Spectacles of Well Known People in History (Part Five)

Curator, David A. Fleishman M.D.

The On-Line Museum and Encyclopedia of Vision Aids.

Over 4,150 images to view

April 6, 2006 Wall Street Journal featured antiquespectacles.com on the front page.

Spectacles of Well Known People in History (Part Five)

We are very fortunate that the personal vision aids of many important individuals have been preserved at institutions and in private collections. Much insight into the development of eyewear during specific time periods can be gained by reviewing examples which have known dates of use. Provenance information associated with the numerous examples presented here is assumed to be mostly correct. It has been difficult to establish in several cases and for some of the others listed, it has not been 100% proven. We have basically tried to confirm that each object and its provenance is believable based at least in part on the known date of death of each person. Hopefully any related information also seems correct. We do know that the more famous the person, the more objects which seem to appear over time following his/her death. We have chosen to believe everything that appears below. Kindly write in if you have questions, concerns, or other knowledge which might be useful in the regard. The advantage of a website is that it is “alive” and can always be updated and corrected. For comparison you are invited to visit “Treasures - Mistaken” where the dates or descriptions unfortunately appear to be false.

Many of the descriptions specifically under the heading “Contributions” have been taken directly from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. This is an excellent resource and is very highly recommended for others to use. Included below also are known examples of spectacles used by several American Presidents. The eyewear of these famous individuals will likely appear again on this same website but under a different key heading.

Certainly there must be other examples (out there) of noted leaders or famous people whose lives and accomplishments have impacted mankind during the past five hundred years of history. If you are aware of any examples which might belong on this page, kindly email the website and we will actively pursue any available information as well as the appropriate image. The Vatican Museum does not have any rivet spectacles. But we hope that their curators will eventually appreciate our international educational efforts here. Any discoveries in this realm would be considered world-class treasures and if objects of this nature are ever displayed on their Vatican Museum website we will link to these images in order to present this to our visitors also.

Finally one additional point must be stated here. In the course of gathering the images and information for this important webpage, a group of 20th century vision aids have also appeared. Although they are NOT antiques in the strict sense of the word, they are still quite interesting to observe and these are presented at the bottom of this listing. A few have quite fascinating stories as you will notice.

