Accession No

6752

Brief Description

presentation desk microscope, formerly the property of Cambridge entomologist John Arthur Power, by Smith and Beck, English, 1854, along with ephemera (photos, booklet, and note) of John Arthur Power

Origin

England; London; 6 Coleman Street

Maker

Smith and Beck

Class

microscopes; ephemera

Earliest Date

1854

Latest Date

1854

Inscription Date

07-11-1854

Material

wood; metal [brass]; felt; paper; ink

Dimensions

Microscope case width 295mm, depth 245mm, height 490mm; lens boxes width 255mm, 205mm, heught 70mm; microscope width width 200mm, depth 205mm, height 415mm; photograph (biggest) width 105mm, height 150mm; biographical note width 210mm, height 296mm; booklet width 140mm, height 215mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated by an individual in December 2019

Inscription

(on tube)
'PRESENTED TO
Dr. John Arthur Power
by a number of his old Pupils and Friends
in testimony of their appreciation of his worth
and of his
HIGH SCIENTIFIC ATTAINMENTS
November 7th 1854'
(on one of the tripod)
'Smith & Beck
6 Coleman St.
LONDON'
(on one toe of the tripod)
'870'

Description Notes

Presentation desk microscope by Smith & Beck, English, 1854, formerly the property of Cambridge entomologist John Arthur Power; ephemera of (photos, booklet, and note) of John Arthur Power. The microscope is contained in a wooden case, which cannot be locked or fastened. There are two smaller cases full of lenses and other brass equipment. There is an engraving on the tube of the microscope, ''PRESENTED TO/Dr. John Arthur Power/by a number of his old Pupils and Friends/in testimony of their appreciation of his worth/and of his/HIGH SCIENTIFIC ATTAINMENTS/November 7th 1854'. There is also the maker's name 'Smith & Beck/6 Coleman St./LONDON' and number '870' engraved on the base of the microscope. It is probable that Power has cut a few more slots in the small cases to accommodate more later acquired lenses and equipment, as there are signs that show extra cutting mark on the wooden panel. There is a key hole on the case but the key is missing, thus it is not able to be locked.

The collection also includes two photographs, of John Arthur Power and his wife, Helena Margaret Jermyn (1818-1892). On the back of Power's photo, it is written 'John Arthur Power. M.D. 1810-1886. Son of John Power. M.D. 1758-1847 and Mary Knowles. Both from the County of Leicester. 27th Wrangler & BA. 1832. Fellow of Clare College Cambridge. F.E.S. 1856/An eminent entomologist; Lecturer & Tutor in Medicine at Cambridge and Charing Cross Hospital London. A close friend of T.H. Huxley.' On the back of Jermyn's photo, it is written 'Helena Margaret Jermyn 1818-1892/Married to John Arthur Power at St John's Westminster, May 1841. Daughter of the Rev. George Bitton Jermyn L.L.D., of Caius College & Trinity Hall Cambridge. His biography is in the D.N.B.'

The booklet is entitled 'The British Entomological and Natural History Society', with hand-written note 'Gifts to Powers'. The postcard has Thomas Hardy's Poea 'At a House in Hampstead' and hand-written J. A. Power's family tree on the back. A typed note of J. A. Power's biography, provided by Susan M. Scarlett, librarian of the Whipple Library, in June 1976. A stapled two pieces of photocopied page of 'TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS', including J. A. Power's 'Notes on Myrmecophilous Coleoptera'.

References

Events