Optical Instruments: Microscopes, Binoculars, Sextans, Theodolits, Hand Scopes

Tercentenary of the arrival of Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. Map of his exploration with telescape, compass, and dividers. Canada, 1966.

On November 19, 1955 Italy issued this 25 lire stamp (Sc #701) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of physician and zoologist Giovanni Battista Grassi (1854-1925). Dr. Grassi is best known for his pioneering work in parasitology.

From wikipedia, "His works in malaria remain a lasting controversy in the history of the Nobel Prizes, because a British army surgeon, Ronald Ross, who discovered the transmission of the malarial parasite in birds was given the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. But Grassi, who demonstrated the complete route of transmission of human Plasmodium, and correctly identified the types of malarial parasite as well as the mosquito vector, Anopheles claviger, was denied."

Here is Denmark's October 18, 1973 two kroner stamp (Facit #574) commemorating the 400th anniversary of astronomer Tycho Brahe's book De Nova Stella. The stamp depicts the constellation Cassiopeia and a sextant which is used to frame the country name and value.

This 5 kroner stamp (Facit #1105) of Denmark was issued on May 5, 1994 as the high value of its two-stamp, discoveries-themed EUROPA set. Stamp depicts Danish cartographer J. P. Koch and his theodolite.

The title of the thread (Optical Instruments: Microscopes, Binoculars, Sextans, Theodolits, Hand Scopes) isn't limitative to optical instruments that are welcome in this topic. Optical instruments that helps our society to activities that are turned to our own planet - to research, to spy, to observe, to prevent and protect. But 'optical' (must have lenses). Only the human eyes and evaluation for what he/she is seeing.

Portugal

100 years of Lisboan Geographic Society - 3v

The stamp shows two men using a theodolite, and, at first plane, the theodolite in detail

Portugal

1969

100 years of birth Gago Coutinho - 4v

The two stamps shows the effigy of Gago Coutinho and an optical sextans

Gago Coutinho (1869-1959) was a Portuguese geographer, cartographer, naval officer, historian and aviator. An aviation pioneer, Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral were the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air, from March to June 1922, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Portugal

1983

Definitives - 2v

Continuing with the portuguese stamps, here is a definitive showing a theodolite, the 'alidade' (a part of the instrument) and a tacheometer, that is an optical/eletronic geodetical instrument devoted to take precise distance measurents using a laser bundle, that is directioned to a prism in a stake.

On August 21, 1986 Ireland issued this "Women in Society" 26 p stamp (Hib #C443) promoting the inclusion and integration of women into the (traditionally men's) workforce. Stamp depicts a female surveyor.

Togo

1973

100 years of discovery bacyllus of Hansen - 2v

The Mycobacterium leprae was discovered in 1873 by the Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen. The stamp shows the efygie of Hansen and a microscope and laboratory instruments.

United Nations, Vienna

1989

Nobel prize for peace - 1v

The stamp depict a 'blue helmet' soldier observing with binoculars

Egypt
Academy of Scientific Research and Technology
September 21, 1996
The stamp shows an optical microscope and a graduated cylinder.

Austria
Health Care
March 13, 1954
Set of six, one stamp depicts a physician with optical microscope.

Germany, DDR

1979

Two stamps from East Germany showing optical instruments:

1979 -Disabled People rehabilitation - 2v
The stamp shows young students in classroom using microscopes

1979 - Youth festival - 2v
The stamp shows a student using a theodolite in the city

Poland

In 1955 Poland issued a beautiful serie of 5 stamps honoring the civil Navy. Here are two stamps. In the blue $60gr stamp we see a fisherman handling binoculars, while in the green $5gr an officer is holding his instrument.