New Hobby

[poliphilo]

I was learning about Brian May and his collection of stereoviews (I think that's the right word for them) and something clicked- and I thought, "I know, I'll collect stereo views too."

I'm running out of churches to photograph and have been thinking for a while I needed a new interest or hobby.

So that's sorted. I've purchased a viewer and a starter collection of cards from eBay. Now I have a new reason for hitting the antique shops.

The golden age of stereoscopy ran from the 1850s to the 1920s. Cards were produced in their thousands, millions. They're still plentiful. Mostly they show scenery, but there are also joke cards, religious cards, naughty cards, very naughty cards, sentimental cards, cards showing our boys cleaning up Hun trenches- and so on. I was looking at prices. Many can be had for under a fiver though of course there are rarities. For instance, the asking price for an image of Brunel's Great Eastern is just south of a hundred quid. I'd like that one- but shall be exercising restraint. I know from collecting other things what a thrill it is when a rarity turns up in a cheaply-priced job-lot. The joy of collecting is as much- actually more- in the hunt than in the possessing.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Remember those viewers from the fifties and sixties?

We still have one of those with all its little round stereo views.

[poliphilo]

I do indeed. I seem to remember they gave cards away with packets of Weetabix.

[razorbladeromance]

Also there are stereoviews of post mortem photography methinks...

[poliphilo]

Very likely. Views of battlefields with bodies still in place are not uncommon.

I found some for sale on eBay which were pictures of people with nasty skin conditions. In colour too.

Not for the squeamish.

[razorbladeromance]

That is a very awesome hobby!! :D