PICS: Charles Darwin's 200-year-old microscope up for auction

A microscope Charles Darwin gave his son Leonard and which has remained in the family for nearly 200 years is headed for auction in December and is expected to fetch up to $480,000. The instrument was designed by Charles Gould for the firm Cary around 1825 and is one of the six surviving microscopes associated with the British naturalist, according to auction house Christie's.

A microscope Charles Darwin gave his son Leonard and which has remained in the family for nearly 200 years is headed for auction in December and is expected to fetch up to $480,000. Credit: Reuters Photo

The instrument was designed by Charles Gould for the firm Cary around 1825 and is one of the six surviving microscopes associated with the British naturalist, according to auction house Christie's. Credit: Reuters Photo

The date of its manufacture coincides with the time when Darwin was studying zoophytes, organisms such as coral and sea anemone. Credit: Reuters Photo

The microscope will be offered at Christie's Valuable Books & Manuscripts auction on Dec. 15, and has a price estimate of 250,000 - 350,000 pounds ($343,050 - $480,270). Credit: Reuters Photo