NAME	DATES	CONTRIBUTIONS	PHOTO	LOCATION	FEATURES	COMMENTS
Charles Louis Joseph Desauty	Early 19th century	A teacher in Hodence L'eveque, a district north-west of Noailles. “le canton de noailles’ is a department, situated in Picardie, north of Paris. This a town near Beauvais, France. He had a son Nicolas Prosper who was born in 1813. His wife was Louise Mari		Private Collection	Large horn rimmed magnifier in a wooden case. This appears to be the second largest magnifier of this style in the US	As a teacher in 1823, he was on the same level as the doctor and the priest if that village at that time. Can anyone locate more information about this person?
Robert E. Lee	1807-1870	A career army officer and the most successful general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. He eventually commanded all Confederate armies as general-in-chief. Like Hannibal earlier and Rommel later, his victories against superior forces in an ultimately losing cause won him enduring fame.		Lee Chapel and Museum, Washington and Lee University	Coin silver oval frame, blue lenses, pin-in-slot adjustable sides
John Greenlief Whittier	1807-1892	One of America’s greatest Quaker poets, reformers, and abolitionists. Was a pioneer in regional literature and a crusader for many humanitarian causes. Noted for his classic “Snow Bound”.		John Greenlief Whittier Home	Steel, oval frame, scroll bridge, thin sides, circa 1870s	“He made outstanding contributions to the life and literature of this country”.
David Swinson Maynard	1808-1873	"Doc" Maynard arrived in Seattle in 1852 and set up Seattle's first store, selling medicine and general merchandise in his salting works on First Avenue and Main Street. He proposed naming the new city Seattle after the chief of the local Native American people. Maynard also served as Seattle's Justice of the Peace.		Museum of History & Industry Photograph Collection(MOHAI)	Octagonal frame scroll bridge, straight sides – resting on his forehead	A search is now underway to locate these eyeglasses. He will forever be know as the man who invented Seattle
Jefferson Davis	1808-1889	American soldier and politician most famous for serving as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. After the Civil War he became Secretary of War in the cabinet of President Franklin Pierce		Museum of the Confederacy	Rectangular frame, crank bridge, pin-in-slot sidearms, circa 1850 (probably gold) Steel oval frame, scroll bridge, thin sides small spatula endings, circa 1870’s – 80’s
Eliza Baylies Chapin Wheaton	1808-1905	Founder of Wheaton College		Wheaton College Archives	Scroll bridge, oval frame, leather case	These are likely not the same ones seen in the painting Mary Lyons of Holyoke was the first principal
Abraham Lincoln	1809-1865	Nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, he was the 16th President of the United States, 1861-1865, and the first president from the Republican Party. Lincoln staunchly opposed the expansion of slavery into federal territories, and his victory in the 1860 presidential election further polarized an already divided nation. Other events soon led to the American Civil War. Lincoln is usually ranked as one of the greatest presidents. Because of his role in ending slavery, and his guiding the Union to victory in the civil war, his assassination made him a martyr to millions of Americans.		Matthew Brady photograph Feb. 1864 from the Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner photograph August 1863 in the Stefan Lorant's book Lincoln, A Picture Story of His Life.	Two pair of spectacles with their cases, at the Library of Congress. A locked leather box contained the contents of Lincoln’s pockets the night of his assassination April 14, 1865. This remained with the family and was then donated to the Library of Congress in 1937. It was finally opened in the spring of 1976. The contents are shown in the last photograph. Certainly these are the only ones that were definitely known to have been worn by Lincoln since each example appears in a photo showing him with eyeglasses. The one with adjustable sides has an inscription on one of the sidearms which says “A. Lincoln, presented by Ward H. Lamon.”	Lincoln Spectacles – Lincoln probably bought his first pair in May 1956 in Bloomington Illinois, for 37 ½ cents. Another pair was purchased from Franklin Optical Company in Washington, DC on May 4, 1864 for $ 2.50 because that check signed by Lincoln was never cashed. It has been suggested that several other pairs of eyeglasses at a few museums and in private collections were also used by Lincoln but questions have arisen and some of the provenance evidence is suspicious regarding each of those examples.
Charles Robert Darwin	1809-1882	Darwin was already eminent as an English naturalist when he proposed and provided scientific evidence to show that all species of life have evolved over time from one or a few common ancestors through the process of natural selection. His scientific discovery remains the foundation of biology, as it provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life. His 1859 book On the Origin of Species established evolution by common descent as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature.		English Heritage	Darwin Family Magnifying Glass	On tour with the Darwin exhibit
