AN HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CASED SET OF MICROSCOPY MAGIC LANTERN LECTURE SLIDES USED BY THE REV. R.G. DALLINGER D.S.c. F.R.S., CIRCA 1880

comprising 102 examples, each 3½in. square glass slide with hand-tinted photographic sample framed within a circular mount with dual Latin-Arabic number pasted to one corner, many signed 'W.H. Dallinger' and some with scales and year, each with wooden frame and contained within fitted lined oak box with brass owner's plate inscribed Rev. W. H. Dallinger D.S.c F.R.S. / Ingleside Lee / London S.E. -- 7 x 18 x 15in. (18 x 46 x 38cm.)

Rev. William Henry Dallinger (1842-1909) was a Methodist minister who, in 1870, began a ten year programme of microscopic research into septic organisms that was recognised by the Church to the degree that he was released from pastoral charge and allowed to write and lecture on the subject, whilst retaining his ordained titles. He remained at the Gilchrist Educational Trust for 12 years, concentrating his research into the life history of certain micro-organisms which, in collaboration with Dr. James Drysdale (1815-1892), proved that organisms could rapidly adapt to temperatures and thus boiling alone was not enough to sterilise instruments. However, is was as an expert microscopist that Dallinger enjoyed the highest reputation. His earliest biological researches were rewarded by an unsought grant of £100 from the Royal Society, and he was elected FRS in 1880. Amongst many other accolades, he occupied the post of president of the Royal Microscopical Society four times between 1884-1887; and that of the Quekett Club 1890–1892.