The bookplate of John Gustav Delly, my own personal bookplate for books on the microscope and microscopical subjects (Figure 40), features a simple microscope, which I also use on my personal stationery.  The decision to use this particular microscope came only at the end of a lengthy search.  I rejected images of modern microscopes because they lack character.  At first I chose to use Watson’s “van Heurck” model because it is so elaborate; then I thought one of the elaborate Powell & Lealand, or Beck, or Smith microscopes would be better.  I tried these in mock-up, but they were all too “busy.”  Somehow, I wanted to distill the essence of microscope, much like a fine cognac.  I found myself going to simpler and simpler designs, until I found what I was looking for in an inexpensive microscope made by E. Leitz before the 1890’s (Figure 41); it is called the Medium Upright Microscope (No. 15).  The microscope cannot be inclined, and is furnished with rapid movement coarse focusing produced by sliding the body tube up and down, with fine adjustment achieved via a micrometer screw on the pillar.  It was originally supplied with No. 3, 5, 7, and 9 ordinary objectives, and oculars I and III.  In 1893 this microscope fully equipped sold for £9.15s.

click image to enlarge (77K) Figure 40

click image to enlarge (93K) Figure 41

My second microscopical bookplate (Figure 42) was a gift from a good friend who happened to be in Cologne for Photokina.  He found a shop that made custom rubber stamps, and, very thoughtfully, ordered one made for me.  Here, the wise old owl peers down the tube of the microscope.

click image to enlarge (103K) Figure 42

click image to enlarge (176K) Figure 43

The bookplate of George May Elwood, of Rochester, NY (Figure 43) features a monk surrounded by many books, viewing some interesting specimen with his microscope, perhaps brewer’s yeast, or “the noble rot.”

The bookplate of Frederick C. Freed (Figure 44, 45) clearly indicates that its owner is an obstetrician; next to the wonderful microscope on the desk there is an obstetrical forceps (Bedford’s?), together with anesthesia apparatus.  On the left side there is a stork delivering a baby.  The medallion above indicates that Freed was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia; the lower one refers to Bellevue and Allied Hospitals.  There is a Bellevue in Ohio, Washington, and New York; this one is likely New York’s Bellevue.

click image to enlarge (228K) Figure 44

click image to enlarge (202K) Figure 45