Lunettes et Lorgnettes de Jadis

Historical Significance: This is a rare book with a print run of only 300 and is highly regarded among collectors of spectacles and optical artefacts. The existence of only 50 is known. Madame Alfred Heymann (born Alice Babette Schloss 1844) married Alfred Heymann on April 12, 1865. They rented a residence at 20 Avenue de L'Opera and owned a fine home in St Cloud just west of Paris. Both their families were wealthy and they were well connected in Paris society. After Alfred died in 1897 Madame Heymann devoted the vast majority of her time pursuing and collecting fine optical objects. She travelled and studied extensively and became a truly passionate collector who organised a sizeable number of the most attractive relics she could acquire. Her collection included eyeglasses cases from the 16th to 18th century, a large group of ornate spyglasses, optical fans, tobacco containers, optical charms, scissors-glasses, monocles, and all sorts of other assorted unusual objects. She located some of the most fantastic spyglasses in existence and some of these were later given to the Musee d Louvre and Musee des Arts Decoratifs following her death in 1925. This book was based mostly on her own collection. For more information about Mde Heymann and this book See http://www.antiquespectacles.com/heymann/heymann.htm for more information about her now scattered collection see http://www.antiquespectacles.com/heymann/chart/chart.htm