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Senate House Library, University of London

Dollond, Peter and Dolland, John: letter (1803)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL390

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Dollond, Peter and Dolland, John: letter (1803)

Date(s): 1803

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 1 sheet

Name of creator(s): Dollond | Peter | 1731-1820 | maker of optical and scientific instruments

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Peter Dollond was born in 1731. The eldest son of the optician and scientific instrument maker John Dollond (1707-1761). Peter went into partnership with his father, and later with his brother John (1746-1804). His telescopes and other instruments were popular, several were made for the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and for the Paris Observatory. After his death in 1761, family members continued to operate the business for many years. Eventually, the business was acquired by James Aitchison; the firm of Dollond and Aitchison is still well known for selling spectacles.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Letter from Peter Dolland of London to an unknown recipient, 20 Aug 1803. Discussing an order given for instruments, including compasses, ivory scales, and 'the case of drawing instruments which you desire in every particular to be very good and yet you seem to expect the price to be very low'. Mentioning alternative types and prices of some instruments. Autograph, signed 'P. & J. Dollond'.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

See hard copy catalogue

Conditions governing access:

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

See archivist

Immediate source of acquisition:

Purchased from E Hall, 1966.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Presumably, Miss Treadwell retained the original letters after relinquishing these copies; the current whereabouts of the original letters is unknown.

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: July 2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Navigational aids | Transport
Optical instruments | Scientific equipment | Equipment
Prices | Price policy | Economic policy

Personal names
Dollond | Peter | 1731-1820 | maker of optical and scientific instruments

Corporate names

Places