Historical information

A stereoscope is a device for viewing a stereoscopic pair of separate images, depicting left-eye and right-eye views of the same scene, as a single three-dimensional image.

A typical stereoscope provides each eye with a lens that makes the image seen through it appear larger and more distant and usually also shifts its apparent horizontal position, so that for a person with normal binocular depth perception the edges of the two images seemingly fuse into one "stereo window". In current practice, the images are prepared so that the scene appears to be beyond this virtual window, through which objects are sometimes allowed to protrude, but this was not always the custom. A divider or other view-limiting feature is usually provided to prevent each eye from being distracted by also seeing the image intended for the other eye.

Physical description

Stereoscope, silver metal decorated face piece, with glass viewing holes, wooden folding handle, wooden cross-piece with wire loop at each end, to hold the stereoscopic cards/photos. Cross piece detachable. 'PAT'D APR 5TH 1904' stamped on metal

Inscriptions & markings

'PAT'D APR 5TH 1904' stamped on metal