Just imagine never seeing a photograph before. Never seeing the sites from another country because it was too expensive for the average person to travel. Then imagine living in the Victorian era when the Stereoscope was affordable and they started entering homes for the first time. Now, the world was at your fingertips. In 3-D and maybe even color. Two almost identical photos, side by side, viewed through two lenses. Amazingly simple. Such a tiny glimpse of a place or a staged story in just one picture. You, the viewer had to fill in the blanks. Invent the rest of the story in your mind with just that single picture.
A far cry from what we experience today with visual entertainment and education. Everything is laid out for you. No imagination required. Which is better? The current way or the past?
To have a better understanding of what it was like for people living in the 1900’s, visit the web site, The Classic and read the thought provoking article titled, ‘What Did the Victorians See in the Stereoscope?’. https://theclassicphotomag.com/what-did-the-victorians-see-in-the-stereoscope/
I also found another site with more info and today’s monetary values of the viewers and cards https://www.collectorsweekly.com/photographs/stereoviews , Collectors Weekly.
Isn’t learning about how our ancestors thought and invented things enjoyable? Helping us to better understand what we use in our modern world?
History, it’s for the curious minds of today.
