Circa 1860s New York City Stereo View – Soldiers, Women and Children In Central Park – Civil War Uniforms – Close- up Of Baby – South Paris Maine Advertising - American Scenery Real Photo View

This view has an unusually close image of the baby's face cradled in the arms of the women in the foreground. Under magnification, you can see the difference in perspective and timing between the left and right camera images. In the right image, the baby's mouth is now closed; the pregnant woman with the pram has stopped smiling; the older woman on the bench has changed her expression; and the gentleman in the background is now looking directly at the camera. The stereo view camera must have snapped one of these images a second or two later than the other!

NOTE: These pictures give only an approximation of the true stereoscopic image, and DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE. What appears to be a rather simple flat photo, becomes much more interesting when viewed in 3-D through the stereo viewer.

On the back of this view is an advertisement for "A.M. Gerry, Druggist" of South Paris Maine. View published by American Scenery – one of the "no-name" pirate companies that did not credit any person or photographer - produced extensive low-quality pirated series starting in the late 1860s to early 1870s. From the content images, it appears that the photo by the original publisher dates to the 1861-1865 period. Square topped images dates the American Scenery card to within 10-15 years after the Civil War.

3-D EFFECT: Exceptional 3-D effect - evident from the marked difference between the perspectives of the right and left photo images.

PHOTO NOTE: The flat finished sepia toned real photo images are in good condition for their age, and much clearer through the stereo viewer than it would appear from these photos. Early flat cards do not present themselves as well in photos, and these photos cannot show the true 3-D stereoscopic effect view seen through a stereo viewer. The close-up photos are sharper than the gallery view, and the actual images viewed through a stereo viewer are EVEN sharper than they appear in the photo images. The somewhat grainy texture is natural in the photographic processes used to take older stereo view images. Light scratches and small defects are accentuated by the photo process, and are usually imperceptible through the stereo viewer.

CONDITION NOTE: The flat mounted images are in wonderful condition for their age. Light age spots on the photos are typical of this vintage view, and barely noticeable threw the viewer. Darker spots on the outside of both images may be damage to the negatives. Small slivers of photos are missing between the right and left photos are virtually unnoticeable when viewed through the stereoscopic viewer. Card has some rounding and folding on the corners and minor damage to the edges; some soiling around the edges, and a small tear on the left border. Back has some light soiling.

Item ID: 27-0463