Historical information

In the 1800s, the stereoscope was the only way to view with world in 3-D. A viewer would look through the lenses of the stereoscope's eyepiece to a card called a stereograph. On the stereograph, two of the same image were printed side by side, which when viewed through the stereograph transformed the one dimensional images into relatively life-like representations.

A popular form of entertainment among the middle classes in Europe and America, people could use a stereoscope to view images of real faraway places, or fantastical magic scenes.

The first patented stereo viewer was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838, and remained a favoured leisure activity until the advent of cinema in the 1930s.

Significance

This object contributes to our understanding of social life, leisure and entertainment in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.

Physical description

A wooden stereoscope with a cardboard 'view' of a streetscape.