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A microscope with slide with a whole lizard, on its side. Handwritten on the top is 'OL 8'. Handwritten on the bottom is 'regeneration Leg-foot 9 Days'

Microscope slide of a lizard, prepared by John Quekett, 1840–60

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Microscope Slide Collection

This collections contains over 15,000 microscope slides, dating from the 1700s. 

Objects in this collection have museum identification numbers with the prefix RCSMS.

Includes slides prepared by:

  • Microscopist John Thomas Quekett (1815-1861)
  • Pioneering dentists Sir John Tomes (1815- 1895) and his son Sir Charles Tomes (1846- 1928)
  • Primatologist William Osman Hill (1901-1975)

The Hunterian Collection also includes slides made by anatomist William Hewson (1739-1774)

A microscope slide with a piece of fossilised bone. Handwritten on the bottom is 'Bb-89'. Handwritten on the top is 'Vertical Section of Paddle of an Ichthyosaurus'

Microscope slide labeled 'Vertical Section of Paddle of an Ichthyosaurus' by John Quekett
RCSMS/Quekett/Division 2/Bb 89

A microscope slide is a patterned mount, at the centre of which is a tiny insect. Handwritten on the bottom is 'XL144'. Handwritten at the top is 'Tick of Hedgehog'

Microscope slide labeled 'Tick of Hedgehog' by John Quekett
RCSMS/Quekett/Division 2/Xl 144

A microscope slide with a piece of red tissue in liquid. Handwritten on the bottom is 'Db 97'. Handwritten on the top is 'Human Stomach'.

Microscope slide labeled 'Human Stomach' by John Quekett
RCSMS/Quekett/Division 2/Db 97

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