Some Leeuwenhoek microscopes are not what they seem. These studies reveal the appearance of a typical Leeuwenhoek microscope. However, there is an intriguing aspect to each.
(1) The brass microscope (left) is preserved at Delft. It is the only Leeuwenhoek microscope still found in his home town. It is the size of a rectangular postage stamp. The lens is missing, but the focussing controls are typical of those made by Leeuwenhoek. The image quality produced by such microscopes was high.
(2) An idea of size is given by this photo of the microscope at Antwerp (centre, above). There are questions about the provenance of this microscope, and it may be a nineteenth century forgery.
(3) Here (above, right) we obtain a good impression of the Leeuwenhoek microscope in use. However, this instrument is a replica. It is a good copy of the Utrecht instrument, made of brass like the original. The stage and focussing assembly are typical of those produced by Leeuwenhoek in the late seventeenth century.
See Leeuwenhoek's specimens back at the laboratory. Click here for LEEUWENHOEK LEGACY site