Antique Stereoscopic Viewer 100x30, ca. 1910

Rare Antique Stereoscopic Viewer for 100x30 mm Plates. France, Circa 1910

Rare antique stereoscopic viewer, manufactured in France in the early 20th century. The main appeal of this item is its rarity: it is designed to view 100x30 mm plates, whereas plates typically measure 107x45 mm or larger. It is a rare and intriguing device that comes with a set of plates in this format; both the viewer and the plates are stored in a beautiful, original period solid wood case. The viewer is very well preserved and features the original Bakelite lenses and eyepieces, allowing you to view the plates clearly and enjoy the unique depth effect (3D) created by stereoscopy.

The viewer is made of light golden-colored solid wood and is in excellent condition. On the front, above the eyepieces, there is an engraved inscription referring to the company that manufactured the device: UNIS FRANCE. The set of 95 glass plates that accompanies the viewer consists mainly of family portraits and landscapes taken in Switzerland and France; however, among them we also find intriguing exotic photographs captured in places as far-flung as Africa and China. The plates are in very good condition. The mahogany wooden case in which the set is stored is very beautiful; it features solid and attractive dovetail joints at the corners and retains the original brass handle, hinges, and clasps in very good condition.

The charm and rarity of this setcomprising an antique viewer and photographic platesmake it a collectors item worthy of the finest museums.

Plate Dimensions: 100x30 mm.

History of Stereoscopy

The principle of stereoscopy has been known for centuries, but it was not until the 19th century that the first viewer was manufactured, the work of Sir Charles Wheatstone. However, as early as the 16th century, the first devices were created that allowed images to be viewed with a certain degree of depth. In 1834, James Elliot conceived the idea of building a device that would allow two different images to be viewed simultaneously, thereby creating an impression of perspective. However, he did not actually build it until three years after the release of the first stereoscope, designed by Wheatstone in 1838. During the 19th century, devices that allowed viewers to see the plates with increasing clarity proliferated, and during the first half of the 20th century, stereoscopic viewers became very popular. In fact, their use continued into the 1970s.