Major General Sterling Price	1809-1867	Governor of the state of Missouri 1853-57 and later became a Confederate General. He was one of the South’s most prominent political generals.		Museum of the Confederacy	Octagonal frame, crank bridge, adjustable sidearms. circa 1850’s (probably gold)
Camillo Cavour	1810-1861	Prime Minister of Sardinia, a large Italian State. He formed alliances with other foreign powers to help end Austria's and Spain's control. Instrumental in the unification of Italy.		Luxottica Museum, Agordo		A photo has been requested, but this has been denied.
Henry Wilson	1812-1877	US Senate 1855-1873, 18th Vice President of the United States under Ulysses Grant 1872-76. He died in the Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., November 22, 1875.		Natick Historical Society	Silver, octagonal frame, crank bridge, temple sides, leather and cardboard case
General Francis H. Smith	1812-1890	Served as VMI's first Superintendent (1839-1889). Graduated from West Point in 1833, and came to Lexington, Virginia in 1839 to lead the newly established Virginia Military Institute. He was known as the builder and --after the Civil War-- rebuilder of VMI. He was considered one of the leading educators of the 19th century	A search is on for his glasses	Virginia Military Institute (VMI)		"Old Specs" as the Cadets called him.
Charlotte Bronte	1816-1855	An English novelist the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels have become enduring classics of English literature Wrote Jane Eyre, Villette, the Professor, And Shirley		Brontë Parsonage Museum	Was very myopic but sometimes refused to wear eyeglasses Folding tortoiseshell round frame lorgnette	Wore minus 10 each eye These specs are circa 1835-50
Mary Todd Lincoln	1818-1882	She was the First Lady of the United States when her husband, Abraham Lincoln, served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865.		Ford Museum and Theater Historic Site	Opera glass case from the theater the night of the assassination
Eduard Jäger von Jaxtthal	1818-1884	Austrian ophthalmologist, native of Vienna who was a professor at the University of Vienna, and was son to oculist Friedrich Jäger von Jaxtthal (1784-1871), and grandson to Georg Joseph Beer (1763-1821). He is most remembered for his work in eye surgery, and his research of ophthalmic diseases. He was an early practitioner of the ophthalmoscope, and introduced direct ophthalmoscopy, a method he used to determine the refractive error in the eye.		Institute of the Museum of History, Vienna, Austria	his personal ophthalmoscope	His best known written work is Ophthalmoskopischer Hand-Atlas, an atlas of diseases of the eye identified by the ophthalmoscope.
Zacharias Topelius	1818-1898	Finland-Swedish journalist, historian and prolific author who wrote Finnish historical novels in Swedish		National Museum of Finland
Gottfried Keller	1819-1890	Swiss novelist, poet and short-story writer whose best known work is Green Henry. His vital, realistic, and purposeful fiction gives him a high place among 19th-century authors.		Ramstein Collection - Basel.	White metal and leather chatelaine case, with thin wire oval frame spectacles, K bridge.
Herman Melville	1819-1891	An American novelist, essayist and poet. During his lifetime, his early novels were popular, but his popularity declined later in his life. His masterpiece, Moby-Dick -- which was largely considered a failure during his lifetime, and responsible for Melville's drop in popularity at the time -- was "rediscovered" in the 20th century. It is widely considered to be the greatest novel in American literature.		Berkshire County Historical Society	Steel or silver round frame, wide C bridge, turn-pin sides, circa 1800. Another pair on the table with his papers, octagonal frame, crank bridge and sliding sides, circa 1840-50	Melville's great-granddaughter of donated the round frame spectacles in 1980, insisting they were his. It seems more likely that the second pair was his, although Melville could have used the round frame pair which likely was handed down through prior generations of the family. A deeper search is underway.
Walt Whitman	1819-1892	An American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist, his most famous work is the collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass.		Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library	Pince nez
Susan B. Anthony	1820-1906	Dedicated her life to "the cause," the woman suffrage movement. Her accomplishments paved the way for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 (14 years after her death) which gave women the right to vote.		Susan B. Anthony House and the Liberty Bell Center Museum	Oval lens, rimless, thin wire sides, in a leather and cardboard case
