A silver Key for a Victorian Astronomer/

Lancaster Observatory.
A Victorian Presentation key, Sheffield 1892, in retailer’s case for R. Atkinson of Lancaster.
Inscribed ‘Presented to Dr. Copeland F.R.S.E. Astronomer Royal for Scotland by Mr. Councellor Molyneux at the opening of the Greg Observatory Lancaster 27th July 1892.’
See: Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol.102, no.3, p.160-162, ‘Lancaster’s lost observatory’, Peter Wade.
‘One hundred years ago, on 1892 July 27, Lancaster’s Greg Observatory was officially opened by Dr. Ralph Copeland, the astronomer Royal for Scotland. In return he was presented with a silver key as a memento.’
In 1957, this key was presented by Dr. Copeland’s grandson to Hermann Bruck (1905-2000), then working at the University of Edinburgh [see website on Fanny Copeland].