The Name of Microscope | The Microscope and Its Revelations

“The name of microscope, like that of telescope, originated with the Academy of the Lincei, and it was Giovanni Faber who invented it, as shown by a letter of his to Cesi, written April 13, 1625, and which is amongst the Lincei letters in the possession of D. B. Boncompagni. Here is the passage in Faber's letter: — ' I only wish to say this more to your Excellency, that is, that you will glance only at what I have written concerning the new inventions of Signor Galileo ; if I have not put in everything, or if anything ought to be left unsaid, do as best you think. As I also mention his new occkiale to look at small things and call it microscope, let your Excellency see if you would like to add that, as the Lyceum gave to the first the name of telescope, so they have wished to give a convenient name to this also, and rightly so, because they are the first in Rome who had one. As soon as Signor Rikio's epigram is finished, it may be printed the next day; in the meanwhile I will get on with the rest. I humbly reverence your Excellency. — From Rome, April 13, 1(525. Your Excellency's most humble servant, Giovanni Faber (Lynceo).”

Excerpted from The microscope and its revelations

by Carpenter, William Benjamin, 1813-1885; Dallinger, W. H. (William Henry), 1842-1909 Publication date 1891

 Online at archive.org