A Microscopist's Book Collection
by Mike Samworth
Collecting books to help with any hobby is a natural thing to
do. Most people interested in microscopy of any kind do the same,
and I am certainly no different. Below is a list of some of the
books I have acquired over the relatively short time I have been
interested in microscopy, with comments on a selected few.
Edited by Mol Smith 2014
Many of these books are less suitable for people starting off in the hobby.
Please refer to this reference if you are just starting out or if you have young people you bought a microscope for.
Mol Smith (Founder of Mic-UK and co-founder of Micscape Magazine).
Barron, A.L.E.,Using the microscope,Chapman and
Hall,1965
A well written book that covers most subjects well.
It is actually a complete re-write of the book by Oliver.
Beck C, The Microscope, R J Beck and Co., 1921
This is a very useful little book, written by a
manufacturer of fine instruments. This is a common thing and I
have recently seen the equally excellent book by B O Payne who
worked for Cooke, Troughton and Simms. I am on the look-out for
this title to add to my collection.
Belcher H and Swale E, A beginners guide to the
Freshwater Algae, HMSO/ITE 1976
Belcher H and Swale E, An illustrated guide to river
phytoplankton, HMSO/ITE 1979
Belcher H and Swale E, Culturing Algae, HMSO/ITE 1982
,
These last three little booklets contain a lot of
useful information and keys, and are inexpensive too.
Boney AD, Phytoplankton, Arnold, 1975 Studies in
Biology
Bracegirdle, B.,Modern microscope
manufacturers.,Quekett Microscopical Club,1996,
Bracegirdle, B.,Scientific Photomacrography,RMS
Handbook 31,Bios,1995,
Bracegirdle, B. & Bradbury, S.,Modern
Photomicrography. RMS Handbook 33,Bios,1995,
Bracegirdle,B and Miles,PH,An atlas of Plant
structure, Volume 1,Heineman,1971,
Bracegirdle,B and Miles,PH,An atlas of plant
structure, Volume 2,Heineman,1973,
Bradbury, S.,Peacock's Elementary Microtechnique.4th
Edition.,Arnold,1973,
Bradbury, S. and Evennett, P.J.,Contrast techniques in
light microscopy RMS Handbook 34,Biopress
Bracegirdle B ed., Microscopical papers from the
Quekett QMC 1989
Bradbury S, An introduction to the Optical Microscope
(RMS handbook No.1) Oxford Scientific Publication 1989
Burgess Martin and Taylor, Microcosmos Cambridge 1987
A showcase for the photo-library that one of the
authors runs but still a great collection of photomicrographs of
all sorts of subjects. Available as a much cheaper paperback
under a slightly different title; "Under the
microscope".
Canter-Lund, H. & Lund, J.,Freshwater Algae:
their microscopic world explored.,Biopress,1995,
Just a wonderful book, full of wonderful photographs.
Oh, and the text is worth reading too!
Calkins, G.N.,The smallest living things:
Protozoa,,1932,
Clegg CJ, Lower Plants: anatomy and activities of
non-flowering plants Murray 1984
Clegg J, Observers' Guide to Pond Life Warne 1967
A classic! Based on the much bigger Warne title
below.
Clegg J, Pond and stream life of Europe Blandford
1963
Clegg J, The Freshwater Life of the British Isles 1st
Edition Warne 1952
Clegg J, The Freshwater Life of the British Isles 3rd
Edition Warne 1965
Cooke MC, Ponds and ditches SPCK 1880
Corliss, J.O.,The ciliated protozoa: characterization,
classification and guide to the literature.2nd
Edition.,Pergamon,1979,
Cosslett, V. E.,Modern Microscopy,Bell,1966,
Crabtree JH, Freshwater wonders and how to identify
them Charles H Kelly
Croft PS, British Freshwater Invertebrates Field
Studies Council 1986
Curry Grayson and Hosey, Under the Microscope
Blandford 1982
A well written and informative book well suited to
the beginner. Unfortunately it went out of print very soon after
publication and so is only available second-hand.
Curds, C.R.,British and other Freshwater Ciliated
Protozoa. part 1. Ciliophora: Kinetofragminophora.,CUP,
Cambridge.,1982, Curtis H, The marvellous animals Heineman 1968
An explanation... this book is about the Protozoa.
Curds, C.R.,British and other Freshwater Ciliated
Protozoa. part 1. Ciliophora: Kinetofragminophora.,CUP,
Cambridge.,1982,
Delly, J.G.,Photography through the microscope.\n9th
Edition.,Kodak,1988,
Dobell, C.,Antony van Leeuwenhoek and his little
animals.,Bales,1932,,
The author of this book spent his working life
studying the protozoa and his spare time researching the life and
times of the father of microscopy.
Dobell, C.,The Amoebae living in man.,Bales,1919,
Dobell, Clifford,The Amoebae living in man.,John Bale,
Sons & Danielson,1919
Donner J, Rotifers Warne 1966
A very useful guide to identification of Rotifers.
Make sure you get the translated version in English!
Finlay BJ Rogerson A and Cowling AJ,A guide to
Collection Isolation Cultivation & Identification of FW
Protozoa NERC 1988
Fitter R and Manuel R, Collins Field Guide to
Freshwater Life Collins 1986
An excellent and up-to-date guide to all freshwater
life, and still in print. It is worth commenting on the
lamentable standard of some of the photomicrographs in this book.
Flatters Milborne and McKechnie, Photomicrographs of
botanical studies Flatters, Milborne and McKechnie
Ford BJ, Single Lens: The story of the simple
microscope Harper and Row 1985
A book that I bought because it was cheap, and looked
interesting. Little did I know that it would inspire me and lead
to what I think will be a life-long interest in microscopy. An
excellent read, though I think that Ford's 1991 book below is
even better.
