A rare collection of 14 glass stereoscopic images providing a graphic and at times harrowing insight into the lives of soldiers at the frontline in France during World War 1. The images, all of which are in the standard Richard Verascope (45mm x 107mm) format, include numerous hand-annotated examples showing the scenes at important battlegrounds including Fort de Vaux, The Somme, Noyon, Calonne, Bois le Pretre & Laffaux. All are French images, with annotation in the French language, but most depict the fate of German soldiers towards the end of the War.

Among these harrowing scenes are images marked 'Cheval projeté dans un arbre par abus' (a horse projected into a tree by abuse), Un episode la prise de Montdidier' (An episode at Montdidier, in the Somme), 'Laffause: Boches fues dans leur sape' (Laffaux: Boches (a derogratory term for Germans) fled into their dugout), 'Laffause: Allemands Faisant 'Kamarad' (Laffaux, German 'comrades'), 'Des cadavres allemands déterrés pour des abus' (German corpses dug up for abuse), etc

Thanks to the magic of stereoscopy, these images provide a remarkable illusion of three-dimensions. The technique involves two nearly identical photographs being taken, each from a slightly different angle. When the resulting images are viewed through a suitable stereoscope, the eyes are fooled into seeing three dimensions - almost like being there and witnessing these historic scenes at first hand. The result is quite astonishing.