[MR] eyeglasses / Re: Atlantia Digest, Vol 81, Issue 51

[Smith CTR Jeffrey C]

 Was it this one?  http://blog.aurorahistoryboutique.com/tag/medieval-eyeglasses/

Barcsi Janos


-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org [mailto:atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Hulan
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:23
To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: [MR] eyeglasses / Re: Atlantia Digest, Vol 81, Issue 51

> Now if I could only just relocate the picture I saw of an early pope 
> or cardinal seated next to a table holding a pair of bi-focals, I 
> would be very happy. Take that, Ben Franklin.

I haven't done any research into this area, but The Evolution of the Book (by Frederick Kilgour, Oxford UP, 1998) places the development of eyeglasses for reading at the latter half of the 1280s. They became popular enough that a Venetian guild of eyeglass makers was formed in 1320.

Best wishes,
Aneira

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