ABSTRACT
The only difference, albeit considerable, between Berge and his master, is that the first lacked the creative genius of the second.’
Joseph Banks, as reported by Castelcicala to De Medici, 1808. ASP
Berge Continues the Business at Piccadilly
Berge lost no time in substituting his own name for that of Ramsden on the letterhead, which was otherwise unchanged (see Figure 13.1). His one-page ‘Catalogue of optical, mathematical and philosophical instruments, made and sold by Matthew Berge, successor to the late J. Ramsden, 199 Piccadilly, London’, listing 85 items, was probably issued shortly after Ramsden’s death to reassure customers that the business continued to offer the same wide range of instruments1 (see Figure 13.2) Sadly, there is no known likeness of Berge.
