#34 • Antique Underwood & Underwood “Sun Sculpture” Stereoscope Viewer

Part of 03/22/26 Antique Treasures & Vintage Collectibles Kalaheo (Kauai) Part 1 Auction (timed auction by Malama Auctions & Realty)

High bid $10.00

Status: Sold

An original Underwood & Underwood stereoscope viewer, an early photographic viewing device designed to display stereographic cards that produce a three-dimensional visual effect when viewed through the eyepiece. The viewer features the classic construction associated with these models, including a wooden sliding frame and handle, decorative metal viewing hood, and card holder platform designed to position stereograph photographs at the proper distance for viewing. When a stereograph card is placed in the holder, the lenses allow each eye to see a slightly different image, creating the illusion of depth and a realistic 3-D scene. Underwood & Underwood was founded in 1881 by brothers Elmer and Bert Underwood and quickly became one of the world’s largest publishers and distributors of stereoscopic photographs, producing millions of stereoview images annually for educational and entertainment purposes. Stereoscopes like this were extremely popular in homes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, allowing people to “travel the world” through photographic scenes of famous landmarks, historical events, and distant cultures. Many were part of boxed educational sets used in schools and households for immersive learning experiences. The metal hood on this style viewer is often referred to as the “Sun Sculpture” stereoscope, a design patented in the early 1900s and commonly produced around 1901–1930.