The purpose of this guide is to introduce you to the idea of using Vintage / Antique Stereoview Photographs to uniquely embellish and add depth and meaning to your family photo albums, scrapbooks, school reports and personal collections. I'll Answer the Questions What is a Stereoview, How to Use them and How to Find them.

What are Stereoview Photographs?

In a  nutshell stereoview photographs are photos taken in such a way as to produce two pictures of the same image at once.  The images look exactly alike until closer examination reveals minor differences.  The difference is that the photos where taken at the same time, from the same vantage point but from positions a few inches apart.  The space between lenses is approximately the distance between our own two eyes.  It was discovered that it was this space between our eyes that gives depth perception.

These two nearly identical photos were then glued to a card-board backer that was often curved.  Once viewed through a stereoviewer the image looked larger and three dimensional.  In Victorian Times this was often a favorite past time looking at views of the world.  There was no televion in those days.  This was how people educated themselves about the world around them. There were several companies that produced these stereoviews most easily found is the Keystone Stereoview Co. & Underwood & Underwood to name a couple.

Now that you know what they are . . .

Here's How You Can Use Them Today Without Having to Be A "Stereoview Collector."

Were Your Great Grandparents or Great, Great Grandparents from:
Ireland, Russia, Germany, India, Switzerland, Africa, Other.

You can find Vintage/Antique Stereoview Photos from just about anywhere in the world!  With these images you can show your family, friends and children what your ancestors, saw, wore, and did.  There really were children who wore wooden shoes to school!  You can see women washing clothes in a river and beating wheat into flour.  Add a three dimensional glimpse into the past to your scrapbooks and / or family albums. (Or just keep them handy for your teenager's complaints about pressing the dishwasher button!) A picture is worth a thousand words!!

Was a Family Member in a War?
Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Other?

You can find Vintage/Antique Stereoview Photos of the different Wars ocurring since around the mid 1800's on.

Did A Great Uncle Work in a Particular Trade?
Steel Mills, Cannery, Mining, Farming, Other

There are great stereoviews to be found from the late 1800's to early 1900's of these subjects.

A Stereoviewer or Stereoscope enhances the image and allows you to see the 3D effect but, You don't have to own one to appreciate the images without this effect.

Did your Grandparents get married at Niagara Falls and Honeymoon in the then Territory of Hawaii?

Do you or your family members have interest in the historical way of doing things like carding wool?

Would you like to add an antique image to your own wedding/honeymoon destination to show the timelessness of the location and your place in history?

There are stereoviews on these subjects and many, many more.

Other Great Ideas for Stereoviews:

Visual Aids to a Student's Report

You can find Vintage/Antique Stereoview Photos on a variety of subjects, political history, historical structures such as the Great Pyramids, War, Architecture, Medical, Natural Disasters such as Earthquakes and Floods and so much more.

A Supplement to Existing Collections

Do you already love light houses, boats, trains, mining, fashion, ghosts, yes ghosts, castles, travel . . . then you can add a twist to your existing interests with stereoviews.

Inspiration for Artists

Do you like altered art, or like to incorporate antique images into your work, then stereoviews  are great inspiration.

Where Can You Find Stereoviews?

eBay is one of the biggest sellers at the best prices for Stereoviews. That being said, you can also locate them on the internet.  Just type stereoview into the search engine of your choice, you'll generally pay more.

Prices vary, largely depending on subject and type of stereoview.  There are Real Photo Stereoviews, Lithographs and Reproductions.  The preference is in the order listed above.  Real photo stereoviews command higher prices with the average sale being around $7 to $12.  Prices go higher for the rare and difficult to find. You can tell a Lithograph by the dot pattern you can see in the image and these go for a few dollars or less. Reproductions are usually avoided by the Stereoview Collector but for the scrapbooker or artist, the lower price just might be appealing.  Also as certain images become harder to find, a reproduction may be the only choice. 

Whichever type of stereoview you choose to purchase - the variety of subjects are amazing.  Put your imagination to work and use Vintage and Antique Stereoviews to enhance your scrapbook, report or collection.