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It is now taken for granted that everyday microscopy always provides perfect images. However, this has not always been the case. For several centuries, the construction of microscopes and the appropriate optics was purely a matter of craftsmanship. The performance of these early instruments had to rely on the experience of the lens grinders, and the results obtained were often sheer coincidence.
Great trouble and effort was invested in the outer appearance of these instruments. In many cases, they were simply show objects intended to increase the prestige of their owners. The dichotomy between appearance and the quality of the images these instruments provided was – by today’s standards – striking.
Nevertheless, microscopy became a favorite pastime of the rich and beautiful in the 18th century. For example, Elizabeth Charlotte of Palatinate, who became famous as the sister-in-law of Louis XIV, owned a valuable microscope and used it regularly; she correctly predicted that this instrument would be of inestimable value for medical applications in the future. This foresight was almost visionary at that time. | |
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