122. Chevalier Combination Lens, 1840s

Signed: 'PHOTOGRAPHE a Verres Combinés. Inventé par Charles Chevalier, Palais National, 159 Paris'.

The brass barrel of this cone-shaped lens is in three sections: a large achromatic landscape lens of 80 mm diameter as its rear component (marked: '1PAYSAGES'), a more powerful middle lens of 50 mm diameter (marked: '5 PORTRAITS') for portraits, and a third rear component. All three lenses could be used together to form a triplet lens of 255 mm focal length and aperture of about f5.

Length 120 mm, diameter 90 mm.
Inventory no. 72,020.