The first half of the 1800s were a time of great scientific discovery and exploration worldwide. Darwin was working out his theories of evolution, to be finally published in 1859; the first scientific descriptions of a dinosaur had only been put forth in 1824, and the general public was following every new and exciting discovery relating to the natural history of mankind and the earth. The commercial slide preparers were quite prepared to accommodate that interest, collecting specimens and providing a wide selection of mounts prepared from the various fossilized remains of plants and animals being discovered both locally in England, as well as many other parts of the world.

Three mounts of Fossilized Plants. . . Coal, all by specialist mounter J. Spencer of Halifax. Two of the slides are over-sized and early, signed by their maker, and with hand printed labels; the third (center) with printed labels, c. 1890, is the standard 1" x 3"

Engraved glass mount "Insects in Flint" (c. 1840s) 1" x 3" by C.M. Topping. Thin section of flint is mounted to the beveled edge glass slide using Canada Balsam, with no cover slip. (photomicrographs to the left, are taken from the slide, imaged using crossed polar filters).

Artist's recreation of Pre-historic Carboniferous Forest based on fossil remains.

Fossil Whale Bone (Crossed Polar Filters with Selenite)

Fossilized Wood showing cellular structure (DIC)