The optics are clear on each end. Beautiful old 2-draw small monocular, French in origin and from about c.1860s, one from my own collections now being disbursed. Would have been tucked into a vest pocket or a lady's purse for opera use, or taken into the field for outings. Not a military grade item.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Most of these are less than perfect, as the old ivory does shrink a bit and is prone to fine hairline cracks when it does. This one is shown from all 4 sides so you can see the age to it is visible but not distracting. Whether for a display piece or even to use, it's wonderful. Measurements noted on the photos.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
