with the date of "4/8/38" on the rear pastedown entirely free of prior owner markings; text block cocked but strong and light wear to the head and tale of the spine.

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