About: Graphoscope
A graphoscope was a 19th-century device used in parlors in order to enhance the viewing of photographs and text. The graphoscope is supposed to be based on a 1864 patent of Charles John Rowsell.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. A camera often had included its design a graphoscope for better film viewing. Many devices combined a Stereoscope and Graphoscope.
