This type of simple, single-lens microscope was developed early in the history of microscopy. It consists of several magnifying instruments in a single, segmented structure made from ivory. Instruments like this one are sometimes called an "Optical Compendium" due to the fact that they consist of a system of several, independent magnifying devices. The highest magnification optic (at the top) also is called the "microscopium pulicare," or "Flea Microscope," since one of the specimens examined at the time was the ubiquitous flea.

This particular microscope consists of three separate magnifiers: 1) The main body, which is essentially a low magnification loupe, 2) a small, high magnification lens attached to the top of the body (the microscopium pulicare next to the sample pin), and 3) a separate hand-held magnifier with removable lenses. The instrument body itself consists of several sections: a base for storing the objectives for the hand-held magnifier, a middle section, which is the low magnification loupe, and the top section that holds a small lens (missing in this microscope) and a vertical specimen mounting pin. The final section is a cap, which screws down over the specimen holder section to protect the optics. This particular specimen is fragile, and thus cannot be separated safely to show the large, low magnification lens. Completely assembled, its height is 9cm with cap, 7cm without cap.

Bone microscopes similar to this one can be found in the Billings Collection, the Van Heurck Collection, and the Museum Boerhaave.