Strange, in an intriguing (to me at least!) sort of a way. At first I thought this glass plate slide was made with the intention of measuring the little bean pictured, using a tiny 2cm hand-drawn paper ruler. But looking closer I realized that the ruler is in fact taped to what looks to be human skin, upon which there appears to be some sort of bite, framed by scratching into the skin--so perhaps that bean is just there for scale. Medical? 1960s body art? Experiment of some sort? I really don't know. But I like the mystery, and the makeshift nature of the documentation, and imagining the awkward process of making and taping this little ruler onto an arm and balancing a bean there too! So here it is.
3 1/4" x 3 1/4" and in good condition. Perhaps the 53 on the paper label refers to 1953?
