[ Photographs ] (Viewers) Ponti, Carlo Megalethoscope Photograph Viewer. Graphoscope with front section containing two removable magnifying lenses focusing by means of handles, one on each side of the viewer, with 3 attached veneered plaques "Ponti

[ Photographs ] (Viewers) Ponti, Carlo Megalethoscope Photograph Viewer. Graphoscope with front section containing two removable magnifying lenses focusing by means of handles, one on each side of the viewer, with 3 attached veneered plaques "Ponti Venezia," "Megaletoscopio " and "Privilegiato." The viewer assembly rests on a matching stand enabling the entire viewer to rotate 90 degrees for vertical views. The top panel and one of the side panels are mirrored on the inside to direct the light for front illumination. On the inside of a hinged panel at the back of the viewer is mounted a large sheet of illustrated instructions, printed in English. When opened, the back reveals a ground-glass diffuser and adjustable frame for holding odd size photographs. The interior of the viewer contains a hinged frame which can be raised to hold 9- or 4-inch wide views and accompanying masks. Walnut, 36 inches long; bottom of viewer and stand with 18-inch crack; expertly restored. Overall Condition Excellent. Venice, Italy; Late 1860s. E3000-4000 With - Group of twenty-one Megalethoscope views of Venice, including one captioned "The Rialto Bridge," Rome, Florence, Mt. Vesuvius, and Switzerland: two are reproductions. Albumen prints, 1 Ox 13inches or the reverse, canvas backed, each mounted on a curved black wooden frame, with handwritten or printed label on verso, hand-colored on the back of the photograph, with pinholes. Together with an additional engraved instruction sheet. The Megalethoscope, in addition to being the largest of the 19th-century photograph viewers (graphoscopes), was designed to produce "day/night" effects similar to those of Daguerre's diorama, when used with specially made tographs. Ponti's photographs were hand-colored on the back and pin-pricked so that, through rear illumination, the ordinary monochrome daytime photographs would appear magically in the muted colors of dusk and the pin-pricks would glow as lights in the night.