Why Did the Victorians Love the Stereoscope?
Of all the forms of early photography, the stereograph was the most popular and successful. Stereographs consist of two nearly identical photographs or photomechanical prints, paired to produce the illusion of a single three-dimensional image, usually when viewed through a stereoscope.
Typically, the images are on card mounts, but they may take the form of daguerreotypes, glass negatives, or other processes. Stereographs were first made in the 1850s and are still made today. They were most popular between 1870 and 1920.
Stereograph of Graf Zeppelin over pyramids in Egypt
Stereographs are usually mounted. They were typically published with caption information printed under the image or on the back of the mount. The mount also provided information about the publisher, photographer, and sometimes the series or a list of views available from the photographer or publisher. Throughout the mid to late 1800s, countless images were made for every possible subject. Stereographs were so popular that it was said that every home had a stereoscope.
We have Stereographs ranging worthless to valuable at our Manhattan gallery, APR57; we find them all fascinating. If you like an photography you will like our radio show. Tune into WOR 710 AM, every Sunday evening between 8pm-9pm. If you have anything you would like to sell or have appraised please contact us. We are the only free appraisal service in town and we would love to tell you more about your piece.
APR57
200 WEST 57TH ST.
NEW YORK, NY 10019
📧 Lee@apr57.com
📞 917-439-9610
📞 917-439-9610