A rare 'Corollaire' handheld stereoscope by Gaumont of Paris, dating to the early 1920s and suitable for viewing glass stereoviews in the standard 45mm x 107mm (Jules Richard Verascope) format. The instrument is of wood construction with a leather outer, the twin bakelite eyepieces with focusing adjustment by rack and pinion and a separate control allowing for precise eye separation to suit the individual user. The instrument offers superb optics and gives a dramatic 3D effect. A makers plate to the side is marked 'Societe de Etablissements, Gaumont, Constructeur Bte SGDG, Grand Prix 1900, Paris' and the maker's name is also imprinted into the rear bakelite frame. Supplied together with the glass stereoview, as shown, depicting a 1920 coastal scene at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka (or Ceylon, as it was then) and labelled AMC, relating to the anti-malarial campaign of the time.

Viewer measures 16cm x 10cm x 12cm.

Condition: The viewer is in good condition, particularly given its rarity and 100 years or so of age, but with some signs of wear including abrasion to the leather covering, a chip to the rear of the Bakelite frame holding the twin eyepieces and minor nibbles elsewhere. The optics are exceptionally good, the focusing adjustment works without slippage to the rack and pinion and the eyepiece separation is functional, if a little stiff. The 3D effect is quite remarkable. The ground glass screen is original and in good order.