Amici microscope, 1841.

ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Microscope made by Giovanni Battista Amici (1786-1868). It has one eyepiece and one high-power object glass. The stage �bullseye� lens on a jointed arm is for focussing light onto an object. The stage forceps on a pivoted arm are for clamping specimens. The microscope also has a substage condensing lens with diaphragm. In the case are 6 other object glasses and a Lieberkuhn (special concave mirror for reflecting light onto the tops of objects being examined). Born in Modena, Italy, Amici was a designer of optical instruments, and perfected his own alloy for use in telescope mirrors. In 1827 he produced the dioptric, achromatic microscope which bears his name, and in 1835 became director of the Florence Institute. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)