This is a pair of late Victorian / early Edwardian MOP & brass miniature 'binoculars', with each eyepiece containing 6 stanhope images (12 in total), & dating to around c.1890 - 1910.

The binoculars are made from Mother of Pearl & have a brass frame & brass fittings. There is a small loop on one side to attach the stanhope to a watch chain?, or perhaps to use as a charm, etc.

One eyepiece has a central, oval portrait of Burns entitled 'IN MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS' with 6 images around it, consisting of:

'ALLOWAY KIRK, AYR'

'HIS MONUMENT'

'AULD & NEW BRIGS O' AYR'

'TAM O' SHANTER & SOUTER JOHNNY'

'HIS BIRTHPLACE', and

'AULD BRIG O' DOON, AYR'.

The other eyepiece has a central panel entitled 'A MEMORY OF DUMFRIES' (there is a tiny number & makers name? at the bottom) with 6 images around it, consisting of:

'SWEETHEART ABBEY'

'BURN'S MAUSOLEUM'

'THE OLD BRIDGE'

'CAERLAVROCK CASTLE'

'BURN'S STATUE' and

'HIGH STREET'.

As with the majority of Victorian souvenir Stanhopes, the 'Dumfries' set of images is marked 'Made in France' in the bottom corner (I can't find it on the 'Burn's' set of images).

Condition is very Fine. The images are all clear, with just the expected, age related distortion around the periphery (this does not encroach on the actual images).

Overall, a very fine stanhope in fantastic condition for it's 100 + years, and very unusual to find one with 12 images, particularly of such an interesting subject matter.