title: And then there were 12--distinguishing Van Leeuwenhoek microscopes from old or new copies.
abstract: In the wake of announcements of the authentications of two previously unknown Van Leeuwenhoek microscopes in one month, this paper reviews the possibilities and potential pitfalls that might be involved in distinguishing 17th/18th century single-lensed microscopes from historical and modern copies. It is clear that a combination of characteristics must be considered, no single parameter will do.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC Delft, the Netherlands l.a.robertson@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: Lesley A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D008853:Microscopy / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: Van Leeuwenhoek; authentication; single lens microscopes