Clairvoyant

Also known as: Stereoscopic Treasury

Region: United Kingdom    Period: 1850–1890    Tag: Swan
Stereoscope type: Hand-held » Single-view
Clairvoyant, Henry Swan, England
Clairvoyant, Henry Swan, England
© Antiq-Photo

The Clairvoyant has a distinctive appearance. Between the two lenses is a ribbed glass panel serving as an alternative to a septum. The distance between the lens panel and the stereoview holder can be adjusted for focusing.

The viewer was available in a deluxe storage box with additional space for stereoviews. These boxes were marked The Stereoscopic Treasury. The Clairvoyant was also distributed in a simpler leather case.

Related items: Septum

Specifications:

Introduction:
1858
Designer:
Henry Swan
Maker:
Henry Swan
Construction:
Wood
Medium:
Paper
Format:
8 x 19
Lens:
Convex
Lens focus:
Yes
Inter-ocular adjustment:
No

Patents and registrations:

Number: 2644
Improvements in stereoscopes and other optical instruments, and in stands or supports for stereoscopes.
Filing: 20-11-1858, Applicant(s): Henry Swan

Further reading:

  • Wing, Paul. Stereoscopes: The first one hundred years (1996) , pp. 33-34
Published: 24-04-2026    Last modified: 02-05-2026