infocus #40 December 2015 Leeuwenhoek Microscopes

DOI: 10.22443/rms.inf.1.129

Centuries after being lost, new Leeuwenhoek microscopes are appearing. The author has identified two new examples in the space of a year. During a prolific lifetime between 1632 and 1723 the pioneering Dutch investigator Antony van Leeuwenhoek is believed to have constructed at least 500 single-lens microscopes. He did not commence his microscopical researches until he was 40, yet went on to devote half a century to developing our science of microscopy.