Humboldt's Latin American Expedition, 1799–1804

Richard Paselk, Curator

Instrument Cases

Miscellaneous makers, 19^th century

Nearly all of Humboldt’s instruments were stored in custom, velvet lined hardwood boxes such as these and the microscope case to the right. Two of the cases have hand cut dovetail joinery in mahogony, the sextant box and the microscope case (detailed image of joinery). The other two boxes, the mahogany case on top of the sextant case and the walnut box to the right of the other two in the group use a different joinery, a rabbeted drawer lock.

© R. Paselk 2013, Last modified 22 December 2020