Stereo photography combined the work of two Victorian inventors, Sir Charles Wheatstone and Sir David Brewster who used photography to popularise their discoveries. Stereo photography became extremely popular in Australia in the 1850s where they were sold commercially in their thousands as well as being produced in their dozens by amateur photographers. Their popularity waned slightly in the 1880s but commercial companies such as Underwood and Underwood re-popularised them in the 1890s.

This is a rare example of a twin lens camera from the 1860s used in Australia. The most notable feature of the camera is the twin brass lenses. Stereo lenses like these were highly prized in the colonies and were often the main cost of the purchase of the camera. Each one of this pair of lenses had to have exactly the same focal length and were often attached to new camera bodies as the old ones fell into disrepair.

Geoff Barker, March 2007

The camera was made in Europe between 1858 and 1868.

Stereoscopic camera with early lenses, wood / brass / glass /silk velvet, maker unknown, Europe, 1858-1868

A stereoscopic wet plate camera. The body of the camera consists of a wooden box that has been painted black. There are two brass lenses attached to the front of the camera. The lenses can be individually unscrewed and removed. A removable wooden framed glass plate slides down the back of the camera. A pair of lens caps made from wood and velvet lined leather fit over the camera lenses.

Made: Europe; 1858 - 1868

H5871

1858 - 1868

315 mm

233 mm

305 mm