Title: Leeuwenhoek Microscope Replica

Identifier: LL02.48.04.25   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/22062)

Description: Zeiss West Germany had their apprentices manufacture several types of replicas of historic microscopes. This is an exact working replica of a Leeuwenhoek microscope with a spherical lens. The specimen is mounted on a needle below the lens. The spherical lens provides much higher magnification than biconvex lenses or early compound microscopes, which had severe chromatic aberration limiting their useful magnification. Leeuwenhoek made over 500 of these instruments; most of which have been lost. These replicas were used mainly as presentation pieces or awards. In 2009, an original Leeuwenhoek microscope sold at auction for $461,000.