Antique Spectacles/ eyeglasses. First quarter 19th century, silver frames, oval lenses, hinged adjustable arms, mark for James Nevins Hyde, New Orleans, Louisiana, working 1816-1828. Mr. Hyde had a shop on Chartres Street. The adjustable temples (arms) were useful to people who wore wigs, as some wigs covered the ears, and the temples could adjust to slide under the wig or into the wig hair. A common myth is that the French Revolution did away with the fashion of wearing wigs and, after 1799, you had to pay for a certificate to wear a wig in England!  However, American President, James Monroe, (tenure:1817-1825) wore a wig, as did other men and women in the 19th century…so Mr. Hyde probably continued to make spectacles of this type for the wealthy of New Orleans until 1828. Marked “HYDE” on the inside right temple, 4-1/2 in., arms adjust from 4-1/2 in. to 6 in. These spectacles are unpolished and show (pictures) tarnish on temples and solder joints. All silver elements are undamaged, and the lenses are in very good condition. The average cost of spectacles in the 18th century was more than $200.00 in today’s money.