Jack and Beverly's Zograscope

In the 18th and 19th centuries a device with a lens and mirror called the zograscope was used to give an illusion of depth to hand colored engravings called vue d’optique prints. The zograscope is placed over a hand colored print so that the print is reflected in the mirror held at an angle. The spectator looks into the magnifying lens on the front of the instrument to view the reflection. The lens and mirror impart a quality of depth to the flat print. These instruments were popular parlor amusements in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is a sort of peepshow without the box.

It is not uncommon to find one in an antique market incorrectly identified as a "shaving mirror" or with some other use attributed to it.

The title of the print is often written or printed in reverse so that it can be read correctly in the mirror reflection. We keep our eyes open for prints with reversed titles and have purchased a few. Our prize is the zograscope view of Daguerre's Diorama in Paris shown on another page.

We bought the example on the left in England in the 1980's. At 25 1/2 inches tall it was too big to pack in our bags so it traveled back to the US sitting on the floor between our feet. With today's airline rules I am sure this would not be allowed.

Below is a vue optique titled "La Perspective du superbe Parterre du Jardins du Roy de Pologne en Saxe" on the lower margin. It has the expected reverse printing at the top. This reads "Vue du Jardins du Roy du Pologneen Saxe". We do not understand why there is two different spellings, Pologne/Pologneen, for what we understand to be French for Poland.

Below left is a view of the print reflected in the mirror of the zograscope.

Our Zograscope Viewer
	In the 18th and 19th centuries a device with a lens and mirror called the zograscope was used to give an illusion of depth to hand colored engravings called vue d’optique prints. The zograscope is placed over a hand colored print so that the print is reflected in the mirror held at an angle. The spectator looks into the magnifying lens on the front of the instrument to view the reflection. The lens and mirror impart a quality of depth to the flat print. These instruments were popular parlor amusements in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is a sort of peepshow without the box. It is not uncommon to find one in an antique market incorrectly identified as a "shaving mirror" or with some other use attributed to it. The title of the print is often written or printed in reverse so that it can be read correctly in the mirror reflection. We keep our eyes open for prints with reversed titles and have purchased a few. Our prize is the zograscope view of Daguerre's Diorama in Paris shown on another page. We bought the example on the left in England in the 1980's. At 25 1/2 inches tall it was too big to pack in our bags so it traveled back to the US sitting on the floor between our feet. With today's airline rules I am sure this would not be allowed. Below is a vue optique titled "La Perspective du superbe Parterre du Jardins du Roy de Pologne en Saxe" on the lower margin. It has the expected reverse printing at the top. This reads "Vue du Jardins du Roy du Pologneen Saxe". We do not understand why there is two different spellings, Pologne/Pologneen, for what we understand to be French for Poland. Below left is a view of the print reflected in the mirror of the zograscope.

Our Zograscope Viewer