This achromatic telescope has a leather-covered barrel and a single silvered-brass draw tube. The other fittings are also silvered brass and include a pivoted eyepiece cover, an objective lens cap and a sliding sunshade. Unusually for a telescope of this date, there is no mechanical stop on the draw tube, which may be pulled freely out of the barrel. There is, however, a stop line engraved on the draw tube to indicate the optimum working length of the telescope.

The words 'For Day Objects' are engraved on the draw tube, indicating that the telescope is most effective for use when the light is good.

The telescope is one of a group of telescopes (with NAV1562, NAV1563, NAV1565) that belonged to a T.H. Hand. An emblem of an arm with a sword in its hand above the motto 'Dextra me vibrat' ('Brandished in my right hand') is engraved on the draw tube.

Thomas Henry Herbert Hand (1870-1933) was was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the son of Captain Henry Hand RN and Anna McCheane. In 1888 he was recorded as a lieutenant. He subsequently joined the Royal Indian Marine, qualified as a master in the merchant services in Bombay in 1902 and was promoted to Commander in 1907.