Vérascope Foldable Mechanical Stereoscope. France, Circa 1910

Very rare Vérascope foldable mechanical stereoscope by Jules Richard, made in France circa 1910 and in perfect condition. This fascinating piece remains complete and is in perfect working order, enabling the user to view stereoscopic plates. The mechanism includes mechanical depth and width adjustment system, both in excellent working order. The stereoscopic is entirely made of solid-mahogany wood, also finely preserved, and mounts black-painted metalwork. The lenses and the viewer are also in good condition. The rear gap, designed to allow light to enter so the plate can be seen, is closed by the original smoked glass plate. The plate is in perfect condition, a rare feature for an item which is more than one century old. The stereoscope can be fully folded, reaching such a small size that it can be carried in a pocket. At the base we can see a bone-colored plate with the devices name and manufacturer engraved in black lettering: VÉRASCOPE RICHARD. This rare Vérascope foldable mechanical stereoscope by Jules Richard will stand out in the best collection for its originality and amazing condition. Dimensions (Folded): Width: 4.92 in / 12.4 cm. Depth: 2.76 in / 7 cm. Height: 1.57 in / 4 cm.History of Jules Richard Jules Richard was born in 1848. He was a famous French engineer and inventor, known as one of the fathers of photography. His father Felix invented the first metallic barometer in Paris and started a family business. After his death in 1876 the company was almost bankrupt, but Jules took over and in 1880 he invented a recording barometer which became quite popular. In the following years, the firm widened its production and reached a remarkable success. Along the way Richard became quite interested in stereoscopic photography and designed highly popular cameras such as the Verascope.