Scientific instrument; Culpepper Compound Microscope; with Case; 1725-30 The compound microscope was invented in the early seventeenth century. Until around 1740; all microscopes consisted of a thin wooden or cardboard cylinder; generally covered with shagreen (shark skin) or leather. Culpepper is one of the great names associated with early microscopes. This one has its own fitted oak case with a drawer to the bottom. There are also several boxwood specimen slides. Wood; Science and Industry; Social history; Health and Medicine