Antique Educa Stereoscope in Perfect Condition. France, Circa 1925

This fine antique stereoscope is an Educa model, quite an unusual piece made in france and intended for educational purposes. The Educa stereoscope was produced for the French school system by A. Mattey of Paris under the trade name Unis France. One of the most usual uses given to the Educa stereoscope was to show the most relevant French monuments and places to the pupils, as shown by the four 42 glass plates that come with this item. The plates can be viewed in the stereoscope neat and clearly as all its component parts and pieces are in perfect working order. The stereoscope that we can see in the photographs is made of light-colored mahogany wood, with a golden background and a subtle dark veneer that provides it with a stunning beauty. The wood remains in amazing condition and preserves the original finish. At the top, the stereoscope shows a metal plate with the model and the manufacturing companys name: UNIS FRANCE EDUCA. The two lenses with black bakelite frame are also original and well preserved. The plates with photographs of Fench monuments and places can be stored at the bottom of the stereoscope, where we find a storing compartment. This Educa stereoscope is a fascinating piece with a fully decorative design, perfect to decorate a classy room. Measurements: Width: 10.4 in / 26.15 cm. Heigth: 18.11 in /46 cm.History of Stereoscopy Stereoscopy is known since centuries ago, but it was only in the early 19th century when Sir Charles Wheatstone manufactured the first viewer. Nevertheless, in the 16th century some devices were made that let people watch images with a certain depth. In 1834 James Elliot had the idea of constructing an apparatus that was to allow the viewing of two dissimilar pictures simultaneously that were to create the impression of an elevated object. Nevertheless, he did not implement this construction until three years after the production of the first stereoscope, created by Wheatstone in 1838. During the 19th century many stereoscopic viewers (also called stereoscopes) were manufactured, and during the first half of the 20th century they became very popular instruments. In fact, they were commonly used until the 1970s.