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Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection

Donated in 2014, the Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection comprises more than 4,000 stereographs and related photographic objects. The Basses collected work by early pioneering photographers including William Notman, George Washington Wilson, and Francis Frith. Martin Bass’s professional background in medicine influenced their interest in collecting objects pertaining to scientific fields such as botany, astronomy, biology, and zoology.

In addition to stereographs, the Bass Collection includes eleven stereoviewers—devices used to view the juxtaposed photographic prints as a single three-dimensional image—including handheld, table, and floor models. The collection features hundreds of rare stereographic objects including glass positives, hand-coloured daguerreotypes, and hand-tinted “hold-to-light” tissue stereographs--some pierced with tiny holes resembing sparkling jewels, stars, lights, or even glowing eyes when lit--as well as related books, educational card sets, and pop photographica.

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Fig. 1

Dr. Edward Leroy Oatman (American, 1853–1912), published by The Southworth Company, Use of the Ophthalmoscope, 1920, colour lithograph. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1683:0009)
Fig. 2

Eugene S. M. Haines (American, ca. 1834–1909), Extensive Fractures of Skull by a Pistol Ball, 1869, albumen prints with colour mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1691:0002)
Fig. 3

William Samuel Gottheil (German-American, 1859–1920), published by Imperial Publishing Company, Leucoplakia Buccalis, 1916, hand-coloured, ferrotyped, halftoned gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0195)
Fig. 4

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company, Wounded Soldier About to Undergo Operation, Hospital, New York, ca. 1919, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1668:0012)
Fig. 5

Unidentified makers, Key, metal (0003); Monocular Charm Stanhope Pendant, bone stanhope with metal eyelet ring (0001); Miniature Stereoviewer with Miniature Stereocards, metal stereoviewer and letterpress stereocards (0002), ca. 1858–1872. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1628:0001-0003)
Fig. 6

Antoine Claudet (French, 1797–1867), Portrait of Lady L. Synge-Hutchison, ca. 1851, hand-coloured daguerreotype. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1263)
Fig. 7

Unidentified photographer, [Marble statue of woman], ca. 1880, direct positive. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1262)
Fig. 8

A. R. Miller, La Guerre, Départ de L'Enfer [War, Hell's Departure], ca. 1858–1875, tissue with applied colour. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1202)
Fig. 9

Unidentified photographer, published by The London Stereoscopic Company, The Ghost in the Stereoscope, ca. 1856, albumen prints with applied colour mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0370)
Fig. 10

Unidentified manufacturer, Camerascope stereoviewer, ca. 1927, blackened metal folding stereoviewer, glass lenses, gelatin silver prints (stereograph). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1737)
Fig. 11

Theodore Hamblin, published by Theodore Hamblin Ltd., Children Skipping, ca. 1925, screenprints on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1679:0012)
Fig. 12

Henry Draper (American, 1837–1882), published by Charles Bierstadt Publishing, Niagara Falls, NY, Full Moon, ca. 1870, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0376)
Fig. 13

Warren De La Rue (British, 1815–1889), Saturn, ca. 1857–1868, gelatin glass positives (stereograph). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1225)
Fig. 14

Unidentified photographer, The Great Pyramid of Gizeh, a tomb of 5,000 years ago, from S.E. Egypt, 1904, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0025)
Fig. 15

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company; Underwood & Underwood Inc., A Beauty Parlor in the Island of Zanzibar. Africa. The Swahili Women Take Great Pains with Their Hair., ca. 1930, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0001)
Fig. 16

James Dearden Holmes, manufactured by Cavanders Ltd., Angkor-Thom, Buddha, Indo-China, ca. 1910–1930, gelatin silver print, right half of stereograph (cigarette cards). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1308)
Fig. 17

T. Enami (Japanese, 1859–1929), published by Cosmopolitan Series, Japanese Boys Using Stereoscope, 1900–1915, lithographs on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0317)
Fig. 18

