Featured MOP & Gold Opera-Glass Extension Handle...I Think.

Marked "Julius King Optical Co. Pat Nov 28, 1882 & Mar 12, 1889"

5 3/4" fully collapsed, ~9 1/2" extended; the extension tube is ~5/16" diameter, the MOP is two 8-panel sleeves, each 2" long by ~1/2" in diameter.
The dovetail mount material appears to be tortoise shell; the gold work is very finely done, the only exception being the solder lines showing in the last pic.
I'm gonna dig into Julius King Optical as soon as I post this...but please do share your thoughts an' observations, an' thanks for lookin'!

 

Here you go...
https://www.eyecarebusiness.com/issues/2004/march-2004/optical-pioneers

 

https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/553256688/mother-of-pearl-rgp-telescoping

 

so maybe interchangeable with a Lorgnette and binoculars?

https://sklimited.com/product/opera-glasses-french-antique-sterling-with-handle-and-case/

 

@Shangas might have a thought. Neither lorgnettes nor opera glasses are very heavy.

 

It's a detachable handle. The clasp at the top is spring-loaded.

You extend it, then you pull the clasp up and it clips onto the bridge of your handle-less opera-glasses, and allows you to hold them up against your eyes with your hand in your lap (or that's the idea, anyway) so that you don't get tired by holding your opera-glasses up to your face all night.

Yes, we all want to see Gilbert & Sullivan, but we don't want to get stiff joints doing it.

 

Huh...an' I don't even recall where or when I acquired it, nor at what cost. Funny how some things just roll to the top, without recognition. Thanks, all, for those links...

 

We do?? Not likely, now a nice bit of Puccini, Verdi or Wagner, now you're talking !!