Eyeglasses have been around since 1286 when they were invented in Pisa, Italy. If you depend on glasses to see long distances or to read or do close work, you appreciate what a wonderful invention they are. Finding antique examples of eyeglasses can be easy if you know where to look.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
Resource book
Computer
Finding Vintage Spectacles
1 Determine what era glasses you are interested In. Antique eyeglasses can be found from the 1200s through the 1950s and 1960s. To be an authentic antique, they should be 100 years old or older.
Refer to books, websites and antique shops. Consult experts in the field as well as collectors.
2 Determine what style eyeglasses you are interested In. Eyeglasses can be round, square, wire rimmed, horn-rimmed or rimless. They can include lorgnettes, sunglasses, reading glasses, goggles and many more.
3 Prowl antique shops, flea markets and yard sales. Surf online websites for experts in the field who also offer antique eyeglasses for sale.
4 Determine what you can afford. Antique eyeglasses can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Set a budget and before you buy, be sure you know what you are getting for your money.
5 Enlist an expert. Consulting an expert can save you both money and time. An expert will know exactly what to look for and how much a pair of spectacles is worth.
Tips & Warnings
You can see a pair of Civil War glasses owned by Abraham Lincoln at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
On his website, Ed Welch, an expert in the field of antique glasses, talks about and offers for sale eyeglasses from many eras, including, but not limited to, the Civil War era and military spectacles, some of which date to the French and Indian War, the War of 1812 and the American Revolution (re-enactors are often interested in this type of antique eyeglasses), as well as Windsor eyeglasses, a style popular from 1880 to 1920 and being reproduced today.