Unidentified photographer, published by Underwood & Underwood; Sun Sculpture Works and Studios, Native farming in tropical Ceylon. Plowing a paddy field, 1902, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0182)
Fig. 19

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company; Underwood & Underwood Inc., Indians [sic]. A Medicine Man, 1890–1915, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0290)
Fig. 1

Dr. Edward Leroy Oatman (American, 1853–1912), published by The Southworth Company, Use of the Ophthalmoscope, 1920, colour lithograph. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1683:0009)

Fig. 2

Eugene S. M. Haines (American, ca. 1834–1909), Extensive Fractures of Skull by a Pistol Ball, 1869, albumen prints with colour mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1691:0002)

Fig. 3

William Samuel Gottheil (German-American, 1859–1920), published by Imperial Publishing Company, Leucoplakia Buccalis, 1916, hand-coloured, ferrotyped, halftoned gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0195)

Fig. 4

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company, Wounded Soldier About to Undergo Operation, Hospital, New York, ca. 1919, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1668:0012)

Fig. 5

Unidentified makers, Key, metal (0003); Monocular Charm Stanhope Pendant, bone stanhope with metal eyelet ring (0001); Miniature Stereoviewer with Miniature Stereocards, metal stereoviewer and letterpress stereocards (0002), ca. 1858–1872. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1628:0001-0003)

Fig. 6

Antoine Claudet (French, 1797–1867), Portrait of Lady L. Synge-Hutchison, ca. 1851, hand-coloured daguerreotype. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1263)

Fig. 7

Unidentified photographer, [Marble statue of woman], ca. 1880, direct positive. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1262)

Fig. 8

A. R. Miller, La Guerre, Départ de L'Enfer [War, Hell's Departure], ca. 1858–1875, tissue with applied colour. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1202)

Fig. 9

Unidentified photographer, published by The London Stereoscopic Company, The Ghost in the Stereoscope, ca. 1856, albumen prints with applied colour mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0370)

Fig. 10

Unidentified manufacturer, Camerascope stereoviewer, ca. 1927, blackened metal folding stereoviewer, glass lenses, gelatin silver prints (stereograph). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1737)

Fig. 11

Theodore Hamblin, published by Theodore Hamblin Ltd., Children Skipping, ca. 1925, screenprints on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1679:0012)

Fig. 12

Henry Draper (American, 1837–1882), published by Charles Bierstadt Publishing, Niagara Falls, NY, Full Moon, ca. 1870, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0376)

Fig. 13

Warren De La Rue (British, 1815–1889), Saturn, ca. 1857–1868, gelatin glass positives (stereograph). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1225)

Fig. 14

Unidentified photographer, The Great Pyramid of Gizeh, a tomb of 5,000 years ago, from S.E. Egypt, 1904, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0025)

Fig. 15

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company; Underwood & Underwood Inc., A Beauty Parlor in the Island of Zanzibar. Africa. The Swahili Women Take Great Pains with Their Hair., ca. 1930, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0001)

Fig. 16

James Dearden Holmes, manufactured by Cavanders Ltd., Angkor-Thom, Buddha, Indo-China, ca. 1910–1930, gelatin silver print, right half of stereograph (cigarette cards). The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.1308)

Fig. 17

T. Enami (Japanese, 1859–1929), published by Cosmopolitan Series, Japanese Boys Using Stereoscope, 1900–1915, lithographs on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0317)

Fig. 18

Unidentified photographer, published by Underwood & Underwood; Sun Sculpture Works and Studios, Native farming in tropical Ceylon. Plowing a paddy field, 1902, albumen prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0182)

Fig. 19

Unidentified photographer, published by Keystone View Company; Underwood & Underwood Inc., Indians [sic]. A Medicine Man, 1890–1915, gelatin silver prints mounted on card. The Image Centre, Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass Collection (RIC.2014.0290)