Page 27 - pp-Suter-Miscellany

carrying them – may belie the existence of more
examples awaiting discovery. More likely though, the
paucity of such labels suggests that Suter’s sales were
largely via “word of mouth” networks, or to individuals
responding to his Science Gossip entries, although
optical shops may have bought sporadically from his
catalogues and on-sold at a profit.

Some mounts have “primary” retail labels, where
optical firms but not preparers are specified (but can be
identified by handwriting). Slides sold by Cole and
Angus, for instance, have labels bearing several
handwritings - some that of identifiable preparers,
some not. Baker’s 1901 catalogue is more overt, and
lists no less than thirty preparers: it includes “Cole” for
a physiological series, and examples of this series in
Microscopical Mounts and Mounters (plate 4, E and G)
have Martin Cole’s handwriting. Cases like this imply
contractual arrangements, with company labels
supplied to preparers. Interestingly, Baker’s list
features neither Ernest Hinton nor W. A. Firth, but
“primary” labels with their handwriting occur, as in the

examples below.

Hinton (L) and W.A. Firth (R) mounting for Baker,

presumably under contract

The Suter mount below is a rarity, and implies a
contractual arrangement with Dollond, as also seems
the case for Martin Cole.