A pair of late 19th century silver mounted folding opera glasses, with two pairs of circular lenses, connected by a sliding bar and hinged mother-of-pearl carrying handle, London import mark for 1895, by R. & J. Beck. Ltd, with stamped lozenge mark ‘JLBM’ with star, with accompanying case, width 10.2cm, length extended 9cm. £400-£600

R & J Beck Limited were camera lens manufacturers and optical instrument makers between 1867-1968. The company was first established in 1843 by Richard Beck, Joseph Beck and James Smith, trading as ‘Smith Beck and Beck’. After Smith’s retirement in 1865, the company’s name changed to Beck & Beck. Circa 1867-1894 the name was again updated to R & J Beck, now trading at 31 Cornhill, London and also in Philadelphia, USA. From circa 1894, the company was incorporated as a limited company, R & J Beck Ltd.