1. An automatically self-calibrating magnifying measurement system, comprising: a) a calibration standard having a reference object with at least two landmark features of differing scales identifiable by pattern recognition at a plurality of magnifications, dimensions of which have been verified and digitally archived in association with a unique identification code for the calibration standard, the landmark features each being associated with a distinctive marking that can be read by pattern recognition to identify the different landmark features, the calibration standard also having a machine readable identification code marker configured to appear in a magnified digital image of the reference object, the identification code marker corresponding to the unique identification code for the calibration standard; b) a stage to position the calibration standard, and alternatively to position a sample; c) image acquiring means for acquiring magnified digital images of the reference object, and alternatively for acquiring a magnified digital image of the sample; d) a data storage module for storing information including the unique identification code for the calibration standard and the associated verified dimensions of the landmark features of the reference object; e) a control module configured to control the stage and the image acquiring means to obtain digital images of the reference object of the calibration standard at a plurality of magnifications, and alternatively to obtain a digital image of the sample; and f) a data processing module configured to: automatically read by pattern recognition at a plurality of magnifications the distinctive markings associated with the landmark features of the reference object of the calibration standard to identify the landmark features; automatically measure dimensions of the identified landmark features of the reference object of the calibration standard by pattern recognition at a plurality of magnifications; automatically read the identification code marker of the calibration standard by pattern recognition to obtain the unique identification code for the calibration standard, and to retrieve the verified dimensions of the landmark features of the reference object associated with the unique identification code for the calibration standard; automatically establish calibration parameters for a plurality of magnifications based on comparing the measured dimensions of the landmark features with the verified dimensions; and automatically store the calibration parameters in the data storage module.