“an infinite variety of beautiful forms”
Ancient Greeks probably invented kaleidoscopes, viagra buy but Scottish prodigy David Brewster (1781-1868) reinvented the toy in the 18th century, view making his first kaleidoscope at 10 years old. He wasn’t as clever a businessman as he was a scientist, however, and once he patented the concept in 1817—calling the kaleidoscope “an instrument for creating and exhibiting an infinite variety of beautiful forms”—flaws in the paperwork allowed any and all to copy his idea. And they did.
Like the thaumatrope, which is included in Encyclopedia of the Exquisite, kaleidoscopes became a Victorian sensation as a universal mania set in. Brewster named the toy by combining three Greek words: kalos (beauty), eodos (shape) and scopeo (to look at).
Email me and I will send you a circa 1944 pdf of kaleidoscope making instructions.
Components of the kaleidoscope.
hi jessica 🙂
i would love the instructions! my dad has been a longtime enthusiast of the kaleidoscope. also, this lovely photo-article in the nytimes.com seems something you would like, in case you missed it –
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/06/02/garden/20100603-terrarium-slideshow.html
not sure if the link will go through, but couldn’t find another way to email it to you.
hope all’s well! looking forward to your book. will you be reading at powell’s in portland, oregon?
xo
lori
Hi Lori,
Thanks for your note. I love the article on terrariums and just happened to read it myself this morning!
I’m going to email you the kaleidoscope instructions, which seem very thorough, though I haven’t tried them out yet. Please let me know if it works. We’re planning to make one this summer as well.
Hope to see you in Oregon this fall….
All very best wishes,
Jessica