A RARE SPYGLASS COMPENDIUM ETUI ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS RIBRIGHT, CIRCA 1765
with Bilston enamel gilt tube decorated with four Arcadian rural scenes over a pink ground with gilt scrolls and white trellising, lens and eyepieces with dust slides, fitted internally with compartments for silver-gilt accessories comprising folding fruit knife with Rococo handle, tweezers, ivory aide-memoire, snuff spoon and pin tool, and embroidery needle -- 4¾in. (12cm.) high

Thomas Ribright (w.1735-1772) patented this form of 'perspective glass' on 7th February, 1749 (No. 640) and fitted them with many different accessories to suit a variety of clients, and even one which doubled up as a microscope - this, where the folding gilt fruit-knife with Rococo casting is identical to that in Fig.F in Patents connected with the Microscope 1666-1800 by W.H. Brown, published in the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1895, p.6 plate V.

Body appears to be in fine condition; the optics work; contents appear original and complete.