Longuevue marine binoculars from E. Krauss & Cie

A very rare and interesting pair of binoculars, offered for purchase to Russian officers through the representative offices of E. Krauss & Cie in St. Petersburg. The basis of the company's range of optical devices from the very beginning of its activity in Russia's products were mainly inexpensive binoculars and telescopes, including military ones, with medium-quality optics. As for the assortment, "Price Courant (a) specially designed military binoculars from E. Kraus and K. St. Petersburg. 26 Shpalernaya St.", published in St. Petersburg in 1886, offered officers of artillery, infantry and cavalry a model of Longuevue binoculars: "Binoculars with 16 glasses, with orthoscopic eyepieces and a movable axis, in a leather case of high dignity, with a belt. This type was built according to the instructions of the British government and, due to its remarkable high qualities and design, the prefects and senior artillery officers who wish to purchase this capital binoculars, without being shy about its cost." (In the following catalogs of the company "E.Kraus and Co." This binocular is also presented as a marine one). The binoculars had a "quick focus" system and were manufactured in two types: with a lens diameter of 15 lines (34 mm) and a magnification of 16 times at a cost of 65 rubles and "binoculars of the same design as the previous one, smaller format", with a lens diameter of 10 lines (23 mm) and a magnification of 10 times the price. 55 rubles. The length in the assembled state was 155 mm, in the extended state – 213 mm. Without a case 550 grams, in a case 800 grams. The optical scheme is a Kepler system with a wraparound lens. The markings on the eyepieces are "Jumelle Longue Vue Officielle du Gouverne ment" and "E.Krauss & C Paris Berlin Londres St.-Petersbourg Tokio".

The presented binoculars will be published in the epic work "Binoculars of the Russian Imperial Army", which is expected to be released at the end of 2026. Guarantee of authenticity.

The firm E. Krauss & Cie was founded by the French optician Eugene Krauss in Paris in 1882. The first workshop was located at Republic Avenue, 4. Since 1896, the company has been producing binoculars, telescopes and other optical devices under license from the Carl Zeiss factory, however, since 1902, the management of the German factory decided not to renew the patent for Kraus, as a result of which the French workshop began its own production of optics, actively developing and foreign markets. The company's factory was located in Paris, and its central office was located there (Avenue de la Republique, 4). Although the company was founded only in 1882, by 1886 it had offices in London, Leipzig and Milan, and since 1883 it began to gradually break into the Russian market of optical devices, opening a branch of the company in St. Petersburg. It was originally located at No. 26 on Shpalernaya Street (the building of that period has not been preserved.Auth), and in the autumn of 1887 he moved to 55 Liteyny Ave. He headed the Russian representative office at the end of the 80s of the XIX century, the "temporary St. Petersburg 2nd Guild merchant", lieutenant of the Guard Reserve Yevpl Yefimovich Frolov.