Ford, B.J.,The Leeuwenhoek Legacy.,Biopress/Farrand
Press,1991,
Ford, B.J.,The optical microscope manual,David and
Charles,1973,
Furneaux W, Life in Ponds and Streams Longmans 1935
Garnett WJ, Freshwater Microscopy Constable 1962
Gosse PH, Evenings at the Microscope SPCK 1874
These last two titles are both excellent guides to
freshwater life. Garnett's book in particular is a mine of
information. Another similar book is that by Plaskitt.
Griffith JW and Henfrey A, The Micrographic
Dictionary 4th Edition Vol 1 & 2 John Van Voorst 1883
I often find myself thumbing through this late at
night. The plates are superb and though the text is well out of
date it illustrates the massive body of information gleaned from
observation by Victorian Scientists.
Grimstone AV, The electron microscope in biology 2nd
Edition Arnold 1968 Studies in Biology
Gutherie M, Animals of the surface film Richmond
Publishing 1989
Another useful title in the 'Naturalst Handbook'
series which is well worth getting a list of. This and the title
by Hingley are relevant to microscopists and contain much
practical information and tips and suggestions for projects.
Hall CA, How to use the microscope A & C Black
1912
Hartley WG, Teach Yourself Microscopy English
Universities Press 1962
Hartley, W.G.,Hartley's Microscopy,Senecio,1979,
Hartley, W.G., The Light Microscope: it's use and
development.,Senecio, 1993,
Gilbert Hartley writes with great authority and
experience, but also with a sense of humour. The 1993 book is
possibly the best modern book on the subject in my opinion.
Hawks E, The Microscope Thomas Nelson 1919
Healey P, Microscopes and Microscopic Life Hamlyn 1969
A small paperback that is just the thing for the
beginner. I have bought getting on for a dozen of these over the
years and passed them onto friends or youngsters to get them
interested.
Hingley M, Microscopic life in Sphagnum Richmond
Publishing 1993
Hogg, J.,The microscope: its history and
construction.15th Edition,Routledge,1911,
One of the old classics and another book for late at
night.
Holden J, Close-up control Crowood 1987
Hurry SW, The microstructure of cells Murray 1965
Izzi and Mezzatesta, The complete manual of Nature
Photography Gollancz 1981
Jahn, T.L., Bovee, E.C., & Jahn, F.F.,How to know
the Protozoa. 2nd Edition,Wm C. Brown, Dubuque, Iowa.,1979,
A very useful book for the lab bench with its spiral
binding, useful keys and helpful diagrams.
Kerr R, Nature through the microscope and camera
Religious Tract 1909
Lawson,D.T.,The technique of
Photomicrography,Newnes,1960,
Mackinnon, D.L., & Hawes, R.S.J.,An Introduction
to the Study of Protozoa.,OUP,1961,
Malies, H.M.,Applied Microscopy and
Photomicrography,Fountain Press,1959,
Margulis, L. et al,Illustrated glossary of
Protoctista,James and Bartlett,1993,
McAlpine D, The Botanical Atlas Bracken Books 1989
This is a facsimilie of an old publication,
containing some delightful plates.
Mellanby H, Animal life in freshwater Methuen 1963
An excellent little book that continues to get
well-used. Look out for a second-hand copy for a couple of quid,
you won't regret it.
Miall LC, Aquatic Insects MacMillan 1922
Nachtigall, W.,Exploring with the
microscope.,Sterling,1995,
You must get this book if you haven't got it, before
it goes out of print. Nicely produced it sells microscopy very
well.
Nikon, How to use a microscope and take a
photomicrograph
Nilsson L, Nature Magnified MacDonald 1984
O'Toole and Preston-Mafham, Insects in Camera Oxford
1985
Oldfield, R.,Light Microscopy: an illustrated
guide.,Wolfe,1994,
An excellent modern book that includes activities to
test your understanding of the working of the instrument.
Olliver CW, The intelligent use of the microscope
Chapman and Hall 1947
Oxlade C, The world of the microscope Usborne 1989
A great little book for youngsters.
Patterson, D.J. & Hedley, S.,An atlas of
Free-living freshwater Protozoa.,Wolfe,1992
Plaskitt FJW, Microscopic freshwater life Chapman and
Hall 1926
Polaroid,Photomicrography: instant photography through
the microscope.,Polaroid,1995,
Pyszkowski, I.S.,The Microscope and a hidden world to
explore.,Whitman,1963,
Quigley M, Invertebrates of streams and rivers Arnold
1977
Riley, P.D.,Loooking at microscopes.,Batsford,1985,
Royal Microscopical Society, RMS 150th Anniversary
Exhibition Catalogue RMS 1989
Shipley AE, Hunting under the microscope Ernest Benn
1928
Slack HJS, Marvels of Pond Life Newman and Co. 1899
Smith KM, Beyond the microscope Penguin 1943
Spencer, M.,Fundamentals of light
microscopy.,CUP,1982,
Sterry P, Pond Watching Hamlyn 1982
Stokes, A.C.,Aquatic Microscopy.,Wiley,1918,
Sykes JB, An illustrated guide to te Diatoms of
British Coastal Plankton Field Studies Council 1981
Thompson Coldrey and Bernard, The Pond Collins 1984
Van der Graaff & Crawley,A photographic atlas for
the Biology laboratory.,Morton Pub Co.,1996,
Vickerman,K and Cox,FEG,The Protozoa,Murray,1967,
Ward, S,Minute marvels of nature,Isbister,1903,
Wells, T.A.G.,Invertebrate types.,Heineman,1962,
Wells,AL,The Microscope made easy,Warne,
White,W,Photomacrography an introduction,Focal
Press,1987,
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