Folding reading glass in a bone frame hinged between horn or tortoiseshell covers, with a hinged copper becket and brass (? or gold) split-ring loop for a suspension lanyard or chain. It belonged to Lieutenant later Vice-Admiral William Bligh (1754-1817) and was reputedly that which he had with him during the epic boat voyage of some 3600 nautical miles from Tofoa to Timor, after he and loyal crew members were cast adrift in the 23-foot launch of the 'Bounty' during the mutiny of 28 April 1789, reaching Timor 47 days later.

It was acquired in 1951, via the Admiralty as intermediary, with REL0027 and WPN1062 (Bligh's silver travelling-corkscrew and an apparently later Dutch fighting sword, possibly one surrendered to him at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797) as a deferred bequest from the estate of Henry Littlehales Barker, Bligh's great-great-grandson. Note that REL0026 is also reputed to be the glass he had with him and until August 2017 was generally so credited, but appears to be a larger 'drawing-room' item.

Bligh stated on several occasions after 1789 that in the launch he had a 'small' glass which was the one he habitually used for readng the fine scales of his sextants (of which he lost two by Ramsden at the mutiny) and that it was the one he used to light a fire on Restoration Island when the launch reached the Barrier Reef. This one is of the same size and general type sometimes supplied with sextants of the period and later, though perhaps individually bought or specially fitted with the suspension loops for hanging round the neck, as a navigator/ surveyor constantly using it perhaps found most convenient.

Bligh was dragged from his bed in his nightshirt at the mutiny and was initially only given his clothes before being put in the launch. As a man of ordered habits it is likely that, when not round his neck, this is an item he kept in his unifom coat or waistcoat pocket for ready use, and it got into the launch with him that way.