made in Paris

Stereoscope, known as Brewster stereoscope

A Brewster stereoscope, named after its inventor David Brewster, is a device through which a stereo pair of photographs mounted on a card is viewed through two lenses. This example was made by Duboscq-Soleil, a firm of Parisian instrument makers.

The walnut-veneered stereoscope has an adjustable mirror and opaque ground glass screen. The body is stamped underneath with `DS` monogram (for Duboscq-Soleil) surrounded by `BREVETE / S.G. du GT`.

'S.G. du GT.' stands for 'sans guarantie du gouvernemente' and was a legal requirement for a French patent. The firm of Jean-Baptiste Soleil (1798-1878) and his son-in-law Jules Duboscq (1817-86) was famous for its optical instruments.

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Online ID:	000-100-103-116-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1995.37
Date:	Around 1855 c. 1855
Material:	Walnut veneered; ground glass screen. Inscription: Body: DS [surrounded by] BREVETE / S.G. du GT.
Dimensions:	185 mm x 165 mm x 100 mm
What:	Stereoscope / stereoscopic card
Subject:
Who:	Duboscq-Soliel, Paris (Maker)
Where:	France, Paris
Event:
Description:	Walnut veneered Brewster-type lenticular stereoscope with a group of various stereoscopic cards, by Duboscq-Soliel, Paris, c. 1855
References:	For the firm of Duboscq-Soleil, see Brenni, Paolo, 'Soleil-Duboscq-Pellin: A Dynasty of Scientific Instrument Makers' in Dragoni Giorgio, McConnell, A., Turner, G. L'E (eds.) Proceedings of the Eleventh International Scientific Instrument Symposium. Bolog Stereoscopes are discussed in Morrison-Low, A.D., 'Brewster and Scientific Instruments' in Morrison-Low, A.D. & Christie, J.R.R. (eds.), Martyr of Science: Sir David Brewster 1781-1868. Edinburgh: 1984, pp 58-65, 98-9
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