Stereoscopic Negative, Bus
This is a stereoscopic negative of a bus from the Mary Wood Collection. Stereoscopic images were popular from the mid 1850’s to the early 1900’s. The concept is attributed to Sir Charles Wheatstone. In the 1830’s, he noticed that if two images were viewed from a slightly different perspective, namely through a different eye, the resulting effect was a three-dimensional image. David Brewster built on this development a decade later, by creating a hand held device known as a stereoscopic viewer. A card containing two identical images was inserted into a slot and then held to the eyes, creating a three-dimensional image. Stereoscopic images were often created by applying two positive prints to a stiff backing; although, some negatives or daguerreotype stereoscopic images also exist. Stereoscopic images had become a mass medium by the 1850’s. Some images were targeted towards the emerging middle class and their values, while others offered a chance for viewers to travel without ever leaving their homes, portraying scenes from around the globe. These images were replaced by the creation of postcards.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 10
Stereoscopic Negative, Bus
This is a stereoscopic negative of a bus from the Mary Wood Collection. Stereoscopic images were popular from the mid 1850’s to the early 1900’s. The concept is attributed to Sir Charles Wheatstone. In the 1830’s, he noticed that if two images were viewed from a slightly different perspective, namely through a different eye, the resulting effect was a three-dimensional image. David Brewster built on this development a decade later, by creating a hand held device known as a stereoscopic viewer. A card containing two identical images was inserted into a slot and then held to the eyes, creating a three-dimensional image. Stereoscopic images were often created by applying two positive prints to a stiff backing; although, some negatives or daguerreotype stereoscopic images also exist. Stereoscopic images had become a mass medium by the 1850’s. Some images were targeted towards the emerging middle class and their values, while others offered a chance for viewers to travel without ever leaving their homes, portraying scenes from around the globe. These images were replaced by the creation of postcards.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 10