Brass (zaponized), steel, walnut
Vienna, Austria, around 1840
Simon Plößl (1794-1868) – Viennese Optician
Signed and inscribed on the lens barrel ‘Plößl in Wien’
Telescope (59 mm) with two terrestrial oculars
With knurled screw for focusing
Firmly mounted table tripod (collapsible)
Original nutwood casing with green felt covers inside; with lock and key
Length (lens barrel): 55 cm; height (table tripod): 38 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private collection, Austria
Finely crafted telescope by Simon Plößl, the leading Viennese master at that time

The present telescope is a hand-made product by the Viennese optician Simon Plößl and dates to the time around 1840. The telescope has two terrestrial oculars and A knurled screw serves for the precise focusing on images. The telescope is firmly attached to a collapsible table tripod. The instrument is delivered with its original walnut casing, which is partly fitted with green felt inside. The lid is externally fixed with two brass hooks. The casing can be locked features a lens diameter of 59 mm. with the matching key in the center.



The original purchase price of the telescope was around 140 florenes (guilders) which equates to approximately 2,100 Euros today.



The telescope is in good condition considering its age. It is signed and inscribed on the lens barrel ‘Plößl in Wien’. The lens lid as well as parts of ocular Nr. 1 are missing.



The lens barrel measures 55 cm in length and the table tripod measures 38 cm in height. The walnut casing is also in good condition with only light traces of age and wear. It measures 10.5 x 71.5 x 16.5 cm (height x width x depth).

Simon Plößl (1794-1868)

The Austrian optician Simon Plößl was one of the most important personalities in his profession and developed his hand-crafted business up to a limit, which was not surpassed until industrially produced telescopes were invented. Plößl opened his first workshop in Vienna in 1823. His products were highly sought after by natural scientists and physicians, at least since he built the first dialytic telescope in 1830. Consequently, Plößl received the gold medal of the Viennese industrial exhibition in 1835. Examples of the outstanding craftsmanship of Simon Plößl are presented, for instance, in the permanent collection of the University Observatory in Vienna.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.