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson	1824-1863	Finland-Swedish journalist, historian and prolific author who wrote Finnish historical novels in Swedish An American teacher and soldier, he became a famous Confederate lieutenant-general during the American Civil War as a corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. He was shot accidentally by his own troops at Chancellorsville and died of complications a few days later. He is acknowledged to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in United States history. His death was a severe setback for the Confederacy; after his wounding, but before his death, General Robert E. Lee stated "He has lost his left arm; I have lost my right arm".		Virginia Military Institute	Crank bridge, rectangular frame, loop-to-loop adjustable sides	Although these were picked up on the battlefield where he was shot we can not be absolutely certain. Also he was never described by his troops to having had these. Jackson was known to have a condition with his eyes. But he has never been described wearing these spectacles. Suspicious and perhaps these were never his, but until a better example surfaces…..
Count van Axel	Mid 19th century ? Austrian	The Van Axel family came from Axel, near Gand ( Netherlands ) and had been in Venice From 1628 to 1919 circa. They owned palazzo Soranzo since that time, named palazzo Van axel. They've been very active in Venetian economy, and they owned many buildings in the country near Treviso or Montebelluna, where, in 1780, the citizens have been gifted a church.		private collection	Lorgnette With a razor's case shaped handle, where you can see a ruby, an emerald and a baroque pearl in gold 18K. When this is worn on the neck, the three stones look like the Italian flag, showed during the Austrian occupation in Venice, 1840.	The lorgnette I was given as a present by the Count Van Axel, to his mother companion, when the two ladies used to go to Fenice Theater in Venice. The lorgnette originally had a letter with it, in which the Count thanked the young lady for all her duties.
His Majesty Emperor Franz-Joseph I	1830-1916	Of the Habsburg Dynasty, Emperor of Austria and King of Bohemia from 1848 until 1916, and Apostolic King of Hungary from 1867 until 1916. His 68 years on the throne makes him one of the longest-serving monarchs in European history, and while his heir Karl took over for two years upon his death in 1916, Franz Joseph is clearly the last of the great Habsburg monarchs.		From DurchBliche, by Fritz Faber (Timm)	Pince nez used during official moments.
Louisa May Alcott	1832-1888	An American author best known for the novel Little Women published in 1868. This novel is loosely based on her childhood experiences with her three sisters. She was a strong advocate of 19th century reforms		Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House	Steel, oval frame, scroll bridge, with thin straight sides
Charles George Gordon Martyr of Khartoum	1833-1885	Known as” Chinese” Gordon, Gordon Pasha, and Gordon of Khartoum, he was a British army officer and administrator. He is remembered for his exploits in China and northern Africa. The Chinese Emperor promoted Gordon to the rank of titu, the highest grade in the Chinese army, and decorated him with the Yellow Jacket. The British Army promoted Gordon to lieutenant- colonel and he was made a Companion of the Bath.		Noted on Ebay	Hallmarked silver, London 1852 and engraved Colonel Gordon, Woolwich	Major-General Henry William Gordon (1786-1865) was his father so who did these actually belong to although it was likely the son. Of special note also is the fact that Charleton Heston played his character in the 1966 movie “Khartoum”.
Mark Twain	1835- 1910	Better known by his pen name, Mark Twain. He was a famous and popular American humorist, novelist, writer and lecturer.		The Mark Twain House and Museum	Made from cellulose nitrate, circa 1909	The family states that these were Twain’s last eyeglasses
Countess Lisa de Odoardi Spina	1836- ?	In 1862 she married Baron Pietro Pallone (1832-1923). He was a magistrate in Florence, a high government official and at the end of his career he became the President of Court of Appeal of Naples.		Private collection	Fancy elaborate gold and enamel lorgnette	The arms on the lorgnette are her family's ones.
Maurice Koechlin	1840-1898	Engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower		On display at the top of the Eiffel Tower	Pince nez
Claude Monet	1840-1926	French impressionist painter. Cataracts formed in both of his eyes for which he underwent two surgeries in 1923		Musee Marmottan Monet	These cataract glasses supposedly have very high astigmatism, and measurements are currently being analyzed. Results pending	These are also seen in The Eye of the Artist by Marmor and Ravin
Robert Todd Lincoln	1843-1926	Born first son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Ann Todd. He was the only one of President Lincoln's four sons to reach adulthood. Became Chairman of the largest corporation in America at the turn of the 19th century.		Brady-Handy portrait photo, c. 1870-80, Wikipedia Private collection Hildene	Thin wire, scroll bridge Round frame, Plastic from late in his life	First pair had been described as Abraham Lincoln's but they have a scroll bridge and were made after Lincoln was assassinated
Sarah Bernhardt	1844-1923	French stage actress		Pierre Marly’s book	Antique gold-rimmed lorgnette with a built in watch, antique gold-rimmed lorgnettes (3) with intricate openwork handle, first is ruby encased, finally a minifier	She was a high (-10) myope.