Magnificent Automatic Stereoscope E. Cuny in Working Condition. France, 1890s

Spectacular table stereoscope or stereoscopic viewer, made of solid wood and in excellent working order. This is a very ancient article dating from 1890-1900 that was made in Lille, France by E. Cuny. It is designed to view stereoscopic 45x107mm plates. The stereoscope draws our attention for the fact that it is almost fully made of walnut wood. The wood boasts a lovely golden brown color and deep veneer, providing the sober device with a great beauty. It is wonderfully preserved and its surface is protected by a fine satin finish. The metalwork, the eyepieces and the rest of the component parts are also original and remain in good condition. This fine stereoscope is a pioneer device, one of the first automatic stereoscopes. This fact turns it into a very special article with a great interest for every collector. The boxes bear a red oval stamp with the inscription F. CUNY LILLE. Together with the stereoscope comes a collection of 100 stereoscopic plates with images of French landscapes, in very good condition and perfect to be watched with this stunning device. The viewer mounts two black-bakelite eyepieces, both with the original magnification lenses. It also has a small black knob that helps the user focus the images. The device includes an ingenious crank system: if we enter the plates in the viewer and turn the crank, the system will show us the following plate and will collect the one we have already seen. One of the sides bears a metal plate with engraved numbers (from 1 to 25) and a metal pointer that indicates the number of seen plates and the ones left to be seen. Imposing and with an undeniable beauty, this antique stereoscope is a charming device full of history and with a high decorative potential. Measurements: Width: 10.8 in / 27.5 cm. Height: 16.1 in / 41 cm.