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A Krzysztof K. Słowiński Collection

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Item no. P3257a (postcard)

Item no. P3257a  (postcard).jpg Item no. P3256 (cover)ThumbnailsItem no. P3257b  (postcard)Item no. P3256 (cover)ThumbnailsItem no. P3257b  (postcard)Item no. P3256 (cover)ThumbnailsItem no. P3257b  (postcard)Item no. P3256 (cover)ThumbnailsItem no. P3257b  (postcard)

Item no. P3257a (postcard)

Type: cover

Country: USA

Date of use: (unused) 1920s

Postcard (front of) presenting description of a small building called CAMERA OBSCURA, a pinhole camera capturing images from outside and showing them in a darkened room. It is located at Senior Recreation Center in Santa Monica (California, USA). The Camera Obscura dates back to 1898, when it was acquired by Mayor Robert F. Jones, the nephew of city founder John Percival Jones. Mayor Jones, who had a passion for novelties and attractions, operated his device on the beach, where it became a big hit at 10 cents a view. Comprised of a revolving metal turret, with periscope, mirror and lens, it captures views from outside through a hole in the turret and projects them inside. It is distinctive as being one of the only revolving types of its kind in the world and serves as a reminder of the city’s origin as a seaside playground. In 2014, the Santa Monica Conservancy recognized the City of Santa Monica’s Community and Cultural Services Department with a Preservation Award for the restoration of the distinctive signage of the historic Camera Obscura.

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