The Graphoscope

A graphoscope was a 19th century device used in parlors in order to enhance the viewing of photographs and text. These novelty items consisted of a single magnifying glass, often in a wooden frame, in an overall construction that could collapse into a compact rectangular form. A photo/card holder was usually also included.

It is more accurate to describe this 1950 Graphoscope as a camera lucida – an optical device used as a drawing aid by artists. The camera lucida performs an optical superimposition of the subject being viewed upon the surface upon which the artist is drawing. The artist sees both scene and drawing surface simultaneously, as in a photographic double exposure. This allows the artist to duplicate key points of the scene on the drawing surface, thus aiding in the accurate rendering of perspective.