Scientific Instruments

The scientific instruments category covers a broad spectrum of items: telescopes, microscopes, navigational instruments, globes, sundials, astrolabes, calculators, drawing instruments, barographs.... They are not only attractive because of their scientific and historical qualities, but also because most of them are exquisite works of art in themselves. We will provide an online valuation of any instrument you may have. Not only can you use our online scientific instrument appraisal service to find out how much your own treasures are worth; an increasing number of clients use our online valuations to check an item's value before buying a scientific instrument at auction or from an art dealer, thus getting an extra expert opinion before deciding on whether to buy.

Our Scientific Instrument Expert

Our specialist left Christie’s after twelve years' having set several world records for ship models and navigational instruments. Now an independent, he encompasses all aspects of the Scientific and Maritime spectrum and has achieved more world records since his departure in 2007, and has published articles on various collecting aspects of the subject.

The Market for Scientific Instruments

Amazingly accurate mechanisms were invented to guide scientists, mariners and explorers. It is quite fascinating to consider whilst purchasing them that they may have been used centuries ago. A huge range of items have been kept in universities for teaching and research. The collection of historical scientific instruments of the Harvard University is one of the largest university collections of its kind in the world. That said, some pieces remain in private hands and can appear at auction.

A German 16th-century star-shaped polyhedral dial sold at Christie's London in April 2008 for £26,900 ($53,500). It has a delicate shape, nicely engraved, and may even have been worn as a pendant as suggested by the hole suspension. Late September 2009, a rare English brass reflecting microscope sold at Bonhams Knightsbridge for £19,200 ($28,800). It was made circa 1830 by John Cuthbert, a 19th-century optician who made a number of reflecting microscopes (microscopes that improved the resolution of the image which suffered from chromatic aberration). A highly important Dutch silver microscope by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1623-1723), circa 1690 sold for £313,250. Leeuwenhoek presented two of his microscopes to Queen Mary of England and Czar Peter 'The Great' of Russia, and gifted 26 of his silver microscopes to the Royal Society (now lost). In all he is thought to have made over 550 of these simple microscopes, mostly in brass, but their survival rate is not high and thus they have become much sought after. Only nine are known to be extant, of which only three are silver and one may be even a later copy.

Precision timekeeping was actually paramount for astronomers mapping the stars. Thanks to elaborated clocks, they were able to build up a complete picture of the celestial sky. Many technical innovations were made thanks to the search for precision timekeeping: temperature compensation, quartz oscillators, radio-control, etc. which have now become part of everyday clocks and watches. Antique scientific instruments reflect the steps of this evolution.

Get Your Scientific Instrument valued Today

Submitting your antique scientific instrument for valuation should enable you not only to know about its value, but also to learn more about its function, which might have been forgotten as time went by. By getting an art valuation from Value My Stuff Now, you will receive an independent opinion before buying or selling an item at auction, on eBay, to a dealer or privately. The online art valuation may also be used for insurance purposes (subject to your insurance company accepting such certificates) or simply to satisfy your own curiosity!

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