Mascher Stereoscopic Book

Region: United States    Period: 1850–1890    Tags: Mascher / D. Appleton & Co.
Stereoscope type: Hand-held » Multi-view » Folding

The design of the Mascher Stereoscopic Book was patented on 19 February 1856. The viewer consists of three foldable, leather-covered sections. In appearance, the viewer therefore resembles Mascher's earlier and successful viewing case. In place of the stereoview holder there is a series of bound pages with stereoviews. By turning the pages, the stereoviews can be viewed one by one.

The design was later also used for The Stereoscope for the Million by D. Appleton & Company. This viewer includes a reference to the patent for Mascher's viewing case. This suggests that Appleton either held a licence or had purchased Mascher's rights after he withdrew from the stereoscope business.

Related items:
Album stereoscope  Appleton & Company, D.  Mascher viewing case  Mascher, John Frederick  Stereoscope for the Million

Specifications:

Introduction:
1856
Designer:
John Frederick Mascher
Maker:
John Frederick Mascher
Construction:
Leather
Medium:
Paper
Format:
8.5 x 17
Lens:
Convex
Lens focus:
No
Inter-ocular adjustment:
No

Further reading:

  • Wing, Paul. Stereoscopes: The first one hundred years (1996) , pp. 54-55
Published: 27-04-2026    Last modified: 29-04-2026