Overview
For a long time, the telescope has been a symbol of navigation and exploration. This is a hand-held marine telescope, called a spyglass.
Navigators could carry spyglasses around the ship’s deck with ease. They could use them to sight approaching ships, rocks, or debris on the ocean that they needed to avoid.
When land came into view, spyglasses could be used to scan the shore and find the best place to land.