Swan’s Clairvoyant Stereoscope

England, 1850s

We love the gorgeous green embossed silk velvet on this beauty! Patented by Henry Swan of London in 1858, this stereoscope could be used with paper, glass, and books. Focus is achieved by sliding the two parts back and forth on the two metal prongs. Supposedly the viewer is meant to be held by the knob on the bottom (marked "Swan's Patent - Clairvoyant") with one's thumb inserted into the hole to move the lens board. However, we couldn't move it like that very easily. The back panel swings up and there's ribbed glass between the left and right lenses rather than a central divider piece. The accompanying domed presentation case, marked "The Stereoscopic Treasury" on top, has seen better days and is missing the lock and the inside compartment divider for holding the cards. The viewer would normally be stored upside down in the case, on top of the cards.