Accession No
6718
Brief Description
autographed bill of sale (receipt), covering a large brass perspective stand, four eye glasses, and a large opera glass mounted in ivory, for Mr Kennedy, by Jesse Ramsden, English, 1772
Origin
England; London; Haymarket; the Golden Spectacles
Maker
Ramsden, Jesse
Class
ephemera
Earliest Date
1772
Latest Date
1772
Inscription Date
1777
Material
paper
Dimensions
218mm x 168mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Charles Miller Ltd. in 2019.
Inscription
Mr Kennedy
London Nov 10: 1772
Bo.S of J. Ramsden
Mathematical, Optical & Philosophical
Instrument Maker
At the Golden Spectacles in Hay Market
a Large Brass Perspective Stand & 4 Eye Glasses - £2.12.6
a Large Opera Glass mounted in Ivory - : 16 : -
£3:8:6
Rec'd the Contents in full
J Ramsden
Description Notes
autographed bill of sale (receipt), covering a large brass perspective stand, four eye glasses, and a large opera glass mounted in ivory, for Mr Kennedy, by Jesse Ramsden, English, 10th November 1772.
A5-ish sized, cream paper receipt with the following text (some printed, some handwritten) in black ink:
"Mr Kennedy
London Nov 10: 1772
Bo.S of J. Ramsden
Mathematical, Optical & Philosophical
Instrument Maker
At the Golden Spectacles in Hay Market
a Large Brass Perspective Stand & 4 Eye Glasses - £2.12.6
a Large Opera Glass mounted in Ivory - : 16 : -
£3:8:6
Rec'd the Contents in full
J Ramsden"
On the back are handwritten calculations.
Complete.
References
Events
Description
Jesse Ramsden was one of London’s preeminent scientific instrument makers. His work engraving precise scales led him to design a ‘dividing engine’ to mark graduations by machine, an achievement that won him considerable acclaim. Through his marriage to optician John Dollond’s daughter, Sarah, Ramsden also acquired a share in Dollond’s patent for the achromatic lens, enabling him to make high-quality optical instruments.
This receipt records a transaction between Ramsden and a Mr. Kennedy, to whom he has sold “a Large Brass Perspective Stand & 4 Eye Glasses” and “a Large Opera Glass mounted in Ivory” for the total price of £3 8s 6d.
19/11/2021
Created by: Morgan Bell on 19/11/2021
Description
Jesse Ramsden was an 18th-century scientific and optical instrument maker. His work on instruments with precise scales led him to design a dividing engine to mark graduations, for which he became renowned. Through his marriage to John Dollond’s daughter, Sarah, Ramsden acquired a share in Dollond’s patent for the achromatic lens, enabling him to also make high-quality telescopes.
27/10/2020
Created by: Morgan Bell on 27/10/2020
FM:47457
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