Photographic History Collection: Stanhopes
notes: label: Description
content: A Stanhope is a novelty souvenir that became popular during the 19th century. These objects (ranging from pens to sewing accessories to jewelry) are unique because of the tiny hidden image placed somewhere inside the object. The image can be found by holding the object up to the light and looking into a tiny hole where the magnified image becomes visible. These images range from landscapes to portraits and are about 1/10th an inch in diameter and 1/4 an inch long. There are over 58 objects and images in this particular collection including lenses and detailed steps for the process of creating a Stanhope.
label: Description
content: The term "Stanhope" comes from the inventor of the Stanhope Lens, Lord Charles Stanhope (1753-1816) (Note: Lord Charles died before photography had even been invented). The name "Stanhope" is somewhat of a misnomer because the actual lens used in the objects known as "Stanhopes" is not actually a Stanhope lens. It is actually called the Codding Magnifier, invented by Sir David Brewster (1781-1868) but named after Henry Coddington (1798-1845) because he popularized the lens in 1829. (see stereograph collection)
label: Description
content: In order for there to be a tiny image in the novelty, there had to be microphotography. John Benjamin Dancer (1812-1887) attached a microscope lens to a daguerreotype camera and produced microphotographs in 1839. These microphotographs influenced Rene Dagron (1819-1900), a portrait maker in Paris, to patent microfilm in 1859 and then invent the Stanhope, as we know it today, by affixing a micro-image to a lens. After these new developments, Dagron manufactured novelties with tiny photographs in them beginning in the early 1860's.
label: Description
content: Dagron also produced Pigeongrammes from 1870-1871. In order to send secret messages during the siege of Paris, messages were written out by hand and sent through carrier pigeons. This method had a few setbacks, including the possibility of smearing the message or not being able to read the tiny handwriting. In response, Dagron was commissioned to photograph larger handwritten messages and use his microphotography techniques to shrink down lengthy messages that the pigeons could carry. (see microphotography collection)
label: Description
content: Stanhope novelties began to lose their popularity as souvenirs and the last true Stanhopes were made in 1972 by Roger Reymond.
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content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
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content: Photography
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: COLL.PHOTOS.000053
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Stanhopes Collection