General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Glass slide and cover slip, paper label, biological sample of animal fur and a resin (possible) glue

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

7.6 cm

Width

2.6 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Research

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

PERCIVAL

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1916-1954

Canada

This is an extremely rare of collection documenting the work and processes of a slide preparer, C.R. Percival. Slide preparation is the foundation of microscopy and its images and yet seldom has this kind of history been told, and almost never preserved in material form. C.R. Percival had learned the art and science of slide preparation in England at the turn of the century. He then took up the trade in Toronto where he spent the majority of his life. Above all, this collection provides a comprehensive understanding of the multilayered material, scientific, artisanal, commercial and social processes behind the production of microscopic images. In an era when people and especially students take for granted the creation of scientific imagery, this collection documents in rich, well preserved historical detail the means microscopic images are created (and interpreted) within particular historic conditions. The Canadian and British provenance for this collection is very well-documented back to C.R. Percival. (From Acquisition Worksheet, see Ref. 1)

Function

A glass slide prepared for examining a specimen under a microscope.

Technical

Unknown

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On the label on the proper top: "C. BAKER./ Hair/ of/ Platypus/ .16/ OPTICIAN."/ On the smaller round label: "24"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Clear glass slide with a large rectangular blue paper label with black trim and printing and black ink handwriting. There is also a smaller round beige paper label with a black ink handwritten number. On the slide is a sample of two different colours and textures of fur. One is a greyish-brown, fine-textured fur while the other is a darker brown and more course-textured fur. The sample is set in a transparent slightly yellow substance under a clear glass cover slip that is sealed around the edge with shiny, black substance.

Decoration

N/A