Brewster Kaleidoscope

after the principle was patented by Sir David Brewster in 1817, the Kaleidoscope became an overnight bestseller, with an estimated two hundred thousand instruments sold in London and Paris within 3 months. The hexagonal Kaleidoscope offered here is made of domino paper covered cardboard, the front and rear part is sewed to the body with thread, inside are three inclined mirrors and a diffusion screen made of etched glass, it is filled with pieces of colored glass. This Kaleidoscope is most probably of American provenance. The edges show some wear and are brittle, the paper is partly faded due to water damage but still a beautiful and early piece. Height: 19cm.