[Science] American Postal Microscopial Club Collection of Glass Plate Photographs--1905 (31 plates total)

1905. [Science] American Postal Microscopial Club Collection of Glass Plate Photographs--1905 (31 plates total)

Collection of plates include (8) 3 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch plates, (6) 3 1/4 x 4 1/4-inch plates and (17) 4 x 5-inch plates. Condition varies from fair to very good. See scans for examples. Most have some degree of silvering and edge wear emulsion loss with a couple that may be difficult to utilize. Many however, after a light cleaning, would be in good to very good condition. I have not attempted to clean any. Glassine sleeves in fair to very good condition.

Interesting and intriguing collection developed in the early 20th century by members of the American Postal Microscopial Club. The club was formed in 1875, a relatively late entry as microscopial clubs go in America, with most major eastern cities hosting such clubs. This club, however, never met in person, rather they shared samples of their microscope slides via mail modelled on the British Postal Microscopical Society, formed in 1873.

The mission of the American Postal Microscopical Club was to educate microscopists on how to make microscope preparations. Rather than meeting in person the club circulated boxes of slides via the postal service, illustrating the work of members or that of professional mounters.

An internet search finds that there are no fewer than 25 microscopy clubs still active in the United States today.

By the 1870's compound microscopes were advancing in quality and scientists and amateurs began exploring its possibilities of use in the fields of medicine and bacteriology.

To facilitate sharing techniques, club members circulated slide boxes, as well as explanatory notes and illustrations, following a chain-letter principle. Every member received microscope preparations and notes and was expected to pass them on to other members in his or her postal circuit in due time. The notes which accompany this collection states that this is "box 64 of the Am. Postal Micro. Club--Slides and Drawings of Sections of Bluebottle Fly."

The collection contains more than bluebottle flies, including a human spinal cord cross-section slide, the flea from a mouse, diatoms, a pine stem, testes of a grasshopper, a crab louse, slim mould, katydid ears, dove parasite, and 10 bluebottle fly slides. A couple are in duplicate.

The paper "‘A method for safe transmission’: the microscope slides of the American Postal Microscopical Club" by Lea Beiermann and published by Cambridge University in 2021 is an amazing synopsis of the club and we have used text from this open source.

Beiermann states "There seems to be no trace of the club's original collection of slides, but between 1884 and 1891 the club added commercial slides to its boxes, made by the English slide manufacturer Arthur C. Cole. Cole's slides are commonly found in public and private slide collections today." Club members were encouraged to add their own homemade slides (with instructions and photographic details) to the traveling boxes. We surmise this collection contains both club slides and homemade slides. The bluebottle fly slides seem to match the notes included.

These slides are apparently mostly positive or internegative glass plates.

Several sleeves are identified as those of F.W. Dunning.

Also in the collection are a set of black photo masks used to lay over slides as frames. These are labeled as parts of 3-month human fetus, but no fetal photos found.

A very curious and unique collection. We find no holding from the American Postal Microscopial Club in institutions nor in commerce.

Extra shipping will be required due to fragile nature of the glass plates. Item #2721

Price: $